The Grammy Award Update Center
Each year, the Recording Academy makes adjustments to the nominations list as necessary after the list is first published. Common changes are often the result of updated credits and may include spelling corrections, title modifications, and the addition of nominees who were not included in the original submission, among other revisions. We are making these updates public to ensure transparency and accessibility to the most up-to-date and accurate information.
69th Grammy Press List Changes
The Board of Trustees ratifies all changes to the Grammy Awards process each spring.
The following shows the rule changes for the current year.
The Academy has created the following new categories:
- Best Asian Pop Music Performance
- Best R&B Collaboration Or Duo/Group Performance and has renamed Best R&B Performance to Best R&B Solo Performance
- Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance
- Best Traditional Folk Album and has renamed Best Folk Album as Best Contemporary Folk Album
- Best Latin Song
Songwriters and Composers of new material on the winning albums in most genre album categories
will now receive Grammys and Achievement Certificates in parity with the recognition currently
afforded to Producers and Engineers in those categories.
Best New Artist eligibility has been updated.
Internet-only releases are eligible in Best Album Notes and Best Historical Album if the additional
materials and album notes are part of the commercial download.
The threshold of new recordings required on an eligible album is lowered from 75% to 66%.
The Academy has updated category descriptions for Best Contemporary Classical Composition,
Musical Theater Album, Best Country Song, Best Country Solo Performance, Best Country Duo/
Group performance, Best Bluegrass Album, Best Children’s Music Album, Best Alternative Music
Performance, Best Alternative Music Album, Best Regional Roots Music Album.
The Academy has approved updated eligible and non-eligible Producer and Engineer definitions.
GENERAL & GENRE FIELDS
Additional Information can be found in the official Rules And Guidelines
FIELD: Pop & Dance/ Electronic
NEW CATEGORY: Best Asian Pop Music Performance
FOR SINGLES OR TRACKS – VOCAL ONLY
This category recognizes artistic excellence in Asian pop music performances. Eligible recordings include contemporary popular music originating from or widely recognized within Asian markets, including K-Pop, J-Pop, and C-Pop.
Asian pop is a distinct and globally recognized form of popular music characterized by its integrated approach to music, performance, and presentation. Eligible recordings typically feature melody-driven composition, mainstream pop songwriting, and commercially oriented production, as recognized within their respective markets, and may incorporate elements of pop-adjacent styles such as pop-rock, pop R&B, and other related forms. Recordings in this category are often characterized by genre-blending arrangements, layered production, and dynamic structural shifts designed to support both audio and performance-based delivery.
Recordings must feature meaningful use of one or more Asian languages. An Asian language should play a significant role within the song in bilingual or multilingual structures such that the recording is identifiable with that language. Recordings performed entirely in an Asian language are eligible. Incidental or minimal use (e.g., isolated words, adlibs, or brief phrases) does not qualify. Recordings performed entirely in English are not eligible in this category and remain eligible in other appropriate categories.
The musical style is determinative of eligibility, not the ethnicity or nationality of the performer(s).
Other popular music forms which originate in Asia or the Asian diaspora but do not meet the genre criteria for this category are eligible in other categories as appropriate.
Only one version of a recording is eligible in a performance category in any year. A recording which is eligible and entered in another performance category is not also eligible in Best Asian Pop Music Performance for a different version featuring an Asian language performance.
Nominees are Artist(s).
GRAMMY statuettes awarded to Artist(s).
FIELD: R&B, Rap & Spoken Word Poetry
NEW CATEGORY: Best R&B Collaboration Or Duo/Group Performance
FOR SINGLES OR TRACKS - VOCAL OR INSTRUMENTAL
This category recognizes excellence in contemporary R&B performances for works by established duos or groups, as well as collaborative works between solo artists, duos, and groups. Eligible recordings may incorporate influences including hip-hop, pop, and electronic textures, while remaining clearly rooted in R&B. The focus is on the performance itself. This category is intended to honor current, forward moving R&B performances, distinct from traditionally-styled works.
Nominees are Artist(s).
GRAMMY statuettes awarded to Artist(s).
