FIRST-ROUND GRAMMY® BALLOTS HAVE BEEN SENT TO RECORDING ACADEMY® VOTERS

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​More Than 21,000 Entries Were Submitted To The Recording Academy® For 59th GRAMMY Awards® Consideration; Nominations To Be Announced Dec. 6, 2016
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SANTA MONICA, CA -- The Awards process for the 59th Annual GRAMMY Awards® is well underway with  21,719 entries received by The Recording Academy® for GRAMMY® consideration. This total marks an increase from last year's 21,564 submissions. All entries were due Aug. 24 and have since undergone a vetting process to verify eligibility in preparation for first-round ballots, which will be mailed to Academy Voting members on Oct. 14. As part of that process, The Recording Academy convened 350 artists and experts to listen to and organize the thousands of entries into one of The Academy's 84 Awards categories in 30 Fields.
 
Earlier this year, The Recording Academy announced amendments to the rules governing the GRAMMY Awards. Key changes included refinements to the guidelines around Best New Artist, Blues, and Rap categories, a move to make streaming-only releases eligible for GRAMMY Award consideration, and limits to the number of categories in which Recording Academy members may vote. For more information, including an infographic on the entire GRAMMY Awards process, visit www.grammy101.com.
 
The eligibility period for the 59th Annual GRAMMY Awards is Oct. 1, 2015 through Sept. 30, 2016. Below are additional key dates and deadlines:
 
Oct. 14, 2016:         First-round ballots sent out to Voting members
Nov. 4, 2016:           First-round ballots due
Nov. 15, 2016:         Last day for Voting members to join and receive the final ballot
Dec. 6, 2016:           59th GRAMMY nominations announcement
Dec. 14, 2016:         Final ballots sent out to Voting members
Jan. 13, 2017:         Final ballots due
Feb. 12, 2017:         59th Annual GRAMMY Awards

 
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About The Recording Academy
Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers, and recording professionals dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education, and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com.

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