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GRAMMYs Announce New Categories & Major Eligibility Updates Ahead of 2026 Awards

Eric Alper
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GRAMMYs Announce New Categories & Major Eligibility Updates Ahead of 2026 Awards

Music’s Biggest Night is set to return in a big way. Mark your calendars for Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, when the 68th GRAMMY Awards will broadcast live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Nominations will be revealed on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, and from there, the countdown begins.

But this isn’t just another GRAMMY season — it’s a signal that the Recording Academy is actively listening, learning, and evolving with the times. Two new categories — Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover — have officially been added to the awards roster. These updates aren’t just cosmetic; they reflect deep conversations among Academy members and a growing awareness that the musical landscape is more nuanced and diverse than ever before.

In an exclusive with GRAMMY.com, Mason underscored how essential these changes are. The goal isn’t simply more categories — it’s about more meaningful celebration. From revisiting what “Best New Artist” can mean, to broadening eligibility for packaging categories that reflect the real-life way music is sold today (yes, direct-to-fan vinyl counts now), the GRAMMYs are trying to meet the moment. And in 2026, the moment is big.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the key updates:

  • General Field
  • Eligibility for Best New Artist has been expanded to include artists who have been previously nominated in Album Of The Year, but whose contributions fell below the current 20 percent playing time threshold. This update allows acts who were credited as featured artists on projects that were GRAMMY nominated for Album Of The Year in a previous awards cycle to be eligible for Best New Artist consideration.
  • Country Field
  • The existing Best Country Album Category has been renamed Best Contemporary Country Album, and a new Category, Best Traditional Country Album, has been added.
  • Classical Field
  • In Classical Categories, composers and lyricists/librettists are now eligible for GRAMMY recognition alongside all other key creative personnel including artists, producers, and engineers on winning albums.
  • Packaging Field
  • The existing Best Recording Package and Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package Categories have been combined into one single Category: Best Recording Package. A new Category, Best Album Cover, has also been added.
  • The physical product eligibility requirement for Best Recording Package, Best Album Notes, and Best Historical Album has also been expanded to be more representative of today’s marketplace. This change ensures that physical album packages sold directly to fans through an artist’s or label’s website are eligible for GRAMMY consideration.
  • Additionally, the Craft Committee serving in this field is transitioning from a regional to a national model.

Each rule tweak, redefinition, and category addition is a step toward recognizing the evolving ways music is made, consumed, and shared.

Stay tuned to live.GRAMMY.com for full coverage and updates on this year’s show, and get ready to celebrate the artists, the innovators, the visuals, the songs — and yes, the album covers — that made 2025 unforgettable.

The Black Crowes Celebrate 25 Years of ‘Live at the Greek’ With Jimmy Page With New Video

Eric Alper
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The Black Crowes Celebrate 25 Years of ‘Live at the Greek’ With Jimmy Page With New Video

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Live at the Greek, The Black Crowes have released a behind-the-scenes video on the making of their legendary collaboration with Led Zeppelin icon Jimmy Page. The remixed and remastered album captures the raw power of their live performances, blending blues-rock swagger with guitar god brilliance. It’s a must-listen for any rock fan revisiting a once-in-a-lifetime musical moment.












John Entwistle Performs “My Wife” on Old Grey Whistle Test in Classic 1973 Performance

Eric Alper
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1
John Entwistle Performs “My Wife” on Old Grey Whistle Test in Classic 1973 Performance

There are bass players, and then there’s John Entwistle. This blistering 1973 performance of The Who’s ‘Who’s Next’ standout “My Wife” on The Old Grey Whistle Test captures The Who’s legendary low-end wizard at his peak—effortlessly precise, thunderously powerful, and cool as ever.












