New Best Cover Category & Few New Rules For Grammys Starting Next Year

[RAMROD 116,716]

The academy is combining two categories, best recording package and best boxed or special limited edition package into one category, best recording package. Boxed sets were split off into a separate category in 1995.

It is also reviving an old category, best album cover. The Grammy Award for best album cover dates back to the first Grammy Awards in 1959. (The first winner: Frank Sinatra, for serving as art director on his own album, Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely.) From 1962 to 1965 it was separated into classical and non-classical categories. From 1966 to 1968 it was separated into graphic arts and photography categories. In 1974, the name of the award was changed to best album package. It was changed again in 1994 to best recording package.

The rule for 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).

The rule for 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, 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.”

In addition, the Package Craft Committee is changing from three regional committees to one national committee.
 

NEW RULES

Best New Artist

The academy is expanding eligibility to artists who were previously nominated for album of the year as a featured artist on another artist’s album, but whose contributions fell below the current 20% playing time threshold.

The rule: “If an artist was nominated (but did not win) as a featured artist on an album of the year nominated album but their contribution was less than the current 20% playing time nomination threshold, the artist may enter this category if they are otherwise eligible.”

The reason: The academy used to award album of the year nominations to anyone who was listed as a featured artist on an album, no matter how minor their involvement. That overly generous policy has had unintended consequences, as artists have been knocked out of best new artist consideration because of those earlier nominations. This rule change is intended to correct for that.

 

Best Dance Pop Recording:

The Academy approved updated language. “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).”

https://www.billboard.com/lists/10-grammy-rule-changes-2026/best-progressive-rb-album-2/

[Blackout19 15,445]

Chromatica should have won 

[bionic 50,110]

23 minutes ago, RAMROD said:

he reason: The academy used to award album of the year nominations to anyone who was listed as a featured artist on an album, no matter how minor their involvement.

today i learned lol

[Bronco 23,667]

Metal/Hard Rock albums are going to do so well in this field given how bland a lot of pop music covers are these days.

[Pandacadabra 9,180]

So can Gaga be nominated for Best New Artist? 

[27monster27 15,762]

We need to send a time machine back to 2003 so Britney can win for I Love Rock 'n' Roll.

EDIT: Not me misinterpreting this. 💀

[Lord Mayhem 3,369]

This is actually a great addition as many artists, photographers, and graphic designers take a lot of time to make certain album artwork especially now that many dont include words and just the image 

[Bronco 23,667]

15 minutes ago, 27monster27 said:

We need to send a time machine back to 2003 so Britney can win for I Love Rock 'n' Roll.

Wrong kind of cover lol

[Lord Mayhem 3,369]

1 hour ago, Pandacadabra said:

So can Gaga be nominated for Best New Artist? 

Get ready for GL1

Gaga Lady's debut album 

[27monster27 15,762]

1 hour ago, Bronco said:

Wrong kind of cover lol

Yeah I should've read deeper into it. 💀