RENAMED CATEGORY: Best R&B Solo Performance
FOR SINGLES OR TRACKS - VOCAL OR INSTRUMENTAL
This category recognizes excellence in contemporary R&B solo performances. Eligible recordings
may incorporate hip- hop, pop, and electronic textures, while remaining clearly rooted in R&B.
The focus is on the performance itself. This category is intended to honor current, forward moving
R&B performances, distinct from traditionally-styled works.
Nominee is the Artist(s).
Grammy statuette awarded to the Artist(s).
FIELD: Jazz, Traditional Pop, Contemporary Instrumental & Musical Theater
NEW CATEGORY: Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance
FOR SINGLES OR TRACKS – VOCAL ONLY
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance recognizes excellence in singles and tracks that consist of a type and
style of song and/or performance that cannot properly be intermingled with present forms of pop music.
This includes new performances of songs from sources such as the Great American Songbook and
classic forms of popular music of any era.
Recordings eligible for this Category include:
- Contemporary pop recordings performed in a traditional pop style – the term ‘traditional’ being a
reference, equally, to the style of the composition, vocal styling and the instrumental arrangement,
without regard to the age of the material.
- Performances of songs defined by one or more of the following qualities inherent in musical
theater: a theatrical style of composition, vocal/instrumental performance, and/or arrangement.
- Tracks from benefit, tribute, concert, and cabaret albums featuring performances of repertoire as
defined above.
Nominees are Artist(s).
GRAMMY statuettes awarded to Artist(s).
FIELD: Country & American Roots Music
NEW CATEGORY: Best Traditional Folk Album
FOR ALBUMS - VOCAL OR INSTRUMENTAL
This Category recognizes excellence in albums of traditional folk recordings. Traditional folk includes
folk recordings with folk song structures, harmonic structures, and rhythms, including traditional folk
instruments such as piano, harmonica, traditional woodwind, strings, and percussion from around the
world. It also includes song types such as old time, a capella, work songs, shanty, protest, call and
response, ballad, and other traditional folk song structures created in and/or passed through community-rooted tradition distinct from Regional Roots.
Nominees are Artist(s) of greater than 50% playing time on the album.
GRAMMY statuettes awarded to Artist(s), Producer(s), Engineer/Mixer(s), Songwriter(s) of new
songs, if other than Artist(s), of greater than 50% playing time on the album.
RENAMED CATEGORY: Best Contemporary Folk Album
FOR ALBUMS - VOCAL OR INSTRUMENTAL
This Category recognizes excellence in contemporary folk recordings. It includes folk recordings that
vary from traditional folk song and harmonic structures and may employ non-traditional folk song
structures including composition and narrative expression. It can be community-rooted, and it may use
production and arrangements of song types such as indie folk, ethno-folk, protest, and folk rock, distinct
from the pop approach. It may include traditional folk instruments and non-traditional folk instruments,
as well as contemporary production techniques.
Nominees are Artist(s) of greater than 50% playing time on the album.
GRAMMY statuettes awarded to Artist(s), Producer(s), Engineer/Mixer(s), Songwriter(s) of new
songs, if other than Artist(s), of greater than 50% playing time on the album.
FIELD: Latin, Global, African, Reggae & New Age, Ambient, Or Chant
NEW CATEGORY: Best Latin Song
A SONGWRITER’S AWARD
This category recognizes the achievement of songwriters for newly written Latin songs. Eligible works
must be predominantly in the Spanish language (at least 51% of the lyrics) and released during the current eligibility year. Awards are presented to the songwriter(s) only, not to the performing artist(s), unless they are also credited as songwriter(s).
Recordings may represent any Latin genre, including, but not limited to, Latin Pop, Música Mexicana, Música Urbana, Tropical Latin, Latin Rock/ Alternative, provided they meet the language and release requirements.
Nominee is the Songwriter(s) of new material.
GRAMMY statuette awarded to the Songwriter(s) of new material.
Songwriters
Most genre album categories
SONGWRITER & COMPOSER RECOGNITION EXPANSION: The Academy has expanded recognition for songwriters and composers. Songwriters and Composers of new material on the winning albums in most genre album categories will now receive Grammy statuettes and Achievement Certificates in parity with the recognition currently afforded to Producers and Engineers in those categories.
