At the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in 2024, the Record of the Year went to “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” performed by the cast of Disney’s Encanto. This song, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, dominated charts and awards seasons, highlighting the soundtrack’s broad cultural reach beyond traditional pop and rock voters. Below is a detailed breakdown of the winner, the nominees, and how this award reflects shifts in streaming-era recognition.
Quick Reference: Record of the Year 2024
Winner and Key Details
The Recording Academy’s official record shows the following for Record of the Year at the 66th ceremony in 2024.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” (Encanto cast) | Recording Academy press release |
| Songwriters | Lin-Manuel Miranda | Academy credits |
| Performed By | Cast of Encanto: Stephanie Beatriz, Adassa, Mauro Castillo, Diane Guerrero, Jessica Darrow, and others | Academy credits |
| Year Awarded | 2024 (66th Annual Grammy Awards) | Academy official records |
| Release Year | 2021 (with chart peak in 2021–2022) | Label and chart data |
| Main Chart Achievement | Billboard Hot 100 number one for multiple weeks | Billboard archives |
Full List of 2024 Record of the Year Nominees
The nominees reflect a range of genres, a common trait for this category. Below are the official nominees as listed by the Recording Academy.
- “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” – Encanto cast
- “About Damn Time” – Lizzo
- "Break My Soul" – Beyoncé
- "Easy On Me" – Adele
- "Heat Waves" – Glass Animals
What Record of the Year Measures
Record of the Year recognizes a single song or track for its performance and production quality. Unlike Song of the Year, which focuses on songwriting and lyrics, Record of the Year emphasizes the recording itself, including vocal, instrumental, and technical craftsmanship. Voters consider overall appeal, chart performance, and production excellence.
Criteria Used by Voting Members
Academy voting members evaluate recordings based on several factors:
- Artistic achievement
- Technical excellence
- Chart and streaming impact
- Cultural resonance
Because the field can include pop, rock, hip-hop, and global music, the outcome often reflects a track with broad streaming and public engagement.
Why “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” Won
“We Don’t Talk About Bruno” achieved rare mainstream saturation, driven by the success of Disney’s Encanto. It topped the Billboard Hot 100, dominated global charts, and remained in public conversation well beyond the film’s release. Its win illustrates how a soundtrack song from a family film can outperform more traditional radio fare, aided by streaming numbers and social media momentum.
Cultural and Commercial Impact
The song’s reach extended into memes, covers, and family listening, making it a staple of 2021–2022 pop culture. For the Grammys, this level of engagement tends to align with strong voter familiarity, a key factor in a category decided by peer voting.
Comparison With Other 2024 Main Categories
Looking at major Grammy categories in 2024 shows how Record of the Year can differ from Album of the Year and other prizes.
| Category | Winner | Relation to Record of the Year |
|---|---|---|
| Record of the Year | “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” | Single track recognition |
| Album of the Year | “Midnights” – Taylor Swift | Album-level honor |
| Song of the Year | "Naatu Naatu" (M.M. Keeravani) | Songwriting focus versus recording focus |
| Best Pop Solo Performance | "Easy On Me" – Adele | Vocal performance emphasis |
Context and Legacy
“We Don’t Talk About Bruno” remains one of the most iconic soundtrack songs of the 2020s, setting a high bar for Record of the Year. Its Grammy win reinforced the growing influence of film and television music in major awards. For future voters, this result signals continued openness to genre-blending, multilingual, and family-friendly hits in a category historically dominated by mainstream pop.
How the Grammy Voting Process Works
The Recording Academy uses a multi-round voting process for many categories. Eligible voters review recordings, submit nominations, then vote to determine the final winner. This peer-based system aims to reward artistic and technical merit, though it can also favor widely known, high-streaming tracks.
Key Steps in Record of the Year Voting
- Nominations review by genre committees and voting members
- Final voting round based on overall recording quality
- Verification of eligibility and tabulation by independent auditors
FAQs
Who won Record of the Year 2024?
“We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” performed by the cast of Encanto, won Record of the Year at the 2024 Grammy Awards.
Who were the other nominees in 2024?
Nominees included Lizzo (“About Damn Time”), Beyoncé (“Break My Soul”), Adele (“Easy On Me”), and Glass Animals (“Heat Waves”).
What defines Record of the Year versus Song of the Year?
Record of the Year emphasizes the recording, performance, and production. Song of the Year focuses on songwriting and lyrics, honoring composers and lyricists.
Does Record of the Year predict commercial success?
How are winners selected in this category?
Winners are chosen by Academy voting members across genres, with final results verified by independent auditors to ensure accuracy.