Heritage Award edit

• Gladys Knight & the Pips

Winners are in bold text.

Album of the Year – Male edit

• Michael Jackson – Bad
  • Alexander O'Neal – Hearsay
  • Prince – Sign o' the Times
  • Stevie Wonder – Characters

Album of the Year – Female edit

• Whitney Houston – Whitney
  • Natalie Cole – Everlasting
  • Jody Watley – Jody Watley
  • Angela Winbush – Sharp

Album of the Year – Group or Band edit

• LeVert – The Big Throwdown
  • Earth, Wind & Fire – Touch the World
  • Gladys Knight & the Pips – All Our Love
  • The Whispers – Just Gets Better with Time

Best Single – Male edit

• Michael Jackson – "Bad"
  • Prince – "U Got the Look"
  • Luther Vandross – "So Amazing"
  • Stevie Wonder – "Skeletons"

Best Single – Female edit

• Natalie Cole – "I Live for Your Love"
  • Janet Jackson – "The Pleasure Principle"
  • Jody Watley – "Looking for a New Love"
  • Angela Winbush – "Angel"

Best Single – Group or Band edit

• LeVert – "Casanova"
  • Atlantic Starr – "Always"
  • Earth, Wind & Fire – "System of Survival"
  • The Whispers – "Rock Steady"

Best Rap Single edit

• LL Cool J – "I Need Love"
  • Dana Dane – "Cinderfella Dana Dane"
  • The Fat Boys – "Wipeout"
  • Kool Moe Dee – "How Ya Like Me Now"

Best Music Video edit

• Janet Jackson – "Control"
  • Whitney Houston – "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)"
  • Michael Jackson – "The Way You Make Me Feel"
  • Jody Watley – "Looking for a New Love"

Best New Artist edit

• Miki Howard
  • Terence Trent D'Arby
  • Exposé
  • Shanice Wilson

Best Rap Album edit

• LL Cool J – Bigger and Deffer
  • Eric B. & Rakim – Paid in Full
  • Heavy D & the Boyz – Living Large
  • Whodini – Open Sesame

Best Gospel Album – Solo edit

• Vanessa Bell Armstrong – Following Jesus
  • Shirley Caesar – Her Very Best
  • Aretha Franklin – One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism
  • Al Green – Soul Survivor

Best Gospel Album – Group or Choir edit

• The Winans – Decisions
  • Reverend Milton Brunson and The Thompson Community Singers – If I Be Lifted
  • Commissioned – Go Tell Somebody
  • The Clark Sisters – Heart and Soul

Best Jazz Album – Solo edit

• Najee – Najee's Theme
  • Jonathan Butler – Jonathan Butler
  • Dexter Gordon – The Other Side of Round Midnight
  • David Sanborn – A Change of Heart

Best Jazz Album – Group or Band edit

• Hiroshima – Go
  • George Benson and Earl Klugh – Collaboration
  • Freddie Hubbard – Life Flight
  • Pat Metheny Group – Still Life (Talking)

• Alexander O'Neal
• Natalie Cole
• Kool Moe Dee
• The Whispers
• Smokey Robinson
• LL Cool J
• Hiroshima and George Duke
• Gladys Knight & the Pips Tribute:
  • Chaka Khan
  • Stephanie Mills
  • Angela Winbush
  • Ronald Isley
• Dionne Warwick and Howard Hewett
• Patti LaBelle and the Edwin Hawkins Singers
• Gladys Knight & the Pips