# Grammy Award for Best R&B Song

The Grammy Award for Best R&B Song (sometimes known as the R&B Songwriter's Award) has been awarded since 1969. From 1969 to 2000, it was known as the Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Song. Beyoncé has won it a record five times, while Babyface, Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers and Alicia Keys have three wins each.
The award goes to the songwriter. If the winning song contains samples or interpolations of songs, the original songwriter and publisher can apply for a Winners Certificate.Only Sza has won back to back from 2024 up to 2025 The performing artist does not receive an award unless they are also credited as a songwriter.
Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for music released in the previous year.

## Recipients

    An asterisk (*) indicates this recording also won Song of the Year.
| Year | Recipient(s) | Work | Performing artist(s) | Nominees (Performer(s) in parentheses) |
| 1969 | Otis Redding Steve Cropper | "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" | Otis Redding | Don Covay for "Chain of Fools" (Aretha Franklin) Edward Thomas, Bob McRee, & Clifton Thomas for "Pickin' Wild Mountain Berries" (Peggy Scott & Jo Jo Benson) Homer Banks, Bettye Crutcher, Raymond Jackson, & Donald Davis for "Who's Making Love" (Johnnie Taylor) Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong, & Roger Penzabene for "I Wish It Would Rain" (The Temptations) |
| 1970 | Richard Lewis Spencer | "Color Him Father" | The Winstons | Clarence Carter, George Jackson, & Raymond Moore for "I'd Rather Be an Old Man's Sweetheart" (Candi Staton) Herbert "Tim" McPherson & Mel Hardin for "Backfield in Motion" (Mel & Tim) Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, & Jerry Butler for "Only the Strong Survive" (Jerry Butler) Rudolph Isley, O'Kelly Isley Jr., & Ronald Isley for "It's Your Thing" (The Isley Brothers) |
| 1971 | Ronald Dunbar General Johnson | "Patches" | Clarence Carter | Greg Perry, General Johnson, & Angelo Bond for "Somebody's Been Sleeping in My Bed" (100 Proof (Aged in Soul)) Russell Lewis & Herman Davis for "Groovy Situation" (Gene Chandler) Stevie Wonder, Lee Garrett, Syreeta Wright, & Lula Hardaway for "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" (Stevie Wonder) Thom Bell & William Hart for "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" (The Delfonics) |
| 1972 | Bill Withers | "Ain't No Sunshine" | Bill Withers | Clay McMurray, Laverne Ware, & Pamela Sawyer for "If I Were Your Woman" (Gladys Knight & the Pips) Clifton Davis for "Never Can Say Goodbye" (The Jackson 5) Joseph Broussard, Carol Washington, & Ralph Williams for "Mr. Big Stuff" (Jean Knight) Barrett Strong & Norman Whitfield for "Smiling Faces Sometimes" (The Undisputed Truth) |
| 1973 | Barrett Strong Norman Whitfield | "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" | The Temptations | Curtis Mayfield for "Freddie's Dead" (Curtis Mayfield) Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, & Cary Gilbert for "Me & Mrs. Jones" (Billy Paul) Leon Huff, Gene McFadden, & John Whitehead for "Back Stabbers" (The O'Jays) Rudy Clark, J.R. Bailey, & Kenny Williams for "Everybody Plays the Fool" (The Main Ingredient) |
