The Recording Academy has announced major changes to Grammy Award eligibility and voting procedures, responding to years of criticism about transparency and representation in music’s most prestigious honors.
Starting with the 2027 ceremony, the new rules expand voting membership to include more independent artists and industry professionals, implement ranked-choice voting for major categories, and establish clearer criteria for genre classifications. The changes aim to address long-standing concerns about the awards’ relevance and fairness.
“The music industry has evolved dramatically, and our recognition processes must evolve with it,” said Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. “These reforms ensure that Grammy Awards truly reflect the full spectrum of musical excellence and innovation.”
The reforms include doubling the voting membership from 13,000 to 26,000 members, with priority given to active creators and professionals from underrepresented communities. Genre committees will also undergo restructuring to better reflect contemporary music landscapes, particularly in hip-hop, electronic, and global music categories.
Artists and industry professionals generally welcomed the changes, though some expressed skepticism about implementation. The Academy committed to transparency reports tracking demographic representation among voters and nominees, beginning with the next awards cycle.