Updated on Thursday, July 14: The air date for the 2023 GRAMMYs, officially known as the 65th GRAMMY Awards, has been announced. The 2023 GRAMMYs will air live Sunday, Feb. 5, from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and will broadcast live on the CBS Television Network and stream live and on demand on Paramount+. 2022 Nominations for the 2023 GRAMMYs will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 15.

The Recording Academy has announced five new GRAMMY Awards categories to be awarded at the 2023 GRAMMYs, officially known as the 65th GRAMMY Awards, including the newly added Songwriter Of The Year (Non-Classical) and Best Score Soundtrack For Video Games And Other Interactive Media categories, among other new categories and changes.

Additionally, a new Special Merit Award will be given out for Best Song For Social Change. Other amendments include changes to the GRAMMY Awards entry and voting processes and more.

All new category additions, process amendments, and updates go into effect immediately for the 2023 GRAMMYs.

These changes come through the Recording Academy's annual process of accepting proposals from the music creators and professionals that make up its membership body, and as part of the organization's commitment to evolve with the ever-changing musical landscape. 

"We're so excited to honor these diverse communities of music creators through the newly established awards and amendments, and to continue cultivating an environment that inspires change, progress and collaboration," Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. said. "The Academy's top priority is to effectively represent the music people that we serve, and each year, that entails listening to our members and ensuring our rules and guidelines reflect our ever-evolving industry."

The 65th GRAMMY 2022 nominations are officially here. See the complete list of nominees across all 91 GRAMMY categories.

NEW GRAMMY AWARDS CATEGORIES ADDED: 

Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical
Recognizes the written excellence, profession and art of songwriting honoring the most prolific non-performing and non-producing songwriters for their body of new work released during an eligibility year. 

Best Alternative Music Performance
A track and single Category that recognizes the best recordings in an alternative performance by a solo artist, collaborating artists, established duo, or established group.

Best Americana Performance
A track and single Category that recognizes artistic excellence in an Americana performance by a solo artist, collaborating artists, established duo, or established group.

Best Score Soundtrack For Video Games And Other Interactive Media
Recognizes excellence in score soundtrack albums comprised predominately of original scores and created specifically for, or as a companion to, a current video game or other interactive media released within the qualification period.  

Best Spoken Word Poetry Album
An album Category that recognizes excellence in spoken word albums specific to the performance of poetry with or without music.

SPECIAL MERIT AWARD ADDITION:

Best Song For Social Change This Special Merit Award will be determined by a Blue Ribbon Committee and ratified by the Recording Academy Board of Trustees. Submissions must contain lyrical content that addresses a timely social issue and promotes understanding, peacebuilding and empathy.

GRAMMY AWARD VOTING PROCEDURAL UPDATES: 

Charging Fees For Entry Submissions
All Recording Academy members will receive five courtesy entries every year. For additional entries, members will pay $40 (Early Bird Fee); $75 (Standard Fee); or $125 (Final Deadline Fee) per additional entry. Registered media companies will pay a fee of $65 (Early Bird Fee); $95 (Standard Fee); or $125 (Final Deadline Fee) per entry. Considerations will be made for artists/members experiencing financial hardships. Any member who would be burdened by the entry fees can request the fees be waived by reaching out to the Recording Academy Awards Department.

Album Eligibility

To be eligible for GRAMMY Award consideration, an album must contain greater than 75% playing time of newly recorded (within five years of the release date), previously unreleased recordings. The previous eligibility rule was 50%. (Note: Best Compilation Soundtrack, Best Historical Album, Best Immersive Audio Album, Best Recording Package, Best Special Package, and Best Album Notes accept albums of recordings that are not newly recorded.)

Note: The updated album eligibility rule was approved in 2021, but is going into effect for the 2023 GRAMMYs cycle.

ADDITIONAL CATEGORY AMENDMENTS: 

Classical Field: Creation of Craft Committees in Select Classical Categories
Three Categories within the Classical Field will now be determined by highly specialized Craft Committees: Producer Of The Year (Classical), Best Engineered Album (Classical) and Best Contemporary Classical Composition.  