Raf-Saperra and Ikky Unleash Genre-Bending Punjabi Pop Banger “Step Out”

Eric Alper
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Raf-Saperra and Ikky Unleash Genre-Bending Punjabi Pop Banger “Step Out”

– Cultural vanguard Raf-Saperra returns today with his brand new single “Step Out” produced by hitmaker Ikky and backed by Polydor Records in the UK and Universal Music Canada.
 
An unexpected new chapter from the British Punjabi musical disruptor, Raf-Saperra takes his boldest artistic leap to date with a vibrant, infectious pop track delivered through his signature Punjabi lens. “Step Out” is the latest collaboration between Raf and Ikky, following “Heer” from earlier this year.


 About the new single, Raf says: “First time stepping into the pop lane… and who better to do it with than the hitmaker himself, Ikky. ‘Step Out’ is a full-blown earworm – catchy, bold, and backed by a visual straight out of a cartoon-meets-cinema dream. Press play and don’t look back!”

A powerful blend of catchy melodic hooks, electronic textures, and Raf’s trademark folk lyricism, “Step Out” is lifted from his upcoming pop-focused EP in collaboration with Ikky. This song is Raf and Ikky’s take on the Dub music that has inspired London with a blend of dancehall that has inspired Toronto– all with the strength of Punjabi music coming from these two global stars.
 
The track is accompanied by a sleek, high-energy visual directed by Bedroom Projects and Avleen Kaur, spotlighting Raf in full transformation mode, stepping confidently into new sonic terrain. “Step Out” signals a striking new direction for an artist known for bending genre rules and elevating underground sounds.
 
Rooted in traditional Punjabi singing, but equally shaped by Streatham’s rap culture and East Coast hip-hop, Raf-Saperra is one of the most daring and original voices to emerge from London in recent years. His 2023 project Ruff Around The Edges was critically acclaimed as one of the most genre-bending debuts in the British underground, and his 2024 follow-up 5 Deadly Venomz, a hard-hitting Punjabi boom-bap rap project, proved Raf could go bar-for-bar with rap royalty like Conway The Machine, Dave East, and Big Body Bes, all while staying rooted in his cultural identity. Raf has routinely spoken fondly of the Punjabi music scene in Canada and sold out shows across the country. With “Step Out,” he formally lends his voice to one of the nation’s most in-demand producers.
 
With his upcoming EP, Raf is out to prove something different: that Punjabi music isn’t confined to genre, and neither is he.

The single and EP are produced by Ikky, one of the most important and influential producers in the global Punjabi music movement. With over 3 billion streams to his name, the Toronto-based super-producer has redefined what Punjabi music can sound and feel like in the modern era. His sonic blueprint has powered crossover anthems for the likes of AP Dhillon, Karan Aujla, Diljit Dosanjh, Shubh, and more, blending rich Punjabi instrumentation with stadium-sized pop and R&B polish.
 
“Step Out” is more than a single – it’s a statement.



King Cruff Teams With !llmind for Hip-Hop and Reggae Smash “BUNCH”

Eric Alper
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1
King Cruff Teams With !llmind for Hip-Hop and Reggae Smash “BUNCH”

Today, fast-rising visionary artist King Cruff drops the hip-hop and reggae-infused banger “BUNCH” via Tuff Gong Collective.
 
Produced by 2X GRAMMY winner and 12X GRAMMY nominee !llmind and Don Mills (J. Cole, Giveon, Juice WRLD), “BUNCH” is an immediate earworm, punching through the speakers with heavy vibrating bass, infectious rhythmic drums, and King Cruff’s signature rapid bars.

When writing the lyrics for “BUNCH”, King Cruff was inspired by the wit often found in dancehall music. “I’m very much in my hip-hop bag on ‘BUNCH’ but I also wanted to bring a sarcastic sense of humour to the lyrics like earlier dancehall songs I remember listening to,” says King Cruff. “But as funny as the song is, it’s actually talking about being faithful to your partner. ‘Stand at attention when I stand up for my queen’ is talking about being there and being present for your partner and ‘Don’t you know Jamaican men do not cheat’ serves as a reminder that Jamaican men are the original ‘lover mans.’”

