The organization behind the Grammy Awards decided at a meeting on Monday, about 24 hours before this year`s nominees were announced, that the top categories should expand to 10 nominees from 8.
This was a last-minute move that added stars like Kanye West, Taylor Swift, Abba, and Lil Nas X to the existing slate of potential winners.
Ye and Taylor Swift joined the Album of the Year shortlist for Donda and Evermore, respectively. Record of the Year added Lil Nas X`s “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” and Abba`s “I Still Have Faith in You,” while Doja Cat and SZA`s “Kiss Me More” and Brandi Carlile`s “Right on Time” joined the Song of the Year ballot. Arooj Aftab and Baby Keem were the additions to Best New Artist.
The Times determined the two latecomers to each category after obtaining a “final” nominees list that had been in circulation before Monday`s decision. That list featured just eight artists in the Big Four categories.
Mason said the expansion would help the Grammys “make room for more music, more artists and more genres, and to embrace the spirit of inclusion,” although he also admitted that the late additions were simply the ninth- and tenth-placed candidates in voting by Academy members.