Classical Field: Recognition of Composers and Librettists in Best Opera Recording and Best Classical Compendium Categories
Category definitions have been updated to award composers and librettists in addition to artists, producers and engineers.

New Age, Ambient Or Chant Field: Renamed And Redefined Field and Category Name
The Category formerly known as "Best New Age Album" has been renamed "Best New Age, Ambient Or Chant Album" and the Field name has also been updated to reflect that change.

Musical Theater Field: Recognition of Composers and Lyricists in Best Musical Theater Album Category
Category definition has been updated to award composers and lyricists of more than 50% of the score of a new recording.

Music For Visual Media Field (Includes Film, TV, Video Games, And Other Visual Media): Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media
Some language in the criteria for this Category, which had been removed, has now been restored to recognize principal artists and in-studio producers.

Production Field: Updated Definition of Best Remixed Recording Category
The newly amended definition of the Best Remixed Recording Category helps to reflect the remix craft as it currently stands in the industry: the creation of a new, full-track, unique performance created by a remixer from a previously released recording.

Spoken Word Field: Updated Category Name and Definition
The Category formally known as Spoken Word Album has been renamed Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording. This Category recognizes excellence in spoken work albums (not including Spoken Word Poetry).

2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Winners & Nominations List

The 2023 GRAMMYs, officially known as the 65th GRAMMY Awards, returns to Los Angeles' Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, and will broadcast live on the CBS Television Network and stream live and on-demand on Paramount+ at 8-11:30 p.m. ET/5-8:30 p.m. PT.

The eligibility period for the 65th GRAMMY Awards is Friday, Oct. 1, 2021 – Friday, Sept. 30, 2022. All eligible awards entries must be released within this timeframe.

The Recording Academy and GRAMMY.com do not endorse any particular artist, submission or nominee over another. The results of the GRAMMY Awards, including winners and nominees, are solely dependent on the Recording Academy’s Voting Membership.

In a continuing commitment to nurture future Black music industry leaders, Amazon Music and the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective (BMC) have announced the return of the Your Future Is Now scholarship program for its fourth consecutive year. 

The program, which launched in 2021, provides students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with both financial support and direct, hands-on experience in the music industry.

This year, five HBCU students will be awarded a $10,000 scholarship each and have the chance to engage in a career-defining rotation with department leads at Amazon Music and the Recording Academy. Alongside the individual scholarships, the program will grant two HBCUs $10,000 each for music program equipment, further investing in institutional resources for budding artists and music professionals.

To celebrate the scholarship's renewal, "Amazon Music Live" featured an exclusive episode headlined by GRAMMY-nominated hip-hop heavyweight, Big Sean, sponsored by the all-new 2025 Nissan Kicks. This special live streamed performance included Big Sean performing alongside North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University's celebrated Blue and Gold Marching Machine and The Fellowship Gospel Choir, bringing a powerful, HBCU-rooted energy to the show.

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Following the concert, North Carolina A&T was announced as the first HBCU recipient of the $10,000 music equipment grant, with Amazon Music executives Phylicia Fant and Jameka Pankey, alongside Recording Academy representatives, presenting the donation to the university’s drumline coordinator, Harvey Thompson.

"Every Homecoming season, HBCU students and alumni come together not only to celebrate our community but also to strengthen the bonds that connect us," said Phylicia Fant, Head of Music Industry and Culture Collaborations at Amazon Music. "It’s that kind of meaningful impact on students’ lives that we set out to foster with this program."

Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, echoed this sentiment, expressing pride in the scholarship’s impact. "The program’s effect on our student cohorts has been nothing short of remarkable, and I couldn’t be prouder," he said. "It’s crucial that we continue investing in the next generation of Black music creators and professionals, equipping them to lead and shape the future of the music industry."

The Your Future Is Now scholarship application is now open. Eligible students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents currently enrolled at an HBCU and pursuing a degree in music, music business, business administration, marketing, communications, or a related field. Requirements include a transcript, personal statement, a creative video showcasing their vision, and one recommendation. The application deadline is December 13, and recipients will be announced in early January.

To apply for the scholarship, visit here.