“BUNCH” follows the release of King Cruff’s debut EP WHAT HAVE I ‘DON, a collection of genre-blending innovative soundscapes and poetic lyricism. Released in November of 2024, the project features collaborations with Skip Marley, Stonebwoy, Jag.Huligin, and Solo YT, and production by Banx & Ranx, Tessellated, !llmind, Don Mills, Circa Eleven, Natural High Music, A.J. Mills, Pops, Lowner and OLivR.
 
2025 is shaping up to be a momentous year for King Cruff. This past March, after playing multiple shows at SXSW, King Cruff’s artistry was recognized by the Canadian music industry when his single “FALLBACK” featuring Runkus earned him his first JUNO Award nomination for Reggae Recording of the Year. Following recent performances at Departure Festival and Cali Vibes Festival in California, King Cruff returned to the venue that hosted his first ever headlining show, the Drake Underground, for an energetic NXNE set this week. Up next, King Cruff is slated to perform at additional festivals in the US and Canada this summer including Festival d’été de Québec, Breaking Sound in Brooklyn, Sommo Festival in Prince Edward Island, and opening for the legendary GRAMMY-winning band The Roots at Backyard Music Festival in Victoria, BC. 

Canadian-Jamaican artist King Cruff (Solomon Marley-Spence) was born with the talents of songwriting and performance in his blood. An introspective storyteller, he sees his songs as think pieces that embody the poetic lyricism, vibrant rhythms, and innovative soundscapes that define his artistry. Drawing on his audio engineering background, the versatile King Cruff fuses genres across the diaspora including hip-hop, Afrobeats, dancehall, and reggae. 
 
While reggae royalty is in his blood, King Cruff’s rapid flow and patois-laced lyrical style reveals the influence hip-hop lyricists such as André 3000 and Kendrick Lamar have had on him choosing to carve his own path and building his own legacy.
 
Following two consecutive Top 40 radio hits in Canada, “Soufflé” and “PROPPA GHANDA”, King Cruff released his debut EP WHAT HAVE I ‘DON to critical acclaim, landing multiple ‘Best Of’ lists and receiving the 2025 JUNO Award Nomination for Reggae Recording of the Year.

 Canadian-Jamaican artist King Cruff (Solomon Marley-Spence) was born with the talents of songwriting and performance in his blood. An introspective storyteller, he sees his songs as think pieces that embody the poetic lyricism, vibrant rhythms, and innovative soundscapes that define his artistry. Drawing on his audio engineering background, the versatile King Cruff fuses genres across the diaspora including hip-hop, Afrobeats, dancehall, and reggae. 
 
While reggae royalty is in his blood, King Cruff’s rapid flow and patois-laced lyrical style reveals the influence hip-hop lyricists such as André 3000 and Kendrick Lamar have had on him choosing to carve his own path and building his own legacy.
 
Following two consecutive Top 40 radio hits in Canada, “Soufflé” and “PROPPA GHANDA”, King Cruff released his debut EP WHAT HAVE I ‘DON to critical acclaim, landing multiple ‘Best Of’ lists and receiving the 2025 JUNO Award Nomination for Reggae Recording of the Year.
 
A natural-born performer, 27-year-old King Cruff has spent the past two years on stages in Jamaica, the US, and Canada opening for Stonebwoy, DillonPonders, and Damien and Stephen Marley, performing alongside Skip Marley at the Tuff Gong Takeover in New York, playing multiple festivals including SXSW, NXNE, and Cali Vibes Festival, and for cultural events such as Toronto’s Caribana, School Night, Skratch Bastid’s BBQ in both Toronto and Jamaica, Afro Carib Fest, and at the LA and Toronto opening nights of the Bob Marley One Love Experience. Uniting his love for hip-hop, reggae, dancehall, and funk, King Cruff’s captivating performances and innovative sound has solidified him as a visionary artist to watch.
 