Field: General
Best New Artist
UPDATED CATEGORY DESCRIPTION: Category description language and guidelines have been updated to further clarify artist eligibility and increase to four the maximum number of times an artist may be submitted for Best New Artist
Field: Package, Notes & Historical
Best Album Notes; Best Historical Album
REVISED CATEGORY ELIGIBILITY: Internet-only releases are eligible in Best Album Notes and Best Historical Album if the additional materials and album notes are part of the commercial download.
Album categories
UPDATED ELIGIBILITY RULE: The Academy approved updated eligibility language for categories which require albums of new recordings. The threshold of new recordings required on an eligible album is lowered from 75% to 66%
Field: Classical
Best Contemporary Classical Composition
UPDATED CATEGORY DESCRIPTION: The Academy approved updated language for the Best Contemporary Classical Composition category description
Field: Jazz, Traditional Pop, Contemporary Instrumental & Musical Theater
Best Musical Theater Album
UPDATED CATEGORY DESCRIPTION: The Academy approved updated language for the Best Musical Theater Album category description
Field: Country & American Roots Music
Best Country Song, Best Country Solo Performance, Best Country Duo/Group Performance
UPDATED CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS: The Academy approved updated language for the Best Country Song, Best Country Solo Performance, Best Country Duo/Group Performance category description
Field: Country & American Roots Music
Best Bluegrass Album
UPDATED CATEGORY DESCRIPTION: The Academy approved updated language for the Best Bluegrass Album category description
Field: Children's, Comedy, Audio Book Narration And Storytelling, Visual Media & Music Video/Film
Best Children's Music Album
UPDATED CATEGORY DESCRIPTION: The Academy approved updated language for the Best Children’s Music Album category description
Field: Rock, Metal & Alternative Music
Best Alternative Music Performance, Best Alternative Music Album
UPDATED CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS: The Academy approved updated language for the Best Alternative Music Performance and the Best Alternative Music Album category descriptions
Field: Country & American Roots Music
Best Regional Roots Music Album
UPDATED CATEGORY DESCRIPTION: The Academy approved updated language for the Best Regional Roots Music Album category description
Music Advocacy
68th Grammy Press List Changes
12/19/25
CATEGORY 78/ BEST ALBUM COVER/ GLORY/ PERFUME GENIUS
- Add Mike Hadreas as art director
12/16/25
CATEGORY 3/SONG OF THE YEAR/DTMF/(BAD BUNNY)
- Change Tyler Thomas Spry to Tyler Spry
12/12/25
CATEGORY 38/BEST MUSICAL THEATER ALBUM/JUST IN TIME/(ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST)
- Add Producers Tom Kirdahy and Alex Timbers
12/10/25
CATEGORY 75/ BEST MUSIC VIDEO/ SO BE IT/ CLIPSE
- Remove Daniel Order, video producer
- Add Theresa Kusumadjaja, video producer
12/9/2025
CATEGORY 78/ BEST ALBUM COVER/ CHROMAKOPIA/ TYLER, THE CREATOR
- Add Tyler Okonma as art director
- Remove Shaun Llewellyn and Luis “Panch” Perez as art directors
CATEGORY 54/ CCM PERFORMANCE/ SONG/ HEADPHONES/ LECRAE, KILLER MIKE, TI
- Remove William Roderick Miller as songwriter
CATEGORY 78/ BEST ALBUM COVER/ THE CRUX/ DJO
- Add Jake Hirshland, Joe Keery, Neil Krug & Taylor Vandergrift as art directors