| 1974 | Stevie Wonder | "Superstition" | Stevie Wonder | Jim Weatherly for "Midnight Train to Georgia" (Gladys Knight & the Pips) Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff for "Love Train" (The O'Jays) Sylvester Stewart for "Family Affair" (Sly & the Family Stone) War for "Cisco Kid" (War) |
| 1975 | Stevie Wonder | "Living for the City" | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder for "Tell Me Something Good" (Rufus) Hal Davis, Don Fletcher, & Dean Parks for "Dancing Machine" (The Jackson 5) Harry Wayne Casey & Richard Finch for "Rock Your Baby" (George McCrae) Kenneth Gamble for "For the Love of Money" (The O'Jays) |
| 1976 | Harry Wayne Casey Willie Clarke Richard Finch Betty Wright | "Where Is the Love" | Betty Wright | Barney Perry for "Walking in Rhythm" (The Blackbyrds) Charlie Smalls for "Ease on Down the Road" (Consumer Rapport) Harry Wayne Casey & Richard Finch for "Get Down Tonight" (KC & the Sunshine Band) Harry Wayne Casey & Richard Finch for "That's the Way (I Like It)" (KC & the Sunshine Band) |
| 1977 | Boz Scaggs David Paich | "Lowdown" | Boz Scaggs | Bob Montgomery for "Misty Blue" (Dorothy Moore) Harry Wayne Casey & Richard Finch for "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty" (KC & the Sunshine Band) Harvey Scales, Al Vance, & Don Davis for "Disco Lady" (Johnnie Taylor) Pam Sawyer & Marilyn McLeod for "Love Hangover" (Diana Ross) |
| 1978 | Leo Sayer Vini Poncia | "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" | Leo Sayer | Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, & Cary Gilbert for "Don't Leave Me This Way" (Thelma Houston) Lionel Richie for "Easy" (The Commodores) Maurice White & Al McKay for "Best of My Love" (The Emotions) Milan Williams, Walter Orange, Thomas McClary, William King, Lionel Richie, & Ronald LaPread for "Brick House" (The Commodores) |
| 1979 | Paul Jabara | "Last Dance" | Donna Summer | Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff for "Use Ta Be My Girl" (The O'Jays) Maurice White, Eddie del Barrio, & Verdine White for "Fantasy" (Earth, Wind & Fire) Perry Kibble & Janice Marie Johnson for "Boogie Oogie Oogie" (A Taste of Honey) Bernard Edwards, Kenny Lehman, & Nile Rodgers for "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" (Chic) |
| 1980 | David Foster Jay Graydon Bill Champlin | "After the Love Has Gone" | Earth, Wind & Fire | Dino Fekaris & Freddie Perren for "Reunited" (Peaches & Herb) Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, & Jerry Cohen for "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" (McFadden & Whitehead) Isaac Hayes & Adrienne Anderson for "Deja Vu" (Dionne Warwick) Nile Rodgers & Bernard Edwards for "We Are Family" (Sister Sledge) |
| 1981 | Reggie Lucas James Mtume | "Never Knew Love Like This Before" | Stephanie Mills | Nile Rodgers & Bernard Edwards for "Upside Down" (Diana Ross) Lee Garrett & Stevie Wonder for "Let's Get Serious" (Jermaine Jackson) Leo Graham & Paul Richmond for "Shining Star" (The Manhattans) Rod Temperton for "Give Me the Night" (George Benson) |
| 1982 | Bill Withers William Salter Ralph MacDonald | "Just the Two of Us" | Grover Washington Jr. & Bill Withers | Chas Jankel & Kenny Young for "Ai No Corrida" (Quincy Jones) Harold Hudson, William King, & Shirley King for "Lady (You Bring Me Up)" (The Commodores) Leon Haywood for "She's a Bad Mama Jama" (Carl Carlton) Marc Blatte & Larry Gottlieb for "When She Was My Girl" (The Four Tops) |