 

Your Favorite Color Unleashes Anthem of Self-Liberation With “Less in Love”

Eric Alper
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0
Your Favorite Color Unleashes Anthem of Self-Liberation With “Less in Love”

Following last month’s release of the anthemic “Forever,” indie alt-rock band Your Favorite Color  – who continue to carve out their place in the modern alt-rock scene, resonating deeply with listeners searching for honesty and emotional depth – returns with an emotionally charged new single, “Less in Love.” Blending the band’s signature mix of cathartic lyrics with cinematic soundscapes, the song is a hard-charging alt-rock thriller that doubles as a confession. The song was born from a feeling of pure freedom during the band’s first UK tour where they ran through the streets of London and shed the weight of others’ expectations. 

“This song is about refusing to change for someone else and owning your true self without apology,” Your Favorite Color says of “Less in Love.” “It’s an anthem of self-liberation.”

Your Favorite Color— which features lead vocalist Matt Warren and keyboardist Nicky Neighbors, along with Cameron Pearson on bass, Matthew Fosmire on drums (aka “Foz”) and guitarist David Silveria — recently released their new single “Forever” —a high-energy anthem that captures the rush of living in the moment.  The single follows the breakout success of their debut album, For You, and viral moments sparked by their cover of the Thompson Twins’ “Hold Me Now” and the fan-favorite track “ Medicine .”  Most recently, Your Favorite Color wrapped a 26-date European tour opening for The Driver Era on the X Girlfriend tour, playing to sold-out crowds in Paris, Madrid, London and introducing their high energy, nostalgic sound to a global audience. 

Hailing from Huntington Beach, CA, Your Favorite Color blends alt-rock with dreamy ‘80s pop influences and moody emotional undertones. United by a shared love of music and the ocean, the band formed in Orange County and  has evolved into lifelong friends and collaborators. 

After six years performing along the California coast and honing their sound, they signed with esteemed indie label Prajin Parlay and released their debut LP For You in September 2024—an 11-track journey through love, heartbreak, and self-discovery, influenced by the pop/rock sounds of the ‘80s, ‘90s, and early 2000s. A standout performance at SXSW 2024, their debut European tour, and back-to-back alt-rock anthems “Bleach” and “Forever” have firmly established them as one of California’s most exciting rising acts.

Spotify GLOW Amplifies LGBTQIA+ Artists and Stories Around the World

Eric Alper
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0
Spotify GLOW Amplifies LGBTQIA+ Artists and Stories Around the World

Spotify is dedicated to lifting up the voices and contributions of all artists, creators, and authors. This Pride Month and beyond, they’re also taking a moment to showcase the continued growth and impact of GLOW, their global music platform that amplifies LGBTQIA+ creators and celebrates their contributions to music and culture year-round.

GLOW’s ongoing global impact

Available in more than 50 countries, the GLOW hub is a key destination for fans looking to discover and celebrate LGBTQIA+ sounds.

Since launching in January 2023, the program has also supported more than 100 GLOW ambassadors with marketing, editorial, and partnership opportunities in their home countries and beyond. These artists have been featured across their GLOW playlists, appeared in GLOW billboard ads in cities like New York, London, and Bangkok, and shared their stories across their global and local social channels. Additionally, GLOW playlists have racked up more than 371 million streams and enabled more than 86 million discoveries.

LGBTQIA+ artists who GLOW

Their GLOW hub serves as a dedicated space to highlight offerings from LGBTQIA+ voices, with curated selections and monthly campaigns supporting spotlight artists. They’ve collaborated with artists at various stages in their careers, from Trixie Mattel (U.S.) to LUDMILLA (Brazil) and MOONGA K. (South Africa) to Jean Seizure (Singapore).

