The Grammy Awards, the biggest awards show in the music industry, were held last night. The big winners: Amy Winehouse, Kanye West and Herbie Hancock who received the coveted award for Album of the Yeare. It was obvious that despite her personal problems, Winehouse was this year’s Grammy favorite as she took home awards for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and Best Pop Vocal Album. Visit the Grammy website for the full list of nominees and winners.

Kanye West, winner of Best Rap Album for The Graduation, delivered an awesome performance of the single “Stronger”, which received the title of Best Rap Solo Performance. He also offered a moving tribute to his mother with Daft Punk. His was absolutely one of the best performances of the night.

There is no doubt that winning a Grammy – let alone four or five in the case of Winehouse and West – is a huge boost for the artist’s brands as well as a huge sense accomplishment and validation. Even better than certain over-hyped artists who will remain nameless receiving awards, it is always great when artists such as Herbie Hancock, who have contributed countless years to the music industry receive the highest recognition.

More important to the artist brand than the actual awards is most likely their public persona. Kanye West has been widely criticized for his lack of humility and open disgust when he has failed to win awards in the past, causing people to be on watch for his next public outburst.  One of the keys to success is being humble enough control your disappointment when you don’t receive something you believe you deserve. The truth is that it doesn’t matter what you think you deserve, sometimes the competition is just tough and a good showmanship is important to the brand of every star.

As the old adage goes though, no press is bad press, so West’s reputation for being a sore looser and Winehouse’s public battle with drugs could do more to keep them in the spotlight much longer than maintaining a squeaky clean image. Gotta love the entertainment industry.