This scholarship announcement is part of Amazon Music’s wider Homecoming celebrations. Amazon Music recently hosted carnival-style pop-up events at HBCUs across the country, including North Carolina A&T, Florida A&M, Howard University, and Jackson State University, creating memorable experiences for students and alumni while connecting them with the music and traditions that define HBCU culture. Students and alumni were able to experience music from past AML performers, get pictures in intricate photo moments, and have a chance to win exclusive one-of-a-kind merch. Amazon Music customers everywhere can celebrate with "Homecoming SZN," a new playlist of music created specifically to soundtrack HBCU Homecoming Weekends.

The Recording Academy's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team, in collaboration with the GRAMMY Museum, has announced the recipients of the third annual Quinn Coleman Memorial Scholarship.

This year, the scholarship honors five college students: Nadia Adams (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), Harrison Candelario (University of Rochester), Christo Hernandez (University of Southern California), Elyse Smith (Harvard University), and Hope Williams (Oakwood University).

Established in 2021, the Quinn Coleman Memorial Scholarship honors the legacy of Quinn Coleman, a cherished music executive and DJ who passed away in 2020 at the age of 31. Created by his family in partnership with the GRAMMY Museum, this scholarship aims to break down barriers in the music industry by offering professional development opportunities that prepare students for full-time careers, through financial aid, mentorship, and practical professional experiences.

Each selected recipient will be awarded two $1,000 scholarships for tuition, a $500 stipend for interview preparation, two $250 stipends for books and equipment, and financial and emotional wellness seminars. Furthermore, students will be awarded a spring internship at the Recording Academy or Latin Recording Academy.

For updates on the Recording Academy's DEI initiatives, click here. For more information about the GRAMMY Museum, visit grammymuseum.org.

From Oct. 21 to 23, songwriters, composers, producers, engineers, and music industry professionals gathered at the NYU Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music in Brooklyn, New York, to collaborate, network and support each other in navigating the ever-complex business-side of the music industry.

Presented in partnership with the Recording Academy's Songwriters & Composers Wing, the first two days were a highly collaborative songwriting intensive, where participants used the school's state-of-the-art studios to create songs for TV or film. Day three was all about empowering music makers, aptly titled, "Beyond the Studio: Navigating the Music Industry as Creators," and offered a plethora of useful advice across two insightful panels: "Crafting Hits: Songwriting in Today's Music Industry" and "Monetizing Your Music: Unlocking Opportunities in Media Licensing and Sync."

The first panel was moderated by NYU's own Professor Swagg (a.k.a. GRAMMY-winning producer and songwriter David "Swagg" Harris) and featured Samantha Cox, VP of Creative at BMI; Ian McEvily, artist manager and partner at State of the Art; and Travis McFetridge, president and CEO of Great South Bay Music Group Inc, a boutique music publisher. The second panel was moderated by singer/songwriter Toby Lightman and featured Josh Rabinowitz, professor and music consultant at the Brooklyn Music Experience; Jonathan Finegold, founder of Fine Gold Music; and Sue Jacobs, a music supervisor and founder of SueperVision.

Below, check out six useful takeaways from the intimate, informative event.

Versatility Is A Major Key To Success…

During the "Songwriting in Today's Music Industry" panel, Samantha Cox and Ian McEvily urged the importance of learning different skill sets as a songwriter. Cox pointed out that having a big pop star on a song doesn't guarantee a hit, even less so than in the past — even huge artists have had to diversify their sound and approach to stay relevant. "When I meet a young new songwriter, I always tell them to be open-minded to try a lot of different things," Cox said.

McEvily highlighted this point later in the conversation, when he was asked how he supports the artists he manages through the changing music industry landscape.

"The biggest issue starting out is money. It's really hard to be a songwriter and it hasn't gotten any easier. They used to be able to move out to LA and have a studio in their place, but now LA is expensive… To navigate that, I help them work past their skill set," McEvily explained. "I want to help them be able to be a Swiss Army knife, to be open. If you're just a songwriter and you're really lucky, maybe you'll make it. But [I want to] open you up for more opportunities."

