Grammy voting, explained: First-round voting starts October 4
The next Grammys aren’t until February 2, 2025, but we’re closing in on one of the most important phases in the process. First round voting starts on October 4 and lasts 11 days until October 15. This round of voting will determine the official nominees that will be announced on November 8. Learn more about the Grammy nominations process here.
SEEGrammys would do well to nominate Charli XCX’s ‘Brat’ in top categories
The Grammy Awards use a somewhat irregular eligibility calendar. Unlike the Oscars which consider the calendar year, this year’s music kudos honor recordings released from September 16, 2023, through August 30, 2024. Did you love, for instance, Miranda Lambert‘s new album “Postcards from Texas”? Well, it was just released on September 13, so it won’t be eligible for trophies until the 2026 Grammys. But Doja Cat‘s “Scarlet,” which came out over a year ago on September 22, 2023, will be eligible for consideration this year.
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But you don’t just have to be released within the right time frame to be considered for Grammys. Media companies must formally submit those eligible recordings, videos, and films for consideration. That process took place between July 17, 2024, and August 30, 2024. Then come the genre screening committees, who review the submitted material. Their job isn’t to judge the quality of the submissions, but simply to determine entries are in the right categories. This process can produce important results before voting for nominations even takes place. You may remember, for instance, that Kacey Musgraves entered her 2021 release “Star-Crossed” for Best Country Album, but the screening committee deemed it a pop record.
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Then it’s time for first-round voting to determine the nominees. For most awards, the academy has done away with the nomination review committees that used to make the final judgments. Now academy members vote directly for the nominations without that secretive, controversial intermediary. But there are limits to voting. Members are allowed to vote in up to 10 categories across three genre fields, in addition to the six general field categories where all members may vote (Album of the Year; Best New Artist; Record of the Year; Song of the Year; Producer of the Year, Non-Classical; and Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical). This is to ensure that voters only participate in categories that align with their areas of greatest knowledge and expertise.
Ballots are then counted by the accounting firm Deloitte, and voila, you’ve got your Grammy nominees! In the meantime, until they’re unveiled on November 8, you can make your predictions in the big four categories here in our predictions center.
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