grammy awards
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All Grammys count the same toward someone’s career Grammy total, but we all know they’re not really on an equal footing. Every media outlet on Earth will report the winners of album of the year and record of the year next Feb. 2, but good luck trying to find out who won best regional roots music album (we’ll have it, of course).
Some categories are far more competitive than others. There are 20 times as many entries in this year’s most populated category, song of the year (978), as in this year’s least populated categories, best traditional blues album and best gospel album, both of which have just 53 entries.
Since final-round voting for the 67th Grammy Awards opened Friday (Oct. 4), Grammy voters have been conscientiously poring over the entry lists for 89 of the 94 Grammy categories (or so Recording Academy leaders fervently hope). The nominees in the other five categories are determined by committees.
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The number of entries in five of the six categories in the General Field increased compared to last year. There are 780 entries for record of the year (up from 615 last year); 707 for album of the year (up from 476); 978 for song of the year (up from 642); 61 for songwriter of the year, non-classical (up from 58); and 200 for producer of the year, non-classical (up from 195).
The only General Field category that saw a drop in entries compared to last year is best new artist. There were 323 entries this year, down from 405 last year. That’s the smallest number of entries in this category in five years.
Note that the number of entries for songwriter of the year, non-classical, which is in its third year, is only about one-third of the number of entries for producer of the year, non-classical, which was introduced in 1974. That’s probably because of the newer category’s restrictive rules, which were intended to put the focus on songwriters who are not also artists or producers.
My main takeaway from this annual exercise – these categories are highly competitive. As noted, there are 978 songs vying for just eight slots in song of the year. When somebody says “It’s an honor just to be nominated,” they’re not just being polite. Okay, maybe they are, but it really is an honor. 970 eligible and entered songs this year will not be nominated for song of the year.
If you’re curious, the five categories where the nominations are determined by committees, rather than by voters at large, are best recording package, best boxed/special/limited edition package, best album notes, best historical album, best remixed recording and best immersive audio album. (The nominations in a sixth category, best remixed recording, were decided by committee last year, but this year the voters will make the determination.)
First-round voting for the 67th annual Grammy Awards opened on Friday (Oct. 4). Voters have until Oct. 15 to make their choices. Nominations will be announced on Nov. 8. Final-round voting runs from Dec. 12 through Jan. 3. The winners will be revealed on Feb. 2 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Here are the 16 categories with most entries this year, and the 16 categories with the fewest. (Ties prompted us to bump up from 15 to 16 in both cases.)
Categories with the most entries
(in descending order)
Song of the year, 978
Record of the year, 780
Album of the Year, 707
Best music video, 637
Best global music performance, 456
Best engineered album, non-classical, 456
Best arrangement, instruments and vocals, 444
Best jazz performance, 420
Best instrumental composition, 395
Best American roots song, 373
Best alternative music performance, 331
Best new artist, 323
Best pop solo performance, 314
Best American roots performance, 310
Best Americana performance, 290
Best arrangement, instrumental or acapella, 290
Categories with the fewest entries
(in descending order)
Best contemporary blues album, 73
Best Latin jazz album, 73
Best music film, 72
Best R&B album, 70
Best choral performance, 67
Best classical solo vocal album, 64
Best large jazz ensemble album, 63
Songwriter of the year, non-classical, 61
Best bluegrass album, 61
Best regional roots music album, 61
Best roots gospel album, 60
Best score soundtrack for video games and other interactive media, 59
Best musical theater album, 59
Best compilation soundtrack for visual media, 58
Best traditional blues album, 53
Best gospel album, 53
Milli Vanilli made Grammy history in 1990, becoming the first (and still the only) act to have a Grammy revoked. Their best new artist award was stripped from them after it became known that the duo hadn’t sung on their smash debut album Girl You Know It’s True.
