The Recording Academy has recently announced new rules and changes to eligibility for the 67th annual Grammy Awards next year.
Key updates include adjustments to eligibility criteria, category renaming, and the introduction of new guidelines for categories such as Songwriter of the Year, Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, and Best Dance/Electronic Album, among others.
These amendments were voted on and passed at the Recording Academy’s semiannual Board of Trustees meeting in May and will be effective immediately for the 2025 Grammy Awards.
For instance, all eligible credited Featured Artists with under 50% playtime will be awarded a Winners’ Certificate for all genre album categories, except for Best Musical Theater Album, the General Field, or Craft categories.
The Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical category has been amended to allow more representation and diversity of songwriters. The minimum number of songs a writer must be credited on as either songwriter or co-writer has been reduced from five to four.
Meanwhile, the criteria for the Best Traditional R&B Performance category was amended to more accurately represent the recordings that embody the classical elements of R&B/Soul music, distinguishing them from contemporary interpretations.
The Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album category will now allow more entries from musical theater. Additionally, albums in this category must be 75% newly recorded and unreleased material.
The age range for Best Children’s Music Album has been increased from infant to 12 years old, and must include lyrics and English language translations.
Among the other changes, Best Pop Dance Recording has been renamed to Best Dance Pop Recording, and Best Dance/Electronic Music Album has been renamed to Best Dance/Electronic Album. This category now requires that albums must be 50% dance or electronica to qualify.
The Grammy eligibility period is from September 16, 2023, to August 30, 2024, and the nominations for the 2025 GRAMMY Awards will be announced on November 8, 2024.
The 2025 GRAMMYs will take place on February 2, in Los Angeles.
