The Recording Academy kicked off the 2025 GRAMMY Awards season on Friday, unveiling significant changes to this year’s event.
The 2025 Grammy run is distinct, bringing structural and conceptual shifts as the Recording Academy rolls out newly redefined award categories.
The move aims to “enhance the integrity and inclusivity of the GRAMMY Awards,” as officials describe it, in response to the changing dynamics of the music industry.
Industry experts and fans alike are glued to live.GRAMMY.com, where the much-anticipated nominations will reveal which artists and creators have secured spots in the race for music’s most coveted awards.
The Recording Academy recently detailed these category changes on its website, underscoring its efforts to adapt the awards to current industry trends and highlight a wider spectrum of musical expressions.
Among the notable updates, the Academy has introduced a fresh category, “Best Dance Pop Recording,” which replaces the former Best Pop Dance Recording.
Meanwhile, the Best Remixed Recording category has been restructured and repositioned under the Pop & Dance/Electronic Field.
These changes reflect the Academy’s commitment “to support the evolving music landscape,” said Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr., who highlighted the organization’s drive to maintain an awards process that “empowers creators.”
In his recent message to GRAMMY Voting Members, Mason pointed to the enduring legacy of the GRAMMYs, noting the awards’ “67-year tradition” and emphasizing that “every vote can shape the future of music.”
As today’s nominations are unveiled, they serve as a key moment leading up to the grand finale of the season, the 67th GRAMMY Awards ceremony, set to air live on Sunday, February 2, from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
The Academy has also made adjustments in eligibility and submission criteria, particularly in the Songwriter of the Year category, where songwriters can now qualify with fewer song credits.
The change is part of an effort to “welcome more voices” into the prestigious field, broadening the reach for talent recognition.
The path to 2025 GRAMMYs has been months in the making, with voting and selection processes unfolding since July.
The entry period spanned from July to August, and initial voting rounds took place in October. Today’s nomination announcement is the product of this rigorous process, a prelude to the final voting round in December, culminating in the awards night in February.
In the Academy’s words, these updates represent a renewed dedication to “recognising excellence in the recording arts and sciences,” balancing “innovation and tradition.”
This commitment underscores the Academy’s evolving role in honoring the best of music’s past, present, and future.
For those following the GRAMMY journey, here is a timeline of key milestones leading up to the February ceremony:
Sept. 16, 2023 – Aug. 30, 2024: Product Eligibility Period All recordings intended for GRAMMY consideration in 2025 had to be released to the public within this period.
July 8, 2024 – Aug. 23, 2024: Media Company Registration Period, allowing media companies to register with the Recording Academy for official submissions.
July 17, 2024 – Aug. 30, 2024: Online Entry Period, during which eligible recordings were submitted.
Oct. 4, 2024 – Oct. 15, 2024: First Round Voting, where Voting Members selected the nominees for each category.
Nov. 8, 2024: Nomination Announcement, unveiling the official nominees for the 2025 GRAMMYs on live.GRAMMY.com.
Dec. 12, 2024 – Jan. 3, 2025: Final Round Voting, when Voting Members will cast their final ballots to decide the GRAMMY winners.
Feb. 2, 2025: The 2025 GRAMMY Awards ceremony, often referred to as “Music’s Biggest Night,” will be broadcast live from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