But Milli Vanilli’s Grammy saga may not be over. The acclaimed documentary Milli Vanilli is among 72 films vying for a Grammy nomination for best music film. The award is given for concert/performance films or music documentaries. Awards are generally presented to the artist, video director and video producer, though we’ll have to wait for the announcement of the nominations on Nov. 8 to see exactly who is being nominated in each case this year. The entry list, from which voting members vote in the first-round of voting, shows the name of the artist in each case for identification purposes, but includes no director or producer credits.
Three past winners in the category are represented. The Beatles, who won for The Beatles Anthology (and had two subsequent titles also win in the category, though they didn’t personally win for those), are entered with Now and Then – The Last Beatles Song (Short Film). Michael Jackson, who won for Making Michael Jackson’s Thriller, is entered with Thriller 40. U2, which won for Zoo TV: Live From Sydney, is entered with Kiss the Future.
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Coldplay, who have been nominated three times in the category (though they have yet to win), is entered with Music of the Spheres: Live at River Plate. The band’s Music of the Spheres album was nominated for album of the year and best pop vocal album last year.
Three past nominees in the category are entered again this year. The Beach Boys are entered with The Beach Boys; Bon Jovi with Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story; and Travis Tritt with Country Chapel. Jon Bon Jovi received the MusiCares Person of the Year honor on Feb. 2.
Taylor Swift/The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) is also entered. The doc documents one of the most successful concert tours of all time. Taylor Swift is the only four-time Grammy winner for album of the year and is almost certain to be back in the running in that category this year with The Tortured Poets Department.
The Greatest Night in Pop, which tells the story of the recording of the 1985 smash “We Are the World,” is entered. The film received a Primetime Emmy nomination for outstanding documentary or non-fiction special, but lost to Jim Henson Idea Man. Among the producers of the film: Lionel Richie, who co-wrote the song with Michael Jackson, and Harriet Sternberg, a close associate of the late Ken Kragen, who spearheaded the project.
Jon Batiste’s American Symphony, which was shortlisted for an Academy Award for best documentary feature film late last year (though it wasn’t ultimately nominated), is also entered here. Meanwhile, Céline Dion, who performed on the Eiffel Tower in Paris at the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics on July 26, is entered with I Am: Céline Dion.
Several films that are linked to albums that have received Grammy nominations in the past are still in the running. We’ve already told you about Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres: Live at River Plate. In addition, Lady Gaga, who was nominated for best pop vocal album four years ago for Chromatica, is entered with Gaga Chromatica Ball, and Lil Nas X, who was nominated for album of the year three years ago for Montero, is entered for Long Live Montero.
The list also features numerous films by or about musicians who have died. In addition to Jackson, they include Chet Atkins (The Making of We Still Can’t Say Goodbye – A Musicians’ Tribute to Chet Atkins and His Legacy Remembered); Syd Barrett (Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd); James Brown (James Brown: Say It Loud); June Carter Cash (June); Roy Hargrove (Hargrove); Jerry Lee Lewis (Trouble in My Mind); and Ryuichi Sakamoto (Ryuichi Sakamoto/Opus). A previous film about Brown, Mr Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown, was nominated in 2016.
Willie Nelson, who has always been prolific, is the only artist with two films on the entry list — Willie Nelson & Family and Willie Nelson’s 90th Birthday Celebration.
Thriller 40 isn’t the only anniversary release on the ballot. Weezer’s The Blue Album LIVE/Spotify THIRTY – the 30th Anniversary is also listed.
Stax: Soulsville U.S.A. is entered. A previous film about the fabled record company, Great Performances: Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story, was nominated in 2009.
Jennifer Lopez’s This Is Me… Now: A Love Story, which was made amid the star’s rekindled romance with Ben Affleck, is on the entry list, even though the couple separated in April and Lopez filed for divorce in August.
Other films of note on the entry list include Sheryl Crow & Jason Isbell featuring Don Isbell’s The Art of Music; Melissa Etheridge’s I’m Not Broken; The Kid LAROI’s Kids Are Growing Up: A Story About a Kid Named LAROI; Cyndi Lauper’s Let the Canary Sing; Kacey Musgraves’ Apple Live Music Live: Kacey Musgraves; Run DMC’s Kings From Queens; Paul Simon’s In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon; and, Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza.
