Beyonce's Single Ladies & Taylor Swift' 1989 Inducted To National Recording Registry

May 14

Taylor Swift’s career-transforming 1989, Beyoncé’s iconic “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It),” José Feliciano’s perennial “Feliz Navidad,” Chaka Khan’s defining recording of Prince’s “I Feel for You” and the Broadway cast album to Chicago are among 25 selections newly added to the National Recording Registry. The Library of Congress, which oversees the Registry, announced this year’s additions early Thursday (May 14).

“Music and recorded sound are essential, wonderful parts of our daily lives and our national heritage,” acting Librarian of Congress Robert R. Newlen said in a statement. “The National Recording Registry works to preserve our national playlist for generations to come.”

“The sweep and diversity of the National Recording Registry class of 2026 beautifully captures the scope of the American experience as we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary,” Robbin Ahrold, chair of the National Recording Preservation Board, said in a statement. “From icons of R&B to a holiday favorite en Español, from a legendary sports broadcast to this generation’s superstars, it is a thrilling reflection of America at its best.”

The public made more than 3,000 nominations this year.

https://www.billboard.com/lists/national-recording-registry-inductees-2026-full-list/

The National Recording Registry began its annual inductions in 2002. Established by the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000, the registry was created to preserve sound recordings that are culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant to American sound heritage.

Each year, the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress chooses 25 recordings showcasing the range and diversity of American recorded sound heritage in order to increase preservation awareness. The diversity of nominations received highlights the richness of the nation's audio legacy and underscores the importance of assuring the long-term preservation of that legacy for future generations. Currently, there are 600 works/titles on the National Recording Registry.

Full list of songs & albums inducted since 2002:

https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/national-recording-preservation-board/documents/registry-by-induction-year.pdf