The Recording Academy has updated its rules for its best new artist category to allow potential nominees to submit for the category a total of four times, one more submission than what was previously allowed.
It’s a significant change with heavy implications for this year’s best new artist race, as according to Billboard, some of the year’s potential front-runners such as Ella Langley and Megan Moroney likely wouldn’t have otherwise been eligible, as they’d already submitted three times before now.
The Recording Academy said the change reflects “the evolving nature of artist development.” It certainly gives prospective best new artist teams some more flexibility in securing a bid. In recent years, some notable acts like Tate McRae were ineligible when they’d come into the mainstream because they’d run out of submissions.
Right now, Langley might be the front-runner for best new artist now that her eligibility is confirmed, as she’s got three songs in the top 10 on the Hot 100 this week, including song of the summer contender “Choosin’ Texas.”
Outside of the new rules, the Grammys introduced five new categories as well: best asian music performance, best R&B collaboration or group/duo performance, best traditional pop vocal performance, best traditional folk album and best Latin song.