First-round voting opened Friday (Oct. 4). Voters have until Oct. 15 to make their choices. Nominations will be announced on Nov. 8. Final-round voting runs from Dec. 12 through Jan. 3. The winners will be revealed on Feb. 2 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
The Grammys often talk about honoring an artist’s intent. Their screening committee did just that in at least two cases this year, allowing Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter to compete for best country album, and Dolly Parton’s Rockstar to compete for best rock album. Both albums could have been slotted in the best pop vocal album category, but the Grammys went along with the artists’ intentions.
Albums often wind up right on the border between two or more genres. That’s bound to happen more and more as artists increasingly cross genre lines. In those cases, the Recording Academy’s screening committee endeavors to put it in the most suitable category.
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Here are more albums whose placement was less-than-certain.
Jimmy Buffett’s last studio album, Equal Strain on All Parts, is entered for best Americana album, rather than best pop vocal album. Buffett died in September 2023.
Charli XCX’s sixth studio album, brat, is entered for best dance/electronic album rather than best pop vocal album.
Doja Cat’s Scarlet 2 Claude, a reissue of her fourth studio album, Scarlet, is entered for best rap album rather than best pop vocal album.
Twisters: The Album is entered for best compilation soundtrack for visual media rather than best country album.
All three Latin albums that made the top 10 on the Billboard 200 in the eligibility period are entered in different categories. Bad Bunny’s Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana is entered for best música urbana album. Kali Uchis’ Orquídeas is entered for best Latin pop album. Peso Pluma’s Éxodo is entered for best música Mexicana album (including Tejano).
Several top 10 albums weren’t entered at all, including Zach Bryan’s The Great American Bar Scene, Drake’s For All the Dogs and Ed Sheeran’s Autumn Variations.
Travis Scott’s Days Before Rodeo wasn’t eligible. The mixtape was released independently on his SoundCloud account in August 2014.
In other news, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones could be headed for their first Grammy showdown. The two legendary groups are both entered for best rock performance – The Beatles for “Now and Then” and The Stones for “Sweet Sounds of Heaven” (featuring Lady Gaga). If both groups are nominated, it will be the first time they have ever faced off on a Grammy ballot. The Grammys were resistant to rock in the years the bands were at their peak. The Beatles, being the world-shakers they were, were often nominated, but The Stones weren’t nominated in any category until 1978, when Some Girls was up for album of the year.
First-round voting opened Friday (Oct. 4). Voters have until Oct. 15 to make their first-round choices. Nominations will be announced on Nov. 8. Final-round voting runs from Dec. 12 through Jan. 3. The winners will be revealed on Feb. 2 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Tito Jackson’s death on Sunday Sept. 15 at age 70 has put a spotlight on the Jackson 5 (later the Jacksons), which had a string of classic hits in the 1970s and ’80s.
You may be surprised to learn that the J5 never won a Grammy. Michael Jackson won 13 Grammys, but all were for his solo career.
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Three J5 classics – “I Want You Back,” “ABC” and “I’ll Be There” – have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, which functions as a second chance for the Recording Academy to honor great recordings.
The J5 have yet to receive a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy, though Michael received a posthumous lifetime achievement award in 2010.
The J5 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 by their old pal Diana Ross, who was credited with having discovered them. (Whether or not she actually discovered them, she did lend her name to their 1970 debut studio album, which was titled Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5.) Michael was inducted into the Rock Hall as a solo artist in 2001.
Here are the three Jackson 5 records that were nominated for, but did not win, Grammys.
