As part of the Grammys’ annual process of accepting proposals from the music creators and professionals who make up its membership body, and its ongoing commitment to reflecting today’s dynamic musical landscape, new Categories and rule changes are now in effect for the 69th Grammy Awards®, which culminate with the 2027 Grammys® live across ABC, Disney+ and Hulu on Feb. 7, 2027. The complete Grammys rulebook can be accessed here.
“2027 is going to be an amazing year for the Grammy Awards, and one that reflects the extraordinary growth we’re seeing across music,” said Grammys CEO Harvey Mason jr. “The changes advanced by our Recording Academy members speak to the breadth of today’s music industry and the many genres, crafts and creators shaping it. We’re excited to see these updates come to life in the year ahead as we celebrate the music people who are driving music forward.”
For more insights from Grammys CEO, Harvey Mason jr., visit here.
NEW CATEGORIES
Best Asian Pop Music Performance
This Category recognizes artistic excellence in Asian pop music performances originating from or widely recognized within Asian markets, including but not limited to K-pop, J-pop and C-pop, with meaningful use of one or more Asian languages. Awards are presented to the performing artist(s).
Best R&B Collaboration or Duo/Group Performance*
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. Awards are presented to the performing artist(s).
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance
This Category 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. Awards are presented to the performing artist(s).
Best Traditional Folk Album**
This Category recognizes excellence in albums of traditional folk recordings. Awards are presented to artist(s), producer(s), engineer(s)/mixer(s), and songwriter(s) of new songs, if other than artist(s), of greater than 50% playing time on the album.
Best Latin Song
This Category recognizes the achievement of songwriters for newly written Latin songs predominantly in the Spanish language (at least 51% of the lyrics). Awards are presented to the songwriter(s) of new material.
*With the addition of this new category, the Best R&B Performance Category has been revised and renamed Best R&B Solo Performance.
**With the addition of this new category, the Best Folk Album Category has been revised and renamed Best Contemporary Folk Album.
VOTING PROCESS UPDATES
Ballot Plus
Ballot Plus is an opt-in alternative to the 10/3 voting structure that allows Voting Members with expertise across multiple genres to vote in up to 15 peer-related Categories, regardless of Field, based on their verified professional credits and contributions.
Voting Members who opt in must submit credits by a specified deadline. Participation in Ballot Plus is subject to verification of credits. Voting Members who do not opt-in, miss the selection window, or do not meet the verification requirements will receive the standard 10/3 voting ballot. Voting Members will receive more information about Ballot Plus in the coming months.
DEFINITION, ELIGIBILITY & CRITERIA UPDATES
Best New Artist
Category description language and guidelines have been refined and a maximum number of times an artist may be submitted increased from three to four. These updates provide greater clarity around an artist’s impact during the eligibility period and more flexibility in the number of times an artist can submit, reflecting the evolving nature of artist development.
Album Eligibility
The threshold of new recordings required on an eligible album is lowered from 75% to 66% to reduce the exclusion of entries that are widely recognized throughout the music industry as new albums.
Best Album Notes and Best Historical Album
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, ensuring albums released solely in digital form remain eligible for consideration.
Songwriters and Composers Recognition Expansion
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.
A comprehensive list of changes for the 69th Grammy Awards, including additional revised category descriptions and definitions, can be found on page six of the rulebook.
Key dates for the upcoming Grammy Awards season can be found here. To learn more about the annual Grammy Awards process, click here.
ABOUT THE GRAMMYS
Music is a powerful force for good in the world. It heals. It unites. It moves us like nothing else. The people who create it deserve an organization dedicated to their well-being. That’s us. We exist to serve music, and all the people who make it. The Grammy organization is powered by 30,000 members, working songwriters, performers, producers, engineers and music professionals, and we serve music people by spearheading public policy efforts to protect their rights, opening pathways of opportunity for them while dismantling old barriers, providing direct assistance, recognizing musical excellence, and upholding a peer-based Awards process that endures as music’s highest honor. Our service positively impacts music creators everywhere, and results in a growing, thriving and more fair music industry.
The Grammy organization is made up of the Recording Academy®, The Latin Recording Academy®, MusiCares®, the Grammy Museum®, and the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation®. For more information about the Grammys, please visit Grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, join the Grammys’ social communities on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, and X. For media assets, please visit our Press Room.
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