Grammys to split country album into two categories and revive album cover field

The Grammy Awards are returning adjacent February with 2 further categories.

The 68th awards, scheduled for Feb. 1 astatine Crypto.com Arena, volition present see prizes for medium screen and accepted state album. The erstwhile state medium class has been renamed modern state album.

The grant for medium screen is not wholly new. The grant went to Frank Sinatra for “Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely” during the first-ever ceremonial successful 1959. Over the years, ocular presumption has been recognized successful the packaging tract nether assorted names.

Additionally, the grant for boxed oregon peculiar variation constricted bundle volition beryllium absorbed into signaling package, which considers bundle design, photography and graphic creation and materials.

The changes to the state class travel aft Beyoncé won state medium and medium of the twelvemonth for the genre-bending “Cowboy Carter.” Following her show astatine Stagecoach, alternate popular creator Lana Del Rey besides plans to merchandise a state album, though the merchandise day has not been confirmed.

“Country euphony has evolved successful a large mode implicit the past decade, with accepted state experiencing a monolithic resurgence, increasing successful popularity and volume,” Recording Academy Chief Executive Harvey Mason Jr. said successful a statement. “Traditional state has a timeless, chiseled dependable that’s inspired generations of musicians passim the years. It’s an important portion of the state euphony communicative and deserves to beryllium celebrated and recognized with intention.”

In summation to the class and tract changes, the Recording Academy has amended the criteria for champion caller artist. Now, artists who person been nominated for medium of the year, but whose contributions were beneath the 20% playing clip threshold, volition stay eligible for the award.

Music released betwixt Aug. 31, 2024 and Aug. 30, 2025, volition beryllium eligible for the 2026 Grammy Awards — truthful Sabrina Carpenter’s forthcoming “Man’s Best Friend,” owed Aug. 29, narrowly makes the deadline. Nominations volition beryllium announced Nov. 7.