“ABC” (1970)
Nominated for: Best contemporary vocal performance by a duo, group or chorus
Lost to: Carpenters, “Close to You”
Notes: Both family acts were red-hot at the time. “Close to You” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks and was Billboard’s No. 1 song of the summer for 1970. “ABC,” which topped the Hot 100 for two weeks, was the J5’s second No. 1 hit of 1970 (out of a career-launching volley of four consecutive No. 1 hits). “Close to You” was also nominated for record of the year (unlike “ABC”), which showed its strength with Grammy voters. “ABC” and “Close to You” have both been voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, a sign that both are now regarded as top-tier classics.
Fun fact: Michael was known to be a fan of the Carpenters.
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“Dancing Machine” (1974)
Nominated for: Best R&B vocal performance by a duo, group or chorus
Lost to: Rufus’ “Tell Me Something Good”
Notes: “Dancing Machine” was an important record in the J5’s career. It not only became their biggest Hot 100 hit in three years, but it showed them to be all grown up, with little trace of the bubblegum of such early hits as “ABC.” The record peaked at No. 2 on the Hot 100 behind Ray Stevens’ inane novelty hit “The Streak,” a look at the then-hot fad of streaking (see also: the streaker who raced across the stage behind David Niven on the 1974 Oscars). Stevie Wonder wrote the beyond-funky “Tell Me Something Good,” which was Rufus’ first Hot 100 hit. It reached No. 3.
Fun fact: The J5 performed “Dancing Machine” on The Carol Burnett Show in 1974 and on Cher’s solo TV show the following year. Cher, who did not lack for nerve, joined the group in a medley of five of their hits, capped by “Dancing Machine.”
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Triumph (1980)
Nominated for: Best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocal
Lost to: The Manhattans’ “Shining Star”
Notes: How were Grammy voters expected to compare performances on full albums like Triumph with performances on singles like “Shining Star”? Good question. (The Recording Academy no longer pits albums and singles against each other in performance categories.)
Triumph reached No. 10 on the Billboard 200, becoming the group’s first top 10 album since the J5 (which had four top 10 albums) evolved into the Jacksons in 1976. Triumph spawned four Hot 100 hits on the Hot 100: “Lovely One” (No. 12), “Heartbreak Hotel” (No. 22). “Can You Feel It” (No. 77) and “Walk Right Now” (No. 73). None of them were as big as “Shining Star,” which reached No. 5, becoming the second-biggest group by the old-school R&B vocal group, whose “Kiss and Say Goodbye” reached No. 1 in the summer of 1976.
Fun fact: The Manhattans were signed to Columbia, sister label to The Jacksons’ Epic. That may have made CBS Records’ post-Grammys party a little awkward that year.
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It’s been an exceptionally strong period for country music, with many albums and songs having tremendous critical and commercial success as the genre has transcended borders both stylistically and geographically. Additionally, artists from outside the world of country music jumped in with confidence, providing some of the best and most substantial music of the year.
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Grammy nominations for the 67th Annual Grammy Awards will be announced on Nov. 8, with the ceremony taking place Feb. 2, 2025 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. As Grammy eligibility draws to a close today (the eligibility period is Sept. 16, 2023-Aug. 30, 2024), here are Billboard’s best bets for the contenders in best country album and best country song.
Best Country Album
Grammy voters often pull from a wide range of albums and artists here, considering records that fall into Americana and country-adjacent music styles and, therefore, make this category harder to predict than for the country-only awards shows. Other than Chris Stapleton’s Higher, which is a guaranteed nominee, and Lainey Wilson’s Whirlwind, the other three slots could just as easily go to the albums mentioned in Within Reach — but that only speaks to the strength of this Grammy season’s contenders.
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Beyoncé, Cowboy Carter
Grammy voters tend to be less insular than CMA Awards voters, so look for Bey to land her first nomination in this category. The album is not only a cultural touchstone, and “Texas Hold ‘Em” went to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, but voters want to support Beyoncé and show Nashville and the country community have changed after her less-than-welcoming reception at the 2016 CMA Awards.