12/4/2025
CATEGORY 81/BEST ENGINEERED ALBUM, NON-CLASSICAL/ALL THINGS LIGHT/CAM
- Change spelling of Ernesto Olivera-Lapier to Ernesto Olvera-LaPier (remove first i + capitalize P)
CATEGORY 77/BEST RECORDING PACKAGE/AND THE ADJACENT POSSIBLE/ (OK GO)
- Reflect the following accents in name for Hà Trịnh Quốc Bảo
CATEGORY 38/BEST MUSICAL THEATER ALBUM/DEATH BECOMES HER/ (ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST)
- Add Mary-Mitchell Campbell as producer per A-Z order
12/3/2025
CATEGORY 3/SONG OF THE YEAR/GOLDEN [FROM “KPOP DEMON HUNTERS”] - (HUNTR/X: EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI)
- Add the following songwriters per A-Z order: Park Hong Jun, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo
CATEGORY 74/BEST SONG WRITTEN FOR VISUAL MEDIA/ GOLDEN [FROM “KPOP DEMON HUNTERS”] / (HUNTR/X: EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI)
- Add the following songwriters per A-Z order: Park Hong Jun, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo
12/2/2025
CATEGORY 10/ BEST DANCE/ELECTRONIC RECORDING/ VOLTAGE/ SKRILLEX
- Add Drew Gold as mixer per alphabetical order
CATEGORY 1/ RECORD OF THE YEAR/ LUTHER/ KENDRICK LAMAR AND SZA
- Change Bridgeway’s name to Scott Bridgeway
11/25/2025
CATEGORY 75/BEST MUSIC VIDEO/LOVE/OK GO
- Add Andrew Geller as video producer
11/24/2025
CATEGORY 11/BEST DANCE POP RECORDING/ILLEGAL/PINKPANTHRESS
- Change Nickie Jon Pabon to Nickie Jon Pabón to include the accent
CATEGORY 10/BEST DANCE/ELECTRONIC RECORDING/VOLTAGE/SKRILLEX
- Add Robert Guzman as mixer per alphabetical order
CATEGORY 81/BEST ENGINEERED ALBUM, NON-CLASSICAL/ALL THINGS LIGHT/(CAM)
- Add the following engineers per alphabetical order: Matt Chamberlain, Rob Moose & Rahm Silverglade
11/21/2025
CATEGORY 53/ BEST GOSPEL PERFORMANCE/SONG/ STILL (LIVE)/ JONATHAN MCREYNOLDS & JAMAL ROBERTS
- Change David Lamar Outing III to David Lamar Outing II
CATEGORY 16/BEST ROCK SONG/CARAMEL/SLEEP TOKEN
- Change Vessel1 to “Vessel”
- Change Vessel2 to “II”
11/20/2025
CATEGORY 80/ BEST HISTORICAL ALBUM/ THE MAKING OF FIVE LEAVES LEFT/ NICK DRAKE
- Add Joe Black as compilation producer
- Add Richard Whittaker as restoration engineer
CATEGORY 76/ BEST MUSIC FILM/ RELENTLESS/ DIANE WARREN
- Add Bess Kargman as video producer
CATEGORY 22/BEST R&B SONG/OVERQUALIFIED/(DURAND BERNARR)
- Add the following songwriters per alphabetical order: John Derisme, Egberto “Budda” Foster, Amaire Johnson, Frank Moka, Cary Singer & Chase Worrell
11/19/2025
CATEGORY 41/ BEST COUNTRY SONG/ GOOD NEWS/ SHABOOZEY
- Correct the name Chibueze Collins Obinna to Collins Obinna Chibueze
11/18/2025
CATEGORY 89/BEST OPERA RECORDING/O’HALLORAN: TRADE & MARY MOTORHEAD/(IRISH NATIONAL OPERA ORCHESTRA; MARK O’HALLORAN)
- Replace the ampersand between Oisín Ó Dálaigh & John Molloy with a comma rather
- Add “& Naomi Louisa O’Connell” after John Molloy’s name
11/17/25
CATEGORY 41/ BEST COUNTRY SONG/ GOOD NEWS/ SHABOOZY
- Add Sean Cook, Chibueze Collins Obinna & Nevin Sastry as songwriters
11/14/25
CATEGORY 78/BEST ALBUM COVER/MOISTURIZER/(WET LEG)
- Add Iris Luz and Lava La Rue as art directors
- Remove Hester Chambers, Ellis Durand, Henry Holmes, Matt de Jong, Jamie-James Medina, and Joshua Mobaraki as art directors
CATEGORY 31/BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM/WE INSIST 2025! - TERRI LYNE CARRINGTON & CHRISTIE DASHIELL