They’ve refreshed their flagship GLOW playlist with tracks from LGBTQIA+ artists, and this June, they’re highlighting six exceptional GLOW spotlight artists from around the world: Esteman (Colombia), RUSLANA (Spain), Hakushi Hasegawa (Japan), ALIE BLACKCOBRA (Thailand), Craig Lucas (South Africa), and Sophie and the Giants (U.K.), representing a range of genres and perspectives and showcasing the breadth of talent within the community.

Hakushi Hasegawa 

Sophie and the Giants 

RUSLANA 

ALIE BLACKCOBRA 

Craig Lucas 

Esteman 

Hakushi Hasegawa 

Sophie and the Giants 

Listeners can explore more genres and styles with curated playlists like Pride Party, featuring dance anthems; Club Resistance, a collection of bold, pioneering tunes; Transcend, which honors trans talent; BRILLO, the hottest tracks from Latin American LGBTQIA+ artists; and The Ballroom (Vogue), full of iconic ballroom sounds.

GLOW also fosters community and connection beyond the digital realm. Throughout the month and across many local markets, they’re celebrating with artists, creators, and fans in recognition of the LGBTQIA+ community.

More than music

For podcast fans, the Queer Creators We Love and Spotlighting LGBTQIA+ Stories shelves within their GLOW hub boast a selection of shows and episodes from the community, including Therapuss with Jake Shane and Two Dykes And A Mic. And in countries where audiobooks are available, the hub features an audiobooks shelf with playlists spanning everything from memoirs to science fiction and fantasy.

Visit theirGLOW hub to discover your new favorite LGBTQIA+ artists and creators.

Spotify Drives Major Global Growth in Audiobook Listening and Sales

Eric Alper
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0
Spotify Drives Major Global Growth in Audiobook Listening and Sales

Since Audiobooks in Premium launched on Spotify in 2023, they’ve seen strong growth all around, with their catalog of English-language audiobooks nearly tripling in size to more than 400,000 titles.

And the number of audiobooks listeners and listening hours increased by more than 30% and 35% year-over-year, respectively, in the U.S., U.K., and Australia. More recently, since the launch of audiobooks in France and the Benelux last year, they’ve also seen audiobook listeners in those countries grow by a monthly average of 12%.

Much of this growth is driven by users who were listening to an audiobook for the very first time. This isn’t just (really) cool — they believe it’s playing a key role in the sales of the publishing industry overall.

A newly released survey by the Audiobook Publishers Association shows that audiobook sales grew by 13% in 2024, with 99% of the revenues generated by digital audiobooks.  

More specifically, their publishing partners are seeing growth and are citing Spotify as a key contributor to that growth.

  • U.K. publisher Bloomsbury reported that audio sales during its 2025 fiscal year “grew 57 percent in part driven by our new commercial relationship with Spotify.”
  • French publisher Lagadere mentioned in its 2024 financial report that “digital sales grew significantly in the audio segment (up 38%), driven by a new partnership with Spotify.”
  • U.S. publisher HarperCollins has also said that in the fourth quarter of 2024, audiobook sales rose by 13% compared to Q4 2023, with parent company News Corp pointing out their entrance into the audiobook market as a catalyst for that growth.

They want to help the industry maintain this momentum by introducing even more listeners to the world of audiobooks. And they\ll do that by continuing to provide the best experience for authors, publishers, and listeners alike. So far, they’ve done this by: 

Audiobooks have the power to transform the way stories are told and enjoyed, and they’re proud to be at the forefront of this revolution.

Find your next great read by browsing the Audiobooks hub on Spotify.

Spotify Launches POPSTARS* to Spotlight Morocco’s New Wave of Pop Icons

Eric Alper
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Spotify Launches POPSTARS* to Spotlight Morocco’s New Wave of Pop Icons

A new generation of artists is redefining Morocco’s pop music scene, blending their deep-rooted heritage with contemporary influences to create sounds that are both authentic and globally relevant. These are the voices of POPSTARS*, a fresh and energetic rebrand of Spotify’s Top Maghreb Pop playlist, designed to amplify Moroccan pop around the world.