| 1983 | Jay Graydon Steve Lukather Bill Champlin | "Turn Your Love Around" | George Benson | Marvin Gaye, Odell Brown, & David Ritz for "Sexual Healing" (Marvin Gaye) Reggie Andrews & Leon "Ndugu" Chancler for "Let It Whip" (Dazz Band) Stevie Wonder for "That Girl" (Stevie Wonder) Stevie Wonder for "Do I Do" (Stevie Wonder) Teddy Randazzo, Bobby Weinstein, & Lou Staliman for "It's Gonna Take a Miracle" (Deniece Williams) |
| 1984 | Michael Jackson | "Billie Jean" | Michael Jackson | Eddy Grant for "Electric Avenue" (Eddy Grant) Hawk Wolinski for "Ain't Nobody" (Rufus & Chaka Khan) James Ingram & Quincy Jones for "PYT (Pretty Young Thing)" (Michael Jackson) Michael Jackson for "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (Michael Jackson) |
| 1985 | Prince | "I Feel for You" | Chaka Khan | Bill Wolfer & Dean Pitchford for "Dancing in the Sheets" (Shalamar) James Ingram, Michael McDonald, Rod Temperton, & Quincy Jones for "Yah Mo B There" (James Ingram & Michael McDonald) Keith Diamond & Billy Ocean for "Caribbean Queen" (Billy Ocean) Prince for "The Glamorous Life" (Sheila E.) |
| 1986 | Jeffrey E. Cohen Narada Michael Walden | "Freeway of Love" | Aretha Franklin | David Foster, Tom Keane, & Cynthia Weil for "Through the Fire" (Chaka Khan) LaLa for "You Give Good Love" (Whitney Houston) Sharon Robinson, Jon Gilutin, & Bunny Hull for "New Attitude" (Patti LaBelle) Walter Orange, Dennis Lambert, & Franne Golde for "Nightshift" (The Commodores) |
| 1987 | Anita Baker Louis A. Johnson Gary Bias | "Sweet Love" | Anita Baker | Dan Hartman & Charlie Midnight for "Living in America" (James Brown) James Harris III, Terry Lewis, & Janet Jackson for "What Have You Done For Me Lately" (Janet Jackson) Luther Vandross & Nat Adderley Jr. for "Give Me the Reason" (Luther Vandross) Prince & the Revolution for "Kiss" (Prince & the Revolution) |
| 1988 | Bill Withers | "Lean on Me" | Club Nouveau | Jimmy George & Lou Pardini for "Just to See Her" (Smokey Robinson) Prince for "U Got the Look" (Prince & Sheena Easton) Reggie Calloway for "Casanova" (LeVert) Stevie Wonder for "Skeletons" (Stevie Wonder) |
| 1989 | Anita Baker Randy Holland Skip Scarborough | "Giving You the Best That I Got" | Anita Baker | Babyface, L.A. Reid, & Daryl Simmons for "Don't Be Cruel" (Bobby Brown) Jimmy George for "I'll Always Love You" (Taylor Dayne) Johnny Kemp & Gene Griffin for "Just Got Paid" (Johnny Kemp) Luther Vandross & Marcus Miller for "Any Love" (Luther Vandross) |
| 1990 | Kenny Gamble Leon Huff | "If You Don't Know Me by Now" | Simply Red | Calvin Lewis & Andrew Wright for "When a Man Loves a Woman" (Joe Cocker) James Harris III & Terry Lewis for "Miss You Much" (Janet Jackson) L.A. Reid & Babyface for "Every Little Step" (Bobby Brown) L.A. Reid, Babyface, & Daryl Simmons for "Superwoman" (Karyn White) |
| 1991 | MC Hammer Rick James Alonzo Miller | "U Can't Touch This" | MC Hammer | George Johnson, Louis Johnson, & Sonora Sam for "I'll Be Good to You" (Ray Charles & Chaka Khan) Janet Jackson, James Harris III & Terry Lewis for "Alright" (Janet Jackson) Babyface & Daryl Simmons for "My, My, My" (Johnny Gill) Terry Steele & David L. Elliott for "Here and Now" (Luther Vandross) |