- Change artist line from “Terri Lyne Carrington & Christie Dashiell” to “Terri Lyne Carrington & Christie Dashiell Featuring Weedie Braimah, Milena Casado, Morgan Guerin, Simon Moullier & Matthew Stevens”
CATEGORY 77/BEST RECORDING PACKAGE/THE SPINS (PICTURE DISC VINYL)/ (MAC MILLER)
- Add Darby Kaighin-Shields as an art director
11/12/25
CATEGORY 30/BEST JAZZ PERFORMANCE/ALL STARS LEAD TO YOU – LIVE/ NICOLE ZURAITIS, DAN PUGACH, TOM SCOTT, IDAN MORIM, KEYON HARROLD & RACHEL ECKROTH
- Add Sam Weber as artist
CATEGORY 31/BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM/LIVE AT VIC'S LAS VEGAS – NICOLE ZURAITIS, DAN PUGACH, TOM SCOTT, IDAN MORIM, KEYON HARROLD & RACHEL ECKROTH
- Add Sam Weber as artist
11/11/25
CATEGORY 1/ENTRY 7/RECORD OF THE YEAR/THE SUBWAY/ CHAPPEL ROAN
- Change producer name from Chris Kaysch to Chris Kasych
CATEGORY 2/ALBUM OF THE YEAR/ MAN’S BEST FRIEND/ SABRINA CARPENTER
- Update spelling of Zem Adu to Zem Audu under engineers/mixers
CATEGORY 2/ ALBUM OF THE YEAR/ DEBI TIRAR MAS FOTOS/ BAD BUNNY
- Change songwriter nominee listing order to alphabetical as; Marco Daniel Borrero, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, Marcos Efrain Masis, Jay Anthony Nuñez & Roberto José Rosado Torres, songwriters
CATEGORY 2/ ALBUM OF THE YEAR/MAYHEM/ LADY GAGA
- Change songwriter nominee listing order to alphabetical as; Lady Gaga, Mike Lévy, Michael Polansky, Henry Walter & Andrew Watt, songwriters
CATEGORY 2/ALBUM OF THE YEAR/GNX/ KENDRICK LAMAR
- Change songwriter nominee listing order to alphabetical as: Jack Antonoff, Matthew Bernard, Scott Bridgeway, Sam Dew, Ink, Kendrick Lamar & Mark Anthony Spears, songwriters;
CATEGORY 3/SONG OF THE YEAR/ ABRACADABRA/ LADY GAGA
- Change songwriter nominee listing order to alphabetical as: Lady Gaga, Henry Walter & Andrew Watt, songwriters
CATEGORY 3/SONG OF THE YEAR/ DTMF/ BAD BUNNY
- Change songwriter nominee listing order to alphabetical as: Marco Daniel Borrero, Scott Dittrich, Benjamin Falik, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, Hugo René Sención Sanabria, Tyler Thomas Spry & Roberto José Rosado Torres, songwriters
CATEGORY 3/ SONG OF THE YEAR/ APT./ ROSÉ, BRUNO MARS
- Change songwriter nominee listing order to alphabetical as: Amy Allen, Christopher Brody Brown, Rogét Chahayed,Omer Fedi, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Chae Young Park, Theron Thomas & Henry Walter, songwriters
CATEGORY 3/SONG OF THE YEAR/ LUTHER/ KENDRICK LAMAR WITH SZA
- Change songwriter nominee listing order to alphabetical as: Jack Antonoff, Roshwita Larisha Bacha, Matthew Bernard, Scott Bridgeway, Sam Dew, Ink, Kendrick Lamar, Solána Rowe, Mark Anthony Spears & Kamasi Washington, songwriters
CATEGORY 22/BEST R&B SONG/ FOLDED/ KEHLANI
- Change songwriter nominee listing order to alphabetical as: Darius Dixson, Andre Harris, Donovan Knight, Don Mills, Kehlani Parrish, Khris Riddick-Tynes & Dawit Kamal Wilson, songwriters
CATEGORY 27/BEST RAP SONG/ STICKY/ TYLER THE CREATOR FEATURING GLORILLA, SEXYY RED & LIL WAYNE
- Change songwriter nominee listing order to alphabetical as: Aaron Bolton, Dwayne Carter, Jr., Dudley Alexander Duverne, Tyler Okonma, Janae Wherry, Gloria Woods & Rex Zamor, songwriters
CATEGORY 27/BEST RAP SONG/ TGIF/ GLORILLA
- Change songwriter nominee listing order to alphabetical as: Lucas Alegria, Dillon Brophy, Yakki Davis, Jess Jackson, Ronnie Jackson, Mario Mims, Jorge M. Taveras & Gloria Woods, songwriters