McEvily reflected on how he encouraged his client of 10 years, GRAMMY-winning producer Dan Nigro, to learn production. When they met, Nigro was a songwriter and could produce lo-fi demos in GarageBand. Since then, he's honed his production chops and become Olivia Rodrigo's go-to producer and trusted collaborator, helping her perfect her chart-topping — and multi-GRAMMY-winning — pop-punk sound.

…And So Are The Relationships You Make

After an audience member asked whether an artist should have a manager, Cox stressed the importance of developing long-running personal relationships in the music industry. "Come talk to someone like me and I can link you with a rising songwriter and you can keep working together…And then maybe managers reach out," she emphasized. "Personal relationships are key."

McEvily agreed: "I think over the past five years, the relationship between the artist and the songwriter has become the most important relationship…and I think that makes it better."

For singer/songwriter and disability advocate James Ian, one of the biggest takeaways from the three-day event was the power that comes from gathering together with fellow music makers. While making music has mostly been a solo endeavor for him, he left feeling inspired to do more workshops and networking.

"Everyone was so generous with their time and their talent. We collaborated really, really well," he told GRAMMY.com. "Everyone was really willing to accept other people's ideas, and we used most of what everyone came up with in the songs. I'm really proud of the work, and really grateful to have networked and worked with such tremendous talent."

Read More: 4 Lessons & Resources Every Songwriter & Composer Should Know

You Might Be Missing Out On Money You've Already Earned

In between the two panels, The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) and Sound Royalties — two of the event's sponsors — were highlighted for the work they each do to provide income streams for music creators. And as Jamie Dominguez, National Director of Industry Relations at The MLC, pointed out, the streaming era has resulted in a lot of unclaimed money.

The MLC is a nonprofit that was mandated after the passage of the Music Modernization Act in 2018, which set out important regulations to protect music creators in the streaming era. The MLC — which offers free membership — allows artists and songwriters to locate and receive streaming royalties dating back to 2007. Jamie Dominguez, National Director of Industry Relations at The MLC, encouraged participants to sign up, explaining they have paid out almost $3 billion in streaming royalties since their creation. Additionally, they are funded by the DSPs and don't take a cut of artists' earnings.

Attendees also learned about Sound Royalties, an artist-friendly funding source for creatives. For artists who earn $5,000 or more a year from music royalties, the firm offers advances to help you cover a tour, new studio equipment or whatever else to further your art. Sound Royalties doesn't take ownership of the artists' copyrights or a percentage of their futures, allowing artists to maintain control of their work.

One important thing that the first set of panelists noted, though, is that in order to get royalties, you have to be credited on the song. Thus, it's important to discuss songwriting credits and splits amongst collaborators before going into a work session. "Even if you brought in a song 90 percent done, the [producer's] chord progression change made it a hit, so that's worth something," McEvily said.

There's A World Of Possibility In Music Licensing

Following the in-depth discussion on the world of songwriting and a lively networking lunch, the second panel focused on how to earn money (and ears!) on your music through film, TV and ad placement. The career of moderator Toby Lightman — who has landed over 100 major song placements in film, TV and commercials as an independent singer/songwriter — was a shining example of the many opportunities that lie for musicians in the world of sync.

"When I got a song signed to a movie, it was life-changing, and now it's my artist focus," the "Breathe In" singer said with a smile. Her heartfelt music has been featured on TV shows such as "The Rookie," "Monarch," and "Sesame Street," as well as NFL ads.

For newer or independent artists, it might feel like a pipe dream to imagine your music being featured in a film trailer or a popular TV show. But as Lightman and her panelists suggested, there are ways in — especially since there are plenty of visuals these days that need backing music.

"A lot of the places I'm trying to support independent artists are those background scenes, [like in a] diner. The money can be quite good, but you'll need to have music that you put on and are able to have a conversation with somebody. If it's pulling your ear away, it's going to do the same in the picture," Sue Jacobs asserted. "[I'm looking for music] that someone can put under the dialogue to put into the next scene."

She also recommended that artists and producers have instrumental versions of their tracks ready to go, as they're more adaptable for different scenes. And if you want to see if your music could work in film or TV, put on a montage scene, mute it, and play your music.