Kacey Musgraves, Deeper Well
Musgraves’ 2021 album, star-crossed, became her first album to not be nominated for best country album when the country committee took it out of contention. Will she return to the category this year, or is Musgraves now considered a pop or Americana artist? Deeper Well is a largely mid-tempo, gentle exploration by this cosmic cowgirl of many of life’s bigger questions that Nashville should be proud to embrace.
Post Malone, F-1 Trillion
Post Malone came to Nashville and conquered the town like few outsiders before him. He put in the work, spending months writing with top songwriters and playing local spots as he crafted a duets-heavy album that reflects where country music is at the moment, but also, especially in the solo songs, pays homage to its rich, deep history. Add in the overwhelming success of “I Had Some Help,” his collaboration with Morgan Wallen, and you have a contender that is going to draw votes from both the country and pop communities.
Chris Stapleton, Higher
Higher is a sure bet in this category, as Stapleton has been nominated for every album he has released and taken home the trophy three times. Like his previous four studio albums, Higher debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, and first single “White Horse” rode to No. 2 on Country Airplay. His unmistakably gruff, bluesy voice tackles affairs of the heart in an intimate way that few other contemporary artists can muster.
Lainey Wilson, Whirlwind
Wilson’s last album, Bell Bottom Country, is the reigning champ in this category, and with Whirlwind, which came out a week before eligibility period closed, Wilson has released a set that will not only be fresh on voters’ minds but is her most confident one to date. From the fun-loving rush of first single, “Hang Tight Honey” to the heart-tugging “Whiskey Colored Crowd” and sassy kiss-off of “Ring Finger,” Wilson’s broad appeal may prove irresistible to voters.
Within Reach: Zach Bryan, The Great American Bar Scene; Luke Combs, Fathers & Sons; Cody Johnson, Leather; Megan Moroney, Am I Okay; Willie Nelson, The Border
Best Country Song
Given the range of artists, from country newcomers to established pop stars, who have released country and country-adjacent music over the past year, it seems likely that the best country song nominations (which honors songwriters) will span from multi-week chart leaders to more boutique fan favorites. And given country’s surging global appeal, the writers on these songs have credits spanning the genres of country, pop, hip-hop, R&B and more.
Nominees for best country song must have been released on a recording for the first time, or achieved prominence for the first time, during the current eligibility year. There are traditionally five nominees in this category, but in three of the past six years there have been six (due to ties), so we’re showing six possibilities.
“The Architect” (Kacey Musgraves)
Songwriters: Kacey Musgraves, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
From Musgraves’ Deeper Well album comes this exquisitely-crafted song that questions whether there is a higher power guiding life events, or if situations are simply the results of a series of random chances. Musgraves wrote the song with Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne. Musgraves has won twice in this category, with “Merry Go ‘Round” (also written by Musgraves, McAnally and Osborne) and “Space Cowboy” (written by Musgraves McAnally and Luke Laird).
“Dirt Cheap” (Cody Johnson)
Songwriter: Josh Phillips
Johnson is no stranger to this category, and certainly knows how to pick an award-worthy song. One of Johnson’s previously-recorded songs, “’Til You Can’t,” won in this category in 2023. His song “Dirt Cheap,” which is in the top 10 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, is a solo write by songwriter Josh Phillips. Similar to “’Til You Can’t,” the song is built on vivid imagery and a heartfelt sentiment.
“Halfway to Hell” (Jelly Roll)
Songwriters: Jason DeFord (Jelly Roll), Jesse Frasure, Matt Jenkins, Jessie Jo Dillon
Released in January, this track continues Jelly’s penchant for rock-propelled songs detailing the duality of life, giving a voice to the masses who ride the line between wholesome living and various vices, particularly on lines such as “I’m a dive bar Sunday sermon/ Holy water with my bourbon.” “Halfway to Hell” serves as the third single from Jelly Roll’s Whitsitt Chapel and topped the Country Airplay chart this year.
