923 songs chase eight slots as Grammy voting opens
923 songs are chasing eight nomination slots for song of the year as first-round voting for the 69th Grammy Awards opens on Monday, Oct. 12.
That makes song of the year the most entered category this year, according to figures reported by Billboard. At the other end of the scale sits best opera recording, with 43 entries. There is more than 20 times the traffic in the top category as in the bottom one.
First-round voting is the stage where voting members pick the shortlists that become the nominations. It runs through Thursday, Oct. 22, the Recording Academy has confirmed. The 69th Annual Grammy Awards — the 2027 edition — are set for Sunday, Feb. 7, 2027, and will be simulcast on ABC, Disney+ and Hulu for the first time, according to the Recording Academy.
Voters at large decide 95 of the 100 categories. Nominations in the other five are determined by committees: best album cover, best recording package, best album notes, best historical album and best immersive audio album.
The big four are slightly quieter than last year. Record of the year drew 779 entries, down from 894. Album of the year drew 683 entries, down from 686. Song of the year drew 923 entries, down from 1,015. Best new artist drew 331 entries, down from 337.
Two behind-the-scenes categories grew. Producer of the year, non-classical rose to 216 entries from 195. Songwriter of the year, non-classical rose to 74 entries from 63.
New categories made a strong start. Best Latin song received 519 entries in its inaugural year. Best traditional pop vocal performance received 211 entries in its first year. Elsewhere, best R&B collaboration or duo/group performance drew 168 entries and best Asian pop performance drew 116.
Changes to genre categories reshaped the counts. Best contemporary folk album drew 173 entries and best traditional folk album drew 87, compared with 146 for the single best folk album last year. In country, best contemporary country album fell to 60 entries from 68, while best traditional country album fell to 46 from 62.
For fans, this means a crowded field with no easy path. Every category cleared the Academy's 40-entry minimum needed to sustain five nominees, so no category faces a reduced slate.
One rule change also widens the door for albums. For the 2027 Grammys, the minimum share of new recordings required for album eligibility was lowered from 75 percent to 66 percent, the Recording Academy has said. Five new categories take effect this year.