"Film is not very forgiving of things that are just staying there and not changing," Jacobs, who has provided music supervision for Little Miss Sunshine, HBO's "Big Little Lies" and several other critically acclaimed films and shows, points out.

She advised that the music needs to be dynamic and have non-specific lyrics that can drive a variety of scenes. For this reason, Jacobs appreciates friendship songs over romantic love songs, as well as happy music that successfully steers away from cheesiness. Finally, she noted that when it comes to sounds and genres, "hybrid always works."

Read More: The Expanding Universe of Music Sync: How It Works, Understanding The Opportunities

Ad Sync Isn't Selling Out

When the "Monetizing Your Music" panelists were asked why they thought more artists are focusing on licensing now, Josh Rabinowitz pointed to Volkswagen's dreamy ad from 2000, featuring Nick Drake's "Pink Moon," as pivotal in changing the perception of syncing your music for commercial purposes. Though the spot came out 26 years after the British indie singer/songwriter's death, it brought a whole new, wider audience to his music and inspired future TV-ads-as-music-videos.

Jonathan Finegold also called out a Michelob beer ad from 1989, which featured guitar virtuoso Eric Clapton as another turning point in sync, along with Apple's iconic iPod commercials. He emphasized the market reach of that kind of placement, exemplified by Apple's ability to break songs and artists, such as Feist's iPod Nano ad (a song selected by Steve Jobs himself) from 2007.

As Rabinowitz offered, "It's music for context. It's not just music that's great, it has to serve in a particular capacity. It has to serve a creative idea, a concept, a brand, a brand's purpose, a product or sell persuasiveness, etc."

He described the best ad songs as anthemic with a positive message — tracks that are dynamic, unexpected and build, and don't sound mainstream. "I did a listening session the other day, and there was an Afrobeats track with a lot of humming and crazy beats. It was really warm and kind of universal in its positivity," Rabinowitz added. "That's exciting for me, and I think that's a great opportunity for people that are experimental and creative."

Landing An Ad Placement Is An Art In Its Own Right

As Finegold pointed out, if you are signed with a label or publishing company — even a small one — it's their job to pitch your tunes to music supervisors. He offered that it's something you can tee up for them by suggesting one of your tracks for a specific show or brand.

That said, there's no need to be obvious with your lyrics. In fact, Finegold warned that making songs with a brand in mind may have the opposite result.

"I would be careful about writing specifically for sync. A music supervisor can spot that a mile away," Finegold said. "If you write a song all about basketball and slam dunks, it doesn't mean that the NBA wants to use it. For the most part, they want to use a song about teamwork or coming together or winning or something like that."

Instead, you can create remixes of your tracks for specific scenarios, or craft unique reimaginings of well-known songs, as Finegold noted that the ad world has been big on unique covers in the past few years.

From honing songwriting skills to learning about the advantages of royalties and sync, the New York Chapter's Songwriting Camp offered an array of inspiration for those who attended. While being a creative in today's economy can be daunting, the event was a vital reminder of the power of community and collaboration — and how much further we can go when we share ideas, insights and resources.

The New York Chapter would like to offer thanks to the sponsors that made the event possible: The MLC, Sound Royalties, NYU Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, and Amazon Music, along with their Recording Academy event partner, the Songwriters & Composers Wing. Learn more about the S&C Wing on Instagram.

Dolly Parton is almost as well known for her charitable spirit as she is for topping the country charts. The 10-time GRAMMY winner has made kindness, philanthropy and inclusivity major tenets of her life and career, and this year she's the 2024 recipient of the PEACE Through Music Award.

Parton accepted the honor at a special ceremony held at the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles on Oct. 25.

"Is that not what we're all looking for: a little peace?" the country icon asked in her joyful acceptance speech. "We all want it. Some of us, all around this old world, can only dream about it. But as people, we all deserve it."

Presented by the Recording Academy and the U.S. Department of State, the PEACE Through Music Award honors an American music industry professional, artist or group who has played an invaluable role in cross-cultural exchanges and whose music work advances peace and mutual understanding globally. The award launched last year as part of the Global Music Diplomacy Initiative; 28-time GRAMMY winner Quincy Jones was the inaugural honoree.