| 1992 | Marcus Miller Luther Vandross Teddy Vann | "Power of Love/Love Power" | Luther Vandross | Alvertis Isbell for "I'll Take You There" (BeBe & CeCe Winans featuring Mavis Staples) Dr. Freeze for "I Wanna Sex You Up" (Color Me Badd) Narada Michael Walden & Lisa Fischer for "How Can I Ease the Pain" (Lisa Fischer) Walter Afanasieff & John Bettis for "Can You Stop the Rain" (Peabo Bryson) |
| 1993 | Babyface L.A. Reid Daryl Simmons | "End of the Road" | Boyz II Men | Dallas Austin & Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes for "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg" (TLC) Hal Davis, Berry Gordy, Willie Hutch, & Bob West for "I'll Be There" (Mariah Carey & Trey Lorenz) Michael Jackson, René Moore, Bruce Swedien, & Teddy Riley for "Jam" (Michael Jackson) Thomas McElroy & Denzil Foster for "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)" (En Vogue) |
| 1994 | Janet Jackson Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis | "That's the Way Love Goes" | Janet Jackson | Babyface & Daryl Simmons for "Can We Talk" (Tevin Campbell) Luther Vandross & Marcus Miller for "Little Miracles (Happen Every Day)" (Luther Vandross) Luther Vandross & Reed Vertelney for "Heaven Knows" (Luther Vandross) Raphael Wiggins & Carl Wheeler for "Anniversary" (Tony! Toni! Toné!) |
| 1995 | Babyface | "I'll Make Love to You" | Boyz II Men | Babyface for "When Can I See You" (Babyface) Babyface, L.A. Reid, & Daryl Simmons for "You Mean the World to Me" (Toni Braxton) Me'Shell Ndegéocello for "If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)" (Me'Shell Ndegéocello) Rick Nowels & Ellen Shipley for "Body and Soul" (Anita Baker) |
| 1996 | Stevie Wonder | "For Your Love" | Stevie Wonder | Babyface for "Red Light Special" (TLC) Babyface for "You Can't Run" (Vanessa L. Williams) D'Angelo for "Brown Sugar" (D'Angelo) Dallas Austin for "Creep" (TLC) |
| 1997 | Babyface | "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" | Whitney Houston | Babyface for "Sittin' up in My Room" (Brandy) Babyface, Toni Braxton & Bryce Wilson for "You're Makin' Me High" (Toni Braxton) Luther Vandross for "Your Secret Love" (Luther Vandross) Rod Temperton for "You Put a Move on My Heart" (Tamia) |
| 1998 | R. Kelly | "I Believe I Can Fly" | R. Kelly | Andre Young, Chauncey Hannibal, Teddy Riley, William Stewart, Lynise Walters, Richard Vick, & Bill Withers for "No Diggity" (Blackstreet featuring Dr. Dre & Queen Pen) Erykah Badu & Jaborn Jamal for "On & On" (Erykah Badu) Kirk Franklin for "Stomp" (God's Property featuring Kirk Franklin & Salt) Mariah Carey, Puff Daddy, Stevie J, Q-Tip (The Ummah), Bobby Robinson, Stephen Hague, Ronald Larkins, Malcolm McLaren, & Larry Price for "Honey" (Mariah Carey) |
| 1999 | Lauryn Hill | "Doo Wop (That Thing)" | Lauryn Hill | Brandy Norwood, LaShawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins III, Rodney Jerkins, & Japhe Tejeda for "The Boy is Mine" (Brandy & Monica) Kirk Franklin for "Lean On Me" (Kirk Franklin with Mary J. Blige, R. Kelly, Bono, Crystal Lewis & the Family) Lauryn Hill for "A Rose is Still a Rose" (Aretha Franklin) Rory Bennett & JoJo Hailey for "All My Life (K-Ci & JoJo) |
