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. 7, but good luck trying to find out who won best regional roots music album (we’ll have it, of course).
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Some categories are far more competitive than others. There are more than 20 times as many entries in this year’s most populated category, song of the year (923), as in this year’s least populated category, best opera recording (43).
Since final-round voting for the 69th Grammy Awards opened on Monday (Oct. 12), Grammy voters have been conscientiously poring over the entry lists for 95 of the 100 Grammy categories (or so Recording Academy leaders fervently hope). The nominees in the other five categories are determined by committees.
The number of entries in four of the six categories in the General Field dropped compared to last year. There are 779 entries for record of the year (down from 894 last year); 683 for album of the year (down from 686 last year); 923 for song of the year (down from 1,015); and 331 for best new artist (down from 337).
The number of entries in the other two General Field categories increased compared to last year. There were 216 entries for producer of the year, non-classical (up from 195) and 74 for songwriter of the year, non-classical (up from 63).
The Grammys introduced four new categories this year. Best Latin song has a whopping 519 entries in its inaugural year, more than any other songwriting category except song of the year. Best traditional pop performance has 211 entries in its first year. Best R&B collaboration or duo/group performance has 168 entries. Best Asian pop performance, which had a surprisingly bumpy rollout, has 116.
In addition, the Recording Academy divided best folk album into two categories – best contemporary folk album (173 entries) and best traditional folk album (87 entries). (By way of comparison, best folk album had 146 entries last year.)
Both country album categories dropped in number of entries this year. Best contemporary country album has 60 entries (down from 68). Best traditional country album has 46 (down from 62).
The Recording Academy keeps an eye on the number of entries in each category. Here’s the relevant rule, from the 69th Grammy Awards Rules & Guidelines booklet: “Each category shall have at least 40 distinct artist entries. If a category receives between 25 and 39 entries, only three recordings will receive nominations in that year. Should there be fewer than 25 entries in a category, that category will immediately go on hiatus for the current year – no award given – and entries will be screened into the next-most-appropriate category. If a category receives fewer than 25 entries for three consecutive years, the category will be discontinued, and submissions will be entered in the next-most-appropriate category.”
No category fell below the academy’s 40-entry minimum to sustain five nominees in the category, though with just 43 entries this year, best opera recording is a little too close for comfort.
My main takeaway from this annual exercise – these categories are highly competitive. As noted, 923 songs are 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. 915 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 album cover, best recording package, best album notes, best historical album and best immersive audio album.
First-round voting for the 69th annual Grammy Awards opened on Monday (Oct. 12). Voters have until Oct. 22 to make their choices. Nominations will be announced on Nov. 16. Final-round voting runs from Dec. 10 through Jan. 7. The winners will be revealed on Feb. 7 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Here are the 15 categories with most entries this year, and the 15 categories with the fewest.
Categories with the most entries
(in descending order)
Song of the year, 923
Record of the year, 779
Album of the year, 683
Best music video, 645
Best engineered album, non-classical, 531
Best global music performance, 526
Best Latin song, 519
Best arrangement, instruments and vocals, 471
Best jazz performance, 449
Best American roots song, 411
Best instrumental composition, 405
Best rock performance, 385
Best Americana performance, 340
Best American roots performance, 339
Best new artist, 331
Categories with the fewest entries
(in descending order)
Best score soundtrack for video games and other interactive media, 67
Best musical theater album, 66
Best contemporary blues album, 64
Best large jazz ensemble album, 64
Best choral performance, 60
Best contemporary country album, 60
Best classical solo vocal album, 58
Best traditional blues album, 58
Best bluegrass album, 55
Best regional roots music album, 52
Best compilation soundtrack for visual media, 50
Best roots gospel album, 47
Best traditional country album, 46
Best gospel album, 44
Best opera recording, 43