CATEGORY 74/ BEST SONG WRITTEN FOR VISUAL MEDIA/ SINNERS [FROM SINNERS]/ ROD WAVE
- Change the spelling of Darius Povilinus to Darius Poviliunas
11/10/25
CATEGORY 52/BEST REGIONAL ROOTS MUSIC ALBUM/FOR FAT MAN/PRESERVATION BRASS & PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND
- Change artist line to “Preservation Brass”
11/8/25
CATEGORY 53/BEST GOSPEL PERFORMANCE/SONG/COME JESUS COME/CECE WINANS FEATURING SHIRLEY CAESAR
- Change artist name capitalization from “Cece Winans” to “CeCe Winans”
CATEGORY 1/RECORD OF THE YEAR/APT./ROSÉ, BRUNO MARS
- Add to engineers/mixers: Bryce Bordone
CATEGORY 71/BEST COMPILATION SOUNDTRACK FOR VISUAL MEDIA/WICKED/CYNTHIA ERVIO, ARIANA GRANDE (& WICKED MOVIE CAST)
- Remove the extra comma in artist line (after Grande,) to “Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande (& Wicked Movie Cast)”
11/7/25
CATEGORY 71/ BEST COMPILATION SOUNDTRACK FOR VISUAL MEDIA/ WICKED/ (VARIOUS ARTISTS)
- Change Artist Line from (Various Artists) to Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, (& Wicked Movie Cast)
- Add Stephen Oremus, Stephen Schwartz, and Greg Wells as compilation producers
- Add Maggie Rodford as music supervisor
CATEGORY 71/ BEST COMPILATION SOUNDTRACK FOR VISUAL MEDIA/ A COMPLETE UNKNOWN/ TIMOTHEE CHALAMET
- Add Nick Baxter, Steven Gizicki & James Mangold as compilation producers
- Add Steven Gizicki as music supervisor
CATEGORY 71/ BEST COMPILATION SOUNDTRACK FOR VISUAL MEDIA/ F1® The Album/ (VARIOUS ARTISTS)
- Add Brandon Davis, Joe Khoury, Kevin Weaver as compilation producers
- Add David Taylor & Jake Voulgarides as music supervisors
CATEGORY 71/ BEST COMPILATION SOUNDTRACK FOR VISUAL MEDIA/ KPOP DEMON HUNTERS/ (VARIOUS ARTISTS)
- Add Spring Aspers and Dana Sano as compilation producers
- Add Ian Eisendrath as music supervisor
CATEGORY 71/ BEST COMPILATION SOUNDTRACK FOR VISUAL MEDIA/ SINNERS/ (VARIOUS ARTISTS)
- Add Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Göransson & Serena Göransson as compilation producers
- Add Niki Sherrod as music supervisor
CATEGORY 80/ BEST HISTORICAL ALBUM/ THE MAKING OF FIVE LEAVES LEFT/ NICK DRAKE
- Add John Wood as restoration engineer
CATEGORY 80/ BEST HISTORICAL ALBUM/ ROOTS ROCKING ZIMBABWE – THE MODERN SOUND OF HARARE’ TOWNSHIPS 1975-1980 (ANALOG AFRICA NO.41)/ VARIOUS ARTISTS
- Add Michael Graves & Jordan McLeod as restoration engineers
CATEGORY 80/ BEST HISTORICAL ALBUM/SUPER DISCO PIRATA – DE TEPITO PARA EL MUNDO 1965-1980 (ANALOG AFRICA NO 39)/ VARIOUS ARTISTS
- Add Jordan McLeod as restoration engineer
CATEGORY 80/ BEST HISTORICAL ALBUM/ YOU CAN’T HIP A SQUARE: THE DOC POMUS SONGWRITING DEMOS/ DOC POMUS
- Add Michael Graves & Jordan McLeod as restoration engineers
68th GRAMMY Awards Category, Field and Criteria Updates
NEW CATEGORY: Best Traditional Country Album
- FOR ALBUMS - VOCAL OR INSTRUMENTAL
This Category recognizes excellence in albums of traditional country music, both vocal and instrumental. Traditional country includes country recordings that adhere to the more traditional sound structures of the country genre, including rhythm and singing style, lyrical content, as well as traditional country instrumentation such as acoustic guitar, steel guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, piano, electric guitar, and live drums. It also includes sub-genres such as western, western Swing and outlaw country.