This new campaign features exclusive interviews with six artists who are shaping Moroccan pop in strikingly different ways: Manal, Zouhair Bahaoui, Nouaman Belaiachi, DYSTINCT, Douaa Lahyaoui, and RYM. Hit play on the video below to hear from these rising stars:

“It was really important for us to connect with the pop audience and create a space where listeners from all over the world can experience the best of Moroccan pop,” said Mehdi Zim, Spotify’s Senior Editor for the Maghreb. “Our goal is to support today’s Moroccan pop artists and make sure the playlist keeps evolving—telling the story of a genre that’s growing, changing, and going global.”

Manal is known for her hyper-stylized visuals and feminist edge, weaving traditional motifs into futuristic soundscapes, while Zouhair Bahaoui and Nouaman Belaiachi each ground their sound in unmistakably Moroccan local textures. DYSTINCT, who grew up in Belgium, is making music in Darija (Moroccan Arabic), aiming to position Moroccan pop on the global stage alongside Afrobeats and Latin pop. Douaa Lahyaoui and RYM, meanwhile, are carving out new narratives—penning vulnerable lyrics, fusing genres, and giving voice to a new kind of Moroccan pop star.

Zouhair Bahaoui 

Manal 

RYM 

DYSTINCT 

Nouamane Belaiachi 

Douaa Lahyaoui 

Zouhair Bahaoui 

Manal 

NEXT 

“The POPSTARS are true stars in every sense,” added Mehdi. “The asterisk in the playlist name is a small but meaningful nod to the star on the Moroccan flag. We want Moroccans to feel proud when they see and hear this playlist—it’s a reflection of the new wave of voices shaping the future of Moroccan pop.”

Stream their POPSTARS* playlist.

Spotify Expands “Create Cover Art” Feature Worldwide, Unlocking Creative Playlist Expression

Eric Alper
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0
Spotify Expands “Create Cover Art” Feature Worldwide, Unlocking Creative Playlist Expression

When a music fan creates a playlist on Spotify, it’s not just for listening—it’s a canvas for creative expression. Around the world, listeners have created more than 8 billion playlists to tell stories, set moods, and soundtrack their lives. Now, they’re making it even easier for more listeners to add a visual dimension to their creations: Starting today, their “Create Cover Art” feature is available in 41 new languages and 63 additional markets.

With this expansion, both Free and Premium users on mobile in these markets can design and customize their playlist covers with unique images, text, graphic elements, and more. Whether you want your cover to reflect your mood, highlight a favorite artist, or simply add a personal touch to your go-to mix, you can now make any playlist look as good as it sounds—right from the Spotify app.

How to customize your playlist cover

    • Open the Spotify mobile app on iOS or Android (make sure it’s up-to-date) and select a playlist that you created (or create a new one).
    • Tap the three-dot menu and choose “Create cover art.”
    • From there, you can upload original photos and add or update a variety of elements, including:
      • Text styles, colors, and effects
      • Background colors and gradients
      • Image masking and visual effects
      • Exclusive stickers
    • Once complete, save and share your playlist with friends.

Pro tip: You can only save one custom cover art per playlist at a time, and each new cover you create will override the previous one for that specific playlist. If you’d like to create multiple covers for a playlist, make a copy of the playlist first: Open the playlist, tap the three-dot menu, select “Add to other playlist,” and then tap “New playlist.”

Summertime stickers 

To celebrate, they’re also rolling out their latest digital sticker pack: a summer-themed collection of 13 stickers, from bumblebees and butterflies to rainbows and waterdrops. This marks their fourth sticker pack release, joining their Valentine’s Day collection and limited-edition Tyler, The Creator and COWBOY CARTER packs. Users in all markets where the feature is live can access the summer stickers to personalize their playlists for the season.

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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