News Article

We understand the importance of maintaining consistency in our awards eligibility process, and we never make changes mid-stream lightly. However, we also recognize the need to provide our members with equal opportunities for their recordings to be considered.

As part of our commitment to staying aligned with industry standards and evolving trends in how artists release music, we are adjusting our genre-based award categories. The music industry has seen a significant shift toward singles and EPs as artists increasingly choose these formats to connect with their audiences. To reflect this trend, effective immediately, all recordings—including singles, EPs, and LPs—will now be eligible for consideration in the following categories: Rock and Roots (Traditional and Contemporary). These categories will now join Pop, Rap/Hip Hop, and R&B/Soul, which already accepted all formats.

In a perfect world, we would have implemented this change at the outset when we opened submissions. This decision came after much discussion and thoughtful consideration, and it will continue to be in effect in future years as long as it remains relevant to how artists release music.

That said, we continue to respect and value the effort and artistry involved in curating a full-length record. Our jurors will be instructed to review each submission with careful consideration of its format, ensuring that albums, EPs, and singles are all evaluated fairly within the context of their unique creative presentation.

If you would like to update a submission you’ve already made to include a genre-based award category, please reach out to our Awards team at [email protected]. We are here to help ensure your work is fully represented.

These changes reflect our ongoing commitment to recognizing the full spectrum of musical creativity, whether it comes in the form of a single track or a full-length album. Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to celebrating your work in the year ahead!