Nominees are Artist(s) of greater than 50% playing time on the album.
GRAMMY statuettes awarded to Artist(s), Producer(s), Engineer/Mixer(s), if other than Artist(s), of greater than 50% playing time on the album.
RENAMED CATEGORY: the Best Country Album category has been changed to Best Contemporary Country Album
- FOR ALBUMS - VOCAL OR INSTRUMENTAL
This Category recognizes contemporary country music recordings, both vocal and instrumental, which utilize a stylistic intention, song structure, lyrical content and/or musical presentation to create a sensibility that reflects the broad spectrum of contemporary country style and culture. The intent is to recognize country music that remains reminiscent and relevant to the legacy of country music’s culture, while also engaging in more contemporary music forms.
Nominees are Artist(s) of greater than 50% playing time on the album.
GRAMMY statuettes awarded to Artist(s), Producer(s), Engineer/Mixer(s), if other than Artist(s), of greater than 50% playing time on the album.
NEW CATEGORY: Best Album Cover
- AN ART DIRECTOR’S AWARD - FOR ALBUMS ONLY
This Category recognizes excellence in cover art for albums of recordings in any genre of music, released for the first time during the eligibility year (even if recordings were previously released). The elements judged in this Category include the creativity, design, illustration, photography, and/or graphic art of the Album Cover.
The Album Cover must be predominantly new: if the album cover art has been previously released, or the recording is being reissued with only minimal new cover art, it is not eligible.
Eligible Album Covers can be from digital-only or streaming-only full-length releases as well as albums that have physical configurations. Submission of an Album Cover in this Category would not disqualify the physical package of the same release from being submitted in Best Recording Package. Eligible entries for this Category require a high-resolution digital file of the Album Cover be uploaded with the entry.
Nominees are Art Director(s).
GRAMMY statuettes awarded to Art Director(s).
REORGANIZED CATEGORY: Best Recording Package and Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package have been combined into one category called Best Recording Package.
• AN ART DIRECTOR’S AWARD - FOR ALBUMS OR SINGLES
This Category recognizes excellence in the field of art and packaging for albums or singles. Physical product in any configuration (standard, special edition, limited edition, or boxed sets), of any genre of music, released for the first time during the eligibility year (even if recordings were previously released) is eligible provided the packaging is predominantly new.
The elements judged in this Category include the package design, photography and/or graphic art of the entire package as well as any materials included. If the album art/packaging has been previously released, or is being reissued with only minimal new design elements, it is not eligible.
An entry in this Category is eligible if the physical product release during the applicable eligibility period either meets the general distribution requirement or was made available for purchase solely via the applicable artist’s website or such artist’s record company’s website, so long as the release meets all other eligibility requirements, is sold as a stand-alone product, and the sales link is available to all consumers (e.g., fan club-only releases or releases through a subscription series are not eligible).
Nominees are Art Director(s).
GRAMMY statuettes awarded to Art Director(s).
NEW GRAMMY RECIPIENTS: The Academy has expanded GRAMMY recognition of classical composers and lyricists/librettists in many cases in classical Categories for winning albums.
- Best Orchestral Performance
- Best Choral Performance
- Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance
- Best Classical Instrumental Solo
- Best Classical Solo Vocal Album
EXPANDED BEST NEW ARTIST ELIGIBILITY: Expanding Best New Artist eligibility to artists who were nominated in Album Of The Year but whose contributions fell below the current 20% playing time threshold they’ve made to another artist’s GRAMMY-nominated album.