“I Had Some Help” (Post Malone and Morgan Wallen)
Songwriters: Ernest Keith Smith, Louis Bell, Morgan Wallen, Ashley Gorley, Austin Post, Chandler Paul Walters, Hoskins, Ryan Vojtesak
Post Malone has notched 10 Grammy nominations but could notch his first country category nominations leading up to 2025’s ceremony, thanks to this Wallen collab. “I Had Some Help” has spent six nonconsecutive weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, and seven weeks atop the Hot Country Songs chart. While, in recent years, the best country song category has often tilted toward songs that haven’t been multi-week chart-toppers, last year’s nominations included another Wallen-recorded song, “Last Night,” which spent 16 weeks atop the all-genre Hot 100.
“Texas Hold ‘Em” (Beyoncé)
Songwriters: Beyoncé, Brian Bates, Elizabeth Lowell Boland, Megan Bulow, Nate Ferraro, Raphael Saadiq
Beyoncé stands alone as the artist who has earned the most Grammys, with 32 trophies — but the upcoming Grammy Awards ceremony could very well see the musical iconoclast extend her wins into country categories, including best country song, thanks to “Texas Hold ‘Em.” Beyoncé has previously earned Grammys for songwriting in the R&B field (for “Say My Name,” “Crazy in Love,” “Drunk in Love,” “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” and “Cuff It”) and in the rap field (for “Savage”). Earlier this year, Beyoncé became the first solo Black woman to top Hot Country Songs, with “Texas Hold ‘Em,” which ruled the chart for 10 weeks from February through April.
“Tucson Too Late” (Jordan Davis)
Songwriters: Jordan Davis, Jacob Davis, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins
“Tucson Too Late,” the fourth single from Davis’ Bluebird Days, topped the Country Airplay chart in May, becoming Davis’ fifth leader on that chart. The song was penned by two sets of brothers — Davis and his brother Jacob, as well as brothers Josh and Matt Jenkins. This songwriter group is the same one behind Davis’ CMA song of the year winner “Buy Dirt.” Though “Tucson Too Late” ventures into a more mid-tempo groove than some of his previous balladry, the earnest storytelling here has connected with listeners.
Within Reach: Zach Bryan, “Pink Skies”; Ashley Cooke, “Your Place”; Megan Moroney, “No Caller ID”; Shaboozey, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”; Scotty McCreery, “Cab in a Solo”; Chris Stapleton, “Think I’m in Love With You”
If you win the Grammy Award for album of the year, it stands to reason that you must have also won whatever genre album award you competed for. And most album of the year winners since 1995, when the Grammys introduced numerous genre album categories, have won also won in the appropriate genre album categories. […]
Olivia Rodrigo has good reason to be “Obsessed” with the Grammy eligibility rules, specifically the one that states: “Tracks from an album released during last year’s eligibility period are eligible in the current eligibility period, provided the same tracks were not entered the previous year and the album did not win a Grammy.”
That means that Rodrigo’s “Obsessed,” a single from the deluxe Guts (Spilled) edition of her 2023 album Guts, is eligible for the 67th annual Grammy Awards. The single was released on March 22, 2024, well within the eligibility period for the 2025 Grammys (Sept. 16, 2023 to Aug. 30, 2024). It was not entered in last year’s awards process (the focus was on “Vampire,” which was nominated for record and song of the year and best pop vocal performance, and “Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl,” nominated for best rock song). And crucially, Guts didn’t win a Grammy, though it was nominated for both album of the year and best pop vocal album at the ceremony.
On the other hand, if Noah Kahan were to look over the Grammy rulebook, he might find less to cheer about. Stick Season (Forever), which was released on Feb. 9, 2024, will not be eligible to compete for album of the year. Here’s the rule from the Grammy rulebook: “Updated, revised or expanded versions of previously submitted albums will not be eligible.”
Stick Season (Forever) is an expanded version of Kahan’s Stick Season album, which was released on Oct. 14, 2022. An earlier expanded version, Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever), was entered for album of the year and best Americana album at the ceremony that was held earlier this year. It wasn’t nominated in either category, but it was “submitted.” (Kahan’s only Grammy nomination to date is best new artist at the ceremony held earlier this year.)