| 2000 | Kandi Burruss Kevin Briggs Tameka Cottle | "No Scrubs" | TLC | Lauryn Hill for "All That I Can Say" (Mary J. Blige) Kevin "Shekspere" Briggs, Kandi Burruss, Beyoncé Knowles, LeToya Luckett, LaTavia Roberson, & Kelendria Rowland for "Bills, Bills, Bills" (Destiny's Child) K. Karlin, Tamara Savage, & Carsten Schack for "Heartbreak Hotel" (Whitney Houston featuring Faith Evans & Kelly Price) LaShawn Daniels, Toni Estes, Fred Jerkins III, Rodney Jerkins, & Isaac Phillips for "It's Not Right but It's Okay" (Whitney Houston) |
| 2001 | Beyoncé Rodney Jerkins LaShawn Daniels Fred Jerkins III LeToya Luckett LaTavia Roberson Kelly Rowland | "Say My Name" | Destiny's Child | Erykah Badu for "Bag Lady" (Erykah Badu) LaShawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins III, Rodney Jerkins, & Harvey Mason Jr. for "He Wasn't Man Enough" (Toni Braxton) Mark Andrews, Tim Kelley, & Bob Robinson for "Thong Song" (Sisqó) D'Angelo & Raphael Saadiq for "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" (D'Angelo) |
| 2002 | Alicia Keys | "Fallin'" * | Alicia Keys | Erykah Badu for "Didn't Cha Know?" (Erykah Badu) Missy Elliott & T. Mosley for "Get Ur Freak On" (Missy Elliott) Dallas Austin for "Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)" (Blu Cantrell) Brian McKnight for "Love of My Life" (Brian McKnight) India.Arie, Carlos "Six July" Broady, & Shannon Sanders for "Video" (India.Arie) |
| 2003 | Erykah Badu Glenn Standridge James Poyser Madukwu Chinwah Raphael Saadiq Lonnie Lynn Robert Ozuna | "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)" | Erykah Badu featuring Common | Michael Archer, Bobby Ozuna, Raphael Saadiq, & Glenn Standridge for "Be Here" (Raphael Saadiq featuring D'Angelo) Marsha Ambrosius, Darren "Limitless" Henson, Keith "Keshon" Pelzer, & Natalie Stewart for "Floetic" (Floetry) Will Baker, Andrew Ramsey, Shannon Sanders, & India Simpson for "Good Man" (India.Arie) Remy Shand for "Take a Message" (Remy Shand) |
| 2004 | Beyoncé Jay Z Rich Harrison | "Crazy in Love" | Beyoncé featuring Jay Z | Mark Batson & Anthony Hamilton for "Comin' from Where I'm From" (Anthony Hamilton) Richard Marx & Luther Vandross for "Dance with My Father" (Luther Vandross) Erykah Badu, J. Poyser, B.R. Smith, & R.C. Williams for "Danger" (Erykah Badu) A. Douglas, I. Lorenzo, & A. Parker for "Rock wit U (Awww Baby)"(Ashanti) |
| 2005 | Alicia Keys Harold Lilly Kanye West | "You Don't Know My Name" | Alicia Keys | Bryan Michael Cox, Jermaine Dupri, & Usher for "Burn" (Usher) Prince for "Call My Name" (Prince) Jermaine Dupri, Alicia Keys, Usher, Manuel Seal, & Adonis Shropshire for "My Boo" (Usher & Alicia Keys) Chris Bridges, Sean Garrett, LaMarquis Jefferson, Robert McDowell, James Phillips, Jonathan Smith, & Patrick J. Que Smith for "Yeah!" (Usher featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris) |
| 2006 | Mariah Carey Johntá Austin Manuel Seal Jr. Jermaine Dupri | "We Belong Together" | Mariah Carey | Rodney Jerkins, Beyoncé, Ricky Lewis, Kelly Rowland, Robert Waller, & Michelle Williams for "Cater 2 U" (Destiny's Child) Craig Brockman, Missy Elliott, & Nisan Stewart for "Free Yourself" (Fantasia) W. Adams & J. Stephens for "Ordinary People" (John Legend) Garry Glenn, Alicia Keys, Harold Lilly, & Kanye West for "Unbreakable" (Alicia Keys) |
