The Grammy Awards, originally called the Gramophone Awards, were instituted in 1958 for outstanding achievements in music. They are presented by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, in the United States.

The award ceremony features performances by prominent artistes, and some of the awards of more popular interest are presented in a widely-viewed televised ceremony.

This year's ceremony, the 52nd Grammy Awards, was held at the Los Anegeles Staples' Center.

Beyonce Knowles was the night's top winner, who created history by amassing six awards out of 10 nominations. Country singer Taylor swift nabbed four awards, including the top honour Album of the Year. The highlight of the ceremony was the 3-D MJ tribute, led by Celine Dion, Usher Carrie, Underwood, Jennifer Hudson and Smokey Robinson.

Despite the prestige of the awards, many artistes and critics have voiced their misgivings about them. Maynard James Keenan, lead singer of progressive metal band Tool, had shunned the Grammy Awards despite numerous nods to his band's work. "I think the Grammys are nothing more than some gigantic promotional machine for the music industry," he said. "They cater to a low intellect and they feed the masses."

Others have faulted the award for dishing out too many categories, thereby diluting its status.

In any case, for the general public, and real connoisseurs of music, a Grammy really doesn't seem to matter. This is what Comedian Stephen Colbert seemed to suggest when he said at the Grammys this year, "You may be the coolest people in the world, but this year your industry was saved by a 48-year-old Scottish cat lady in sensible shoes." Incidentally, the "Scottish cat lady" Susan Boyle was not even invited to the show.

All said and done, Grammys have consistently remained the top musical honours and their inclusiveness -- jazz, country, rock, soul and classical -- has done the music industry a great service. As the singer Bono put it, it was a "a mad amalgam of the profound and the absurd."