Lady Gaga won a Grammy during a ceremony preceding the main telecast on Sunday, while recordings by the Beatles and the Doors were also honored.

The flamboyant pop singer took home the best short-form video statuette for "Bad Romance," beating awards front-runner Eminem. But she lost the dance recording prize to R&B singer Rihanna's "Only Girl (in the World)."

Lady Gaga, who was not on hand to accept the award, will compete in two other categories toward the end of the early ceremony, and in another two that will be unveiled after the telecast begins at 5 p.m. (0100 GMT Monday).

Her career total stands at three, including a pair of wins at last year's ceremony.

Eminem, riding high with a comeback album recounting his near-fatal addiction to prescription medication, was a contender in the video category with "Love the Way You Lie," on which Rihanna is a featured vocalist.

He leads the field with 10 nominations in nine categories. He will compete in four additional categories toward the end of the early ceremony, and in another four during the telecast.

All but 10 of the 108 categories were being announced during a fast-paced early ceremony that is being streamed online. The main event revolves around performances from most of the nominees, as well as veterans such as Mick Jagger and Bob Dylan.

Punk rocker wins musical show prize

Other early winners included the Doors' documentary "When You're Strange" in the long-form music video category, and recordings by rock bands the White Stripes and the Black Keys in packaging categories.

A boxed set packaging the mono versions of the Beatles' albums was named best historical album. The Oscar winning movie "Crazy Heart" generated two wins in the visual media field.

Veteran composer Randy Newman won the sixth Grammy of his career for the "Toy Story 3" soundtrack. Actress Tia Carrere won the second of her career, in the Hawaiian music race.

Folk icon Pete Seeger, 91, and Julie Andrews, 75, won separate awards in the children's category. A day earlier, the British actress was given a Grammy for lifetime achievement.

In a victory considered inconceivable a few years ago, punk rocker Billie Joe Armstrong won a Grammy for best musical show album for "American Idiot," the Broadway adaptation of his band Green Day's concept album of the same name.

The big races will be announced during the telecast, including album, song and record of the year; best new artist; and best rap, pop vocal, rock and country albums.

Eminem is the favorite to win the album of the year award, the event's top prize, for "Recovery," the biggest selling album in the United States last year. With his trademark brutal honesty, Eminem detailed his descent into madness, loss of self-esteem, and struggles with writers' block.

"Love the Way You Lie," a domestic-abuse ballad, is up for record and song of the year races. The former goes to the artist, and the latter to the songwriter.

Probably the most important category, as far as millions of young girls are concerned, is best new artist. Pop idol Justin Bieber and hip-hop star Drake, both Canadians, are front-runners for the prize.