| 2007 | Bryan-Michael Cox Jason Perry Johntá Austin Mary J. Blige | "Be Without You" | Mary J. Blige | Prince for "Black Sweat" (Prince) Jay Z, Rodney 'Darkchild' Jerkins, Beyoncé, Makeba, Keli Nicole Price, & Delisha Thomas for "Déjà Vu" (Beyoncé featuring Jay Z) Johnta Austin, Mariah Carey, Bryan-Michael Cox, & Jermaine Dupri for "Don't Forget About Us" (Mariah Carey) Drew Ramsey, Shannon Sanders, & India.Arie for "I Am Not My Hair" (India.Arie) |
| 2008 | Alicia Keys Dirty Harry Kerry "Krucial" Brothers | "No One" | Alicia Keys | India.Arie & Joyce Simpson for "Beautiful Flower" (India.Arie) M.S. Eriksen, T.E. Hermansen, & Shaffer Smith for "Hate That I Love You" (Rihanna featuring Ne-Yo) Ivan Barias, Adam W. Blackstone, Randall C. Bowland, Carvin Haggins, Johnnie Smith II, & Corey Latif Williams for "Teachme" (Musiq Soulchild) Louis Biancaniello, Waynne Nugent, Erika Nuri, Kevin Risto, Janet Swel, & Sam Watters for "When I See U" (Fantasia) |
| 2009 | Mikkel Eriksen Tor Hermansen Ne-Yo | "Miss Independent" | Ne-Yo | Salaam Remi & Jazmine Sullivan for "Bust Your Windows" (Jazmine Sullivan) I. Barias, Raheem DeVaughn, C. Haggins, K. Oliver, & J. Smith for "Customer" (Raheem DeVaughn) Keyshia Cole, Jason Farmer, & Alex Francis for "Heaven Sent" (Keyshia Cole) Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, & Ne-Yo for "Spotlight" (Jennifer Hudson) |
| 2010 | Thaddis Harrell Beyoncé Knowles Terius Nash Christopher Stewart | "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" * | Beyoncé | James T. Brown, John Conte Jr., Jamie Foxx, Christopher Henderson, Brandon R. Melanchon, Breyon Prescott, T-Pain, & Nathan L. Walker for "Blame It" (Jamie Foxx featuring T-Pain) Salaam Remi & Jazmine Sullivan for "Lions, Tigers & Bears" (Jazmine Sullivan) Hod David & Musze for "Pretty Wings" (Maxwell) D. Babbs, L. Bereal, M. Cooper, A. Dixon, J. Franklin, T. Jones, R. New, & K. Stephens for "Under" (Pleasure P) |
| 2011 | John Legend | "Shine" | John Legend & The Roots | Charles Harmon & Claude Kelly for "Bittersweet" (Fantasia) Ivan "Orthodox" Barias, Curt Chambers, Carvin "Ransum" Haggins, Jaheim Hoagland, & Miguel Jontel for "Finding My Way Back" (Jaheim) Eldra DeBarge & Mischke for "Second Chance" (El DeBarge) Kem Owens for "Why Would You Stay" (Kem) |
| 2012 | CeeLo Green Melanie Fiona Jack Splash | "Fool for You" | CeeLo Green featuring Melanie Fiona | Marsha Ambrosius, Sterling Simms, & Justin Smith for "Far Away" (Marsha Ambrosius) Kelly Price for "Not My Daddy" (Kelly Price featuring Stokley) Charles Harmon, Claude Kelly, & Ledisi Young for "Pieces of Me" (Ledisi) Dennis Bettis, Carl M. Days Jr., Wirlie Morris, Charlie Wilson, & Mahin Wilson for "You Are" (Charlie Wilson) |
| 2013 | Miguel Pimentel | "Adorn" | Miguel | Tamia Hill, Claude Kelly, & Salaam Remi for "Beautiful Surprise" (Tamia) Benjamin Levin, Rico Love, & Tremaine Neverson for "Heart Attack" (Trey Songz) Antonio Dixon, Kenny Edmonds, Anthony Hamilton, & Patrick M. Smith for "Pray for Me" (Anthony Hamilton) Darhyl "DJ" Camper, Elle Varner, & Andrew "Pop" Wansel for "Refill" (Elle Varner) |
| 2014 | James Fauntleroy Jerome Harmon Timothy Mosley Justin Timberlake | "Pusher Love Girl" | Justin Timberlake | Anthony Hamilton, & Jairus Mozee for "Best of Me" (Anthony Hamilton) Tamar Braxton, Darhyl Camper Jr., LaShawn Daniels, & Makeba Riddick for "Love & War" (Tamar Braxton) PJ Morton for "Only One" (PJ Morton & Stevie Wonder) Fantasia Barrino, Missy Elliott, Al Sherrod Lambert, Harmony Samuels, & Kyle Stewart for "Without Me" (Fantasia (featuring Kelly Rowland & Missy Elliott) |