Current voting and professional members of the Recording Academy are hunkering down today and tomorrow – or, at least, the Academy fervently hopes they are – to enter recordings for the 67th annual Grammy Awards. The submission window closes on Friday Aug. 30 at 6 p.m. PT.
The rules and guidelines handbook for the 67th annual Grammy Awards runs 75 pages – and it’s not exactly a “beach read.” Fortunately, the Academy prepared a one-page summary of “Basic Guidelines.” We combed through that document to cull these eight highlights.
Recordings must meet these three basic eligibility guidelines.
There are just two more days for current voting and professional members of the Recording Academy to enter recordings for the 67th annual Grammy Awards. The submission window closes Friday (Aug. 30) at 6 p.m. PT.
The entry process has changed in recent years. There used to be no limit to the number of entries members could make. Some members took advantage of that liberal policy and submitted a large number of entries, causing the entry list to bloat. The Academy now allows each voting or professional member just five “courtesy entries” before charges apply.
Furthermore, in an effort to get procrastinators to make their entries in timely fashion, those entry fees escalate the closer we get to the eligibility cut-off. The charge for members was $40 per entry from July 17-July 31 (what the Academy calls “early bird pricing”) and $75 per entry from Aug. 1-Aug. 22 (standard pricing). In this final week, it is $125 per entry (final deadline pricing). (In all cases, these are the charges for entries beyond the five courtesy entries.)
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In its rules, the Academy notes: “There will be no refunds for any entries once submitted to the Recording Academy, including those entries found to be ineligible.”
Media companies may also enter entries, but they don’t get five courtesy entries. And their charges were higher for the first two submission submission periods – $65 through July 31 and $95 through Aug. 22. The final deadline pricing charge for media companies is the same as for members – $125 through Aug. 30.
The Recording Academy defines a media company as “a legitimate business entity whose core business function is to create, aggregate and promote audio and/or video content for multiple artists for commercial purposes, and must have product in national U.S. commercial distribution on our approved streaming platforms within the current eligibility period. It cannot just be an imprint in name only for the artist.” Media companies pay an annual $180 registration fee.
It is the submitter’s responsibility to provide streaming links or physical product in some cases. “Without streaming links or commercially released product (if applicable), your entries cannot be screened or verified, which can result in disqualification,” the Academy notes.
Physical product must be submitted for consideration in five craft categories – best recording package, best boxed or limited edition package, best immersive audio album, best album notes and best historical album. Rules note “If you made entries in craft categories that require physical product, you will receive a separate email detailing the product required and further shipping instructions. Include a copy of the packing list with shipped product. Send in as soon as possible but no later than Sept. 6.”
No physical product is necessary in six other craft categories – best engineered album, non-classical; best engineered album, classical; best immersive audio album; best instrumental composition; best arrangement, instrumental or acapella; and best arrangement, instruments and vocals.
The Academy notes “Prior to the first round of voting [which opens on Oct. 4], we will be sending each submitter an email showing final category placement of their entries.”
The eligibility period for the 67th Grammy Awards is Sept. 16, 2023 – Aug. 30, 2024. First-round voting runs from Oct. 4 through Oct. 15. Nominees will be announced on Nov. 8. Final-round voting runs from Dec. 12 through Jan. 3, 2025. The Grammys will be presented on Feb. 2, 2025 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars have won a combined 28 Grammy Awards – 13 for her, 15 for him – so it doesn’t take a genius to know that their newly-released collaboration, “Die With a Smile,” is a strong contender for Grammy nods. The song was released on Aug. 16, two weeks before the close of eligibility for the 67th annual Grammy Awards.
The instant smash has a good chance of nominations for record of the year, song of the year and best pop duo/group performance.