CRAFT COMMITTEE PROCESS CHANGE: The Package Craft Committee is changing from three regional committees to one national committee.
- Best Recording Package
- Best Album Cover
PHYSICAL PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION ELIGIBILITY EXPANSION: The Academy has expanded eligibility in the three Categories which require the sale of physical product for eligibility and require the submission of physical product for GRAMMY judging to allow for product which is sold via the applicable artist’s website or artist’s record company’s website to be eligible for GRAMMY consideration.
- Recording Package
- Album Notes
- Historical Album
BEST REGIONAL ROOTS ALBUM - Updated Category description:
- This Category recognizes recordings of cultural roots styles of music, including Cajun, Hawaiian, Indigenous/Native American, Second Line brass band, Polka, Zydeco, Go-go, Swamp Pop, Conjunto, and others, with production and sensibilities distinctly different from a pop approach. These styles of music are defined as recordings that contain traditional and/or contemporary musical elements within composition and arrangement. Eligibility will be determined by the Screening committee. Nominees are Artist(s) of greater than 50% playing time on the album.
GRAMMY statuettes awarded to Artist(s), Producer(s), Engineer/Mixer(s), if other than Artist(s), of greater than 50% playing time on the album.
BEST MUSICAL THEATER ALBUM - Revised GRAMMY Recognition Eligibility: In Best Musical Theater Album, the number of Principal Vocalists who may be recognized is increased from “up to four” to “up to six.”
BEST PROGRESSIVE R&B ALBUM - Updated Category description:
- FOR ALBUMS - VOCAL ONLY
This Category recognizes excellence in albums of progressive R&B vocal tracks. This Category is intended for artists whose music is rooted in many of the elements of R&B but has a more progressive sound that may include elements such as hip-hop, rap, pop, dance, and electronic music. This Category is differentiated from R&B and/or traditional R&B by an emphasis on experimentation and innovation, often through unconventional song structures, dynamic production techniques and multi-genre influences that challenge traditional R&B conventions.
Nominee is the Artist(s) of greater than 50% playing time on the album.
GRAMMY statuettes awarded to Artist(s), Producer(s), Engineer/Mixer(s), if other than Artist(s), of greater than 50% playing time on the album.
BEST DANCE POP RECORDING - Updated Category description:
- FOR SINGLES OR TRACKS - VOCAL ONLY
Best Dance Pop Recording recognizes excellence in dance recordings that are rooted in electronic and club-oriented production, while incorporating elements of pop songwriting and vocals.
Eligible recordings showcase the fundamentals of dance music, like rhythmic momentum, dynamic build-ups and breakdowns, and instrumental-driven energy shifts that define the genre.
Dance remixes are eligible in the Best Remixed Recording Category only and may not be entered in Best Dance Pop Recording.
Nominees are Artist(s), Producer(s), Mixer(s).
GRAMMY statuettes awarded to Artist(s) & Producer(s), Mixer(s).
BEST AMERICAN ROOTS PERFORMANCE - Updated Category description:
- FOR SINGLES OR TRACKS - VOCAL OR INSTRUMENTAL
This Category recognizes excellence in American Roots music performance. The Category encompasses the subgenres of the American Roots Field (bluegrass, blues, folk, and regional roots styles of music, including Cajun, Hawaiian, Indigenous/Native American, Second Line brass band, Polka, Zydeco, Go-go, Swamp Pop, Conjunto and others).
Nominees are Artist(s).
GRAMMY statuettes awarded to Artist(s).
BEST AMERICAN ROOTS SONG- Updated Category description:
- A SONGWRITER’S AWARD
This Category recognizes excellence in songwriting in any of the subgenres encompassed in the American Roots Music Field (Americana, bluegrass, blues, folk, or regional roots styles of music, including Cajun, Hawaiian, Indigenous/Native American, Second Line brass band, Polka, Zydeco, Go-go, Swamp Pop, Conjunto and others).
Instrumentals are not eligible in this Category. A song must comprise music and lyrics to be eligible in a songwriting Category.
Nominees are Songwriter(s) of new material.
GRAMMY statuettes awarded to Songwriter(s) of new material.
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