| 2015 | Shawn Carter Rasool Diaz Noel Fisher Jerome Harmon Beyoncé Knowles Timothy Mosley Andre Eric Proctor Brian Soko | "Drunk in Love" | Beyoncé (featuring Jay Z) | Ronald "Flippa" Colson, Warren "Oak" Felder, Usher Raymond IV, Jameel Roberts, Terry "Tru" Sneed, & Andrew "Pop" Wansel for "Good Kisser" (Usher) Eric Belinger, Chris Brown, James Chambers, Malissa Hunter, Justin Booth Johnson, Mark Pitts, Usher Raymond IV, William Roberts, Maurice "Verse" Simmonds, & Keith Thomas for "New Flame" (Chris Brown featuring Usher & Rick Ross) Dominic Gordon, Brandon Hesson, & Jamaica "Kahn-Cept" Smith for "Options (Wolfjames Version)" (Luke James featuring Rick Ross) Jhené Aiko Chilombo for "The Worst" (Jhené Aiko) |
| 2016 | D'Angelo Gina Figueroa Kendra Foster | "Really Love" | D'Angelo & The Vanguard | Brook Davis & Miguel Pimentel for "Coffee" (Miguel) Ahmad Balshe, Stephan Moccio, Jason Quenneville, & Abel Tesfaye for "Earned It" (The Weeknd) Kenny B. Edmonds, Jazmine Sullivan, & Dwyane M. Weir II for "Let It Burn" (Jazmine Sullivan) Warryn Campbell, Tyrese Gibson, & DJ Rogers Jr. for "Shame" (Tyrese) |
| 2017 | Hod David Musze | "Lake by the Ocean" | Maxwell | Jahron Brathwaite, Noah Shebib & Aubrey Graham for "Come and See Me" (PartyNextDoor featuring Drake) Bryson Tiller, Michael Hernandez, & Michael Johnson for "Exchange" (Bryson Tiller) Jeff Bhasker, Robyn Fenty, John Glass, & Teddy Sinclair for "Kiss It Better" (Rihanna) Magnus Høiberg, Benjamin Levin, & Daystar Peterson for "Luv" (Tory Lanez) |
| 2018 | Christopher Brody Brown James Fauntleroy Philip Lawrence Bruno Mars Ray Charles McCullough II Jeremy Reeves Ray Romulus Jonathan Yip | "That's What I Like" * | Bruno Mars | PJ Morton for "First Began" (PJ Morton) Alfredo Gonzalez, Olatunji Ige, Samuel David Jiminez, Christopher McClenney, Khalid Robinson, & Joshua Scruggs for "Location" (Khalid) Donald Glover & Ludwig Göransson for "Redbone" (Childish Gambino) Tyran Donaldson, Terrence Henderson, Greg Landfair Jr., Solána Rowe, & Pharrell Williams for "Supermodel" (SZA) |
| 2019 | Larrance Dopson Joelle James Ella Mai Dijon McFarlane | "Boo'd Up" | Ella Mai | Jermaine Cole, Miguel Pimentel, & Salaam Remi for "Come Through and Chill" (Miguel featuring J. Cole & Salaam Remi) Donald Glover & Ludwig Göransson for "Feels Like Summer" (Childish Gambino) Darhyl Camper Jr., Gabriella Wilson, & Justin Love for "Focus" (H.E.R.) Paul Boutin, Toni Braxton, & Antonio Dixon for "Long as I Live" (Toni Braxton) |
| 2020 | PJ Morton | "Say So" | PJ Morton featuring JoJo | Dernst Emile II, David "Swagg R’Celious" Harris, H.E.R., & Hue "Soundzfire" Strother for "Could've Been" (H.E.R. featuring Bryson Tiller) Emily King & Jeremy Most for "Look at Me Now" (Emily King) Chris Brown, Tyler James Bryant, Nija Charles, Aubrey Graham, Anderson Hernandez, Michee Patrick Lebrun, Joshua Lewis, Noah Shebib, & Teddy Walton for "No Guidance" (Chris Brown featuring Drake) David Brown, Dernst Emile II, & Peter Lee Johnson for "Roll Some Mo" (Lucky Daye) |