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Both artists have been nominated multiple times for record of the year for previous collaborations. Mars has been nominated three times for collaborations – as a featured artist on B.o.B.’s “Nothin’ on You” and Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk!” and as the co-lead artist with Anderson .Paak on Silk Sonic’s “Leave the Door Open.” If he is nominated again for “Die With a Smile,” he’ll break out of a tie with Jay-Z and Rihanna as the artist with the most record of the year nods as part of a collab.
Gaga has been nominated for record of the year with two previous collabs – “Shallow” with Bradley Cooper and “I Get a Kick Out of You” with Tony Bennett. Counting all singles, not just collabs, this would be Mars’ seventh record of the year nod; Gaga’s fourth.
The Grammy nominations will be announced on Nov. 8. The 67th annual Grammy Awards will be presented on Feb. 2, 2025 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Gaga and Mars co-wrote and co-produced “Die With a Smile” with Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II and Andrew Watt. James Fauntleroy was an additional co-writer.
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Mars has one of the best batting averages of any artist in Grammy history. He has won 15 awards from just 31 nominations. Adele at one point had won 15 awards from just 18 nominations, but her batting average came down to earth a bit when she won just one award from seven nominations in 2023. (Her current standing – 16 awards from 25 nods – is still pretty great!)
Gaga has won 13 awards from 36 nominations.
While it’s too early to predict who is going to win in the marquee categories, if “Die With a Smile” does win record of the year, Mars would set a big Grammy record: the first artist to win record of the year four times. He’d break out of a tie with Paul Simon, who has won three times (counting two Simon & Garfunkel classics).
Mars won the award in 2016 as a featured artist on Ronson’s “Uptown Funk!,” in 2018 for the solo smash “24K Magic” and along with Anderson .Paak in 2022 for Silk Sonic’s “Leave the Door Open.”
If it wins song of the year, Mars and D’Mile would become the first three-time winners in that category. They are currently in a tie with Henry Mancini & Johnny Mercer, Billie Eilish & Finneas O’Connell, Adele, Brody Brown, James Horner, Will Jennings and the members of U2, with two wins each.
Mars previously won song of the year for co-writing “That’s What I Like” and “Leave the Door Open.” D’Mile previously won for co-writing H.E.R.’s “I Can’t Breathe” and “Leave the Door Open.”
If “Die With a Smile” wins record or song of the year, it would be Gaga’s first win in a so-called Big Four category (album, record or song of the year plus best new artist).
If the collab wins best pop duo/group performance, it would be Gaga’s record-setting third win in that category, following wins for pairings with Cooper (“Shallow”) and Ariana Grande (“Rain on Me”). Gaga is currently tied with SZA with two wins each in the category (which was introduced at the 2012 ceremony).
Gaga and Mars share another Grammy common bond: Neither was nominated for best new artist, despite both getting off to hot career starts. In both cases it’s because they blew up so fast that they ran afoul of Grammy eligibility rules in that category.
Gaga was entered in the best new artist competition for the awards that were presented in 2009, but she wasn’t nominated. She was nominated that year for best dance recording for “Just Dance,” her Hot 100-topping collab with Colby O’Donis. That nomination precluded her from getting a second shot at best new artist the following year (which is the norm in that category for artists whose breakthroughs don’t neatly fall into one Grammy eligibility year).
Mars was never even entered for best new artist. He received seven nominations at the awards that were presented in 2011, winning best pop vocal performance, male for his Hot 100-topping “Just the Way You Are.” But because his first full-length album hadn’t been released by the close of that eligibility year – it was released four days later, on Oct. 4, 2010 – he wasn’t eligible for best new artist that year. And he wasn’t allowed in the category the following year because he was, by that point, a Grammy winner. (That’s what you call a Grammy Catch-22.)
The failure of both artists to be nominated for best new artist hasn’t seemed to unduly slow their career momentum.
“Die With a Smile” is expected to challenge for a debut inside the top 10 on next week’s Billboard Hot 100. The chart will be unveiled on Monday (Aug. 26).
08/12/2024
Remarkably, 10 of those 14 artists are women.
08/12/2024