To celebrate Dolly Parton's 2024 PEACE Through Music Award honor, dive into five of the many ways she's demonstrated her commitment to the principles of peace, unity and inclusion throughout her celebrated career.

Giving Back Through The Dollywood Foundation

Parton first launched her namesake nonprofit, the Dollywood Foundation, in 1988 — just two years after opening the doors to her famed theme park, Dollywood. In the 36 years since its inception, the country star has used the foundation to encourage the importance of education in her native Tennessee. She first began raising money for scholarships given to local high school students before eventually launching the official Dolly Parton Scholarship in 2000. 

Initially, Dolly's scholarship offered $15,000 to four students at Sevier County High School, the country icon's alma mater. However, to date, the scholarship program has expanded to award students in at least three other neighboring high schools, continually perpetuating the gift of education to rising generations where she was born and raised. 

Promoting Childhood Literacy With Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

For decades, one of the pillars of the singer's philanthropic mission has been Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, the children's literacy program she founded in 1995 to honor her father, Robert Lee Parton, Sr.

Though the sharecropper and father of 12 never learned to read or write in his lifetime, his famous daughter's Imagination Library focuses on early childhood education by "gifting books free of charge to children from birth to age 5" throughout the U.S., Canada, the UK, Ireland, and Australia.

Working with local affiliate partners, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library has gifted more than 250,000,000 books and counting to children around the world as of press time. In July 2024, the program also reached a new milestone of registering 3 million children worldwide.

Assisting Wildfire Victims Through Her My People Fund

In 2016, Parton created the My People Fund, a new branch of her Dollywood Foundation, in response to the Great Smoky Mountains wildfires that devastated the Southeastern United States — including her beloved home state of Tennessee — that year.

Killing at least 14 people and burning down thousands of homes and businesses, the wildfires quickly became the deadliest in Tennessee history, and Parton's My People Fund aimed to help victims of the tragedy get back on their feet.

The charitable initiative gave $1,000 a month for up to six months to residents of Sevier County, Tennessee who had lost their homes and livelihoods to the blaze, and brought together major organizations like Verizon, Tanger Outlets and Miley Cyrus' Happy Hippie Foundation to donate to the cause.

"I have always believed that charity begins at home," Parton said at the time of the tragedy. Ultimately, the My People Fund helped more than 900 families affected by the crisis. 

Parton's associated telethon, Smoky Mountains Rise: A Benefit for the My People Fund, also raised more than $13 million and featured appearances by Kenny Rogers, Reba McEntire, Alison Krauss, Cyndi Lauper and more. 

Helping Fund The Moderna Vaccine

It's not an understatement to say that Dolly Parton is a major reason the world has one of the COVID-19 vaccines.

In the early days of the global coronavirus pandemic, the country star announced she was donating $1 million to fund research of the virus at Nashville's Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Parton's massive check helped fund early stages in developing Moderna's vaccine, and less than a year later, she received the potentially life-saving vaccine her donation played a part in creating. 

Naturally, the singer also used her platform to encourage fans to get vaccinated as well — to the tune of "Jolene," naturally. It's virtually impossible to estimate just how many lives Dolly helped to save by this one act of generosity alone.

Championing LGBTQIA+ Rights Through Music & Advocacy

There's no denying Parton is a bonafide queer icon, and she's actively supported the LGBTQIA+ community for decades.

The "Coat of Many Colors" singer made a plainspoken reference to gay people, and the need to stand by them no matter what, in her 1991 ballad "Family." ("Some are preachers, some are gay/ Some are addicts, drunks and strays/ But not a one is turned away when it's family," she sang on the saccharine album cut from 1991's Eagle When She Flies.)

Nearly two decades later, she spoke out with her trademark wit in support of marriage equality during a 2009 appearance on "The Joy Behar Show." "I always say, 'Sure, why can't they get married? They should suffer like the rest of us do,'" the singer joked at the time, a full six years before the Supreme Court legalized marriage equality with the Obergefell v. Hodges decision.

Parton's support of the LGBTQ+ community hasn't been in words alone, either. The beloved icon has regularly supported HIV/AIDS charities during her time in the spotlight, including the Elton John AIDS Foundation and GLAAD.