| 2021 | Robert Glasper, Meshell Ndegeocello & Gabriella Wilson | "Better Than I Imagined" | Robert Glasper featuring H.E.R. & Meshell Ndegeocello | Denisia Andrews, Beyoncé, Stephen Bray, Shawn Carter, Brittany Coney, Derek James Dixie, Akil King, Kim "Kaydence" Krysiuk & Rickie "Caso" Tice for "Black Parade" (Beyoncé) Sam Barsh, Stacy Barthe, Sonyae Elise, Olu Fann, Akil King, Josh Lopez, Kaveh Rastegar & Benedetto Rotondi for "Collide" (Tiana Major9 & EarthGang) Chloe Bailey, Halle Bailey, Anton Kuhl, Scott Storch, Victoria Monét & Vincent van den Ende for "Do It" (Chloe x Halle) Nasri Atweh, Badriia Bourelly, Skip Marley, Ryan Williamson & Gabriella Wilson for "Slow Down" (Skip Marley & H.E.R.) |
| 2022 | Brandon Anderson, Christopher Brody Brown, Dernst Emile II & Bruno Mars | "Leave the Door Open" * | Silk Sonic | Anthony Clemons Jr., Jeff Gitelman, H.E.R., Carl McCormick & Tiara Thomas for "Damage" (H.E.R.) Jacob Collier, Carter Lang, Carlos Munoz, Solána Rowe & Christopher Ruelas for "Good Days" (SZA) Giveon Evans, Maneesh, Sevn Thomas & Varren Wade for "Heartbreak Anniversary" (Giveon) Denisia "Blue June" Andrews, Audra Mae Butts, Kyle Coleman, Brittany "Chi" Coney, Michael Holmes & Jazmine Sullivan for "Pick Up Your Feelings" (Jazmine Sullivan) |
| 2023 | Denisia "Blu June" Andrews, Beyoncé, Brittany "Chi" Coney, Terius "The-Dream" Gesteelde-Diamant, Morten Ristorp, Nile Rodgers and Raphael Saadiq | "Cuff It" | Beyoncé | Mary J. Blige, David Brown, Dernst Emile II, Gabriella Wilson and Tiara Thomas – "Good Morning Gorgeous" (Mary J. Blige) Hamadi Zaabi, Dylan Graham, Priscilla Renea, Thaddis "Kuk" Harrell, Brandon John-Baptiste, Isaac Wriston and Justin Nathaniel Zim – "Hrs & Hrs" (Muni Long) Akeel Henry, Michael Holmes, Luca Mauti, Jazmine Sullivan and Elliott Trent – "Hurt Me So Good" (Jazmine Sullivan) PJ Morton – "Please Don't Walk Away" (PJ Morton) |
| 2024 | Kenny B. Edmonds, Blair Ferguson, Khris Riddick-Tynes, Solána Rowe and Leon Thomas | "Snooze" | SZA | Halle Bailey, Theron Feemster and Coleridge Tillman – "Angel" (Halle) Darryl Andrew Farris, Robert Glasper and Alex Isley – "Back to Love" (Robert Glasper featuring Sir and Alex Isley) Darhyl Camper Jr., Courtney Jones, Raymond Komba and Roy Keisha Rockette – "ICU" (Coco Jones) Dernst Emile II, Jeff Gitelman, Victoria Monét, Kyla Moscovich, Jamil Pierre and Charles Williams – "On My Mama" (Victoria Monét) |
| 2025 | Rob Bisel, Carter Lang, Solána Rowe, Jared Solomon & Scott Zhang | "Saturn" | SZA | Diovanna Frazier, Alex Goldblatt, Kehlani Parrish, Khris Riddick-Tynes and Daniel Upchurch – "After Hours" (Kehlani) Ronald Banful and Temilade Openiyi – "Burning" (Tems) Sara Diamond, Sydney Floyd, Marisela Jackson, Courtney Jones, Carl McCormick and Kelvin Wooten – "Here We Go (Uh Oh)" (Coco Jones) Jeff Gitelman, Priscilla Renea and Kevin Theodore – "Ruined Me" (Muni Long) |
* Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year.
* The performing artist is only listed but does not receive the award.

## Category facts

* Most Wins
| Rank | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| Artist | Beyonce | Stevie Wonder Alicia Keys Babyface Bill Withers | Johnta Austin Anita Baker Jay Graydon Jay Z Bruno Mars Raphael Saadiq SZA |
| Total Wins | 5 wins | 3 wins | 2 wins |
* Most Nominations
| Rank | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
| Artist | Babyface | Beyoncé | Stevie Wonder | Leon Huff, Luther Vandross | Rodney Jerkins, L.A. Reid, Daryl Simmons |
| Total Nominations | 14 nominations | 9 nominations | 8 nominations | 7 nominations | 6 nominations |