After Lady GaGa was excluded for best new artist at this year’s Grammys, the Recording Academy is changing eligibility requirements for next year.
Gagita may have been the most popular new artist of 2009, but because Just Dance was nominated in 2008, she was not eligible for the best new artist category.
“There will be some changes so that particular situation won’t repeat itself,” said Academy President Neil Portnow.
The new rules will allow previous Grammy nominees to be eligible, as long as they have not released an entire album and they do not take home the prize.
The Recording Academy released the following statement:
“More and more, the first release of a new artist is as a featured artist on someone else’s album or the new artist may release a single long before the release of his/her/their entire first album.
By current rules, if the other artist’s album or the new artist’s single receives a nomination, the new artist may never have the opportunity to compete in the best new artist category. With this change, each artist will have at least one opportunity to enter in this important and highly visible category.”
The change was made to ensure the “integrity of The Recording Academy and to be completely impartial in our awards process.”
Gagalupe to the rescue!
[Image via Bizu/WENN.]
