Recording Academy Expands R&B Field for 69th Grammy Awards
The Recording Academy has introduced new categories and rule amendments for the 69th Grammy Awards, including a dedicated space for R&B collaborations.
The Recording Academy is making significant adjustments to the Grammy Awards following proposals from its membership body. The organization has officially announced new categories and rule amendments for the 69th Grammy Awards, which are scheduled to take place on Feb. 7, 2027.
Among the most notable changes is the introduction of five new categories, including the Best R&B Collaboration or Duo/Group Performance. According to the Academy, this category is designed to recognize excellence in contemporary R&B performances by established duos or groups, as well as collaborative works between solo artists. With this addition, the existing Best R&B Performance category has been rebranded as Best R&B Solo Performance.
An Evolving R&B Field
The updated R&B field now includes the following categories:
- Best Traditional R&B Performance
- Best R&B Solo Performance
- Best R&B Collaboration or Duo/Group Performance
- Best R&B Song
- Best Progressive R&B Album
- Best R&B Album
Harvey Mason Jr., CEO and president of the Recording Academy, emphasized the importance of these updates. “Adding Best R&B Collaboration or Duo/Group Performance helps establish a dedicated space to recognize that collaboration is a defining element of R&B, while reimagining Best R&B Performance as Best R&B Solo Performance ensures that those creators are also represented in our process,” Mason stated.
It is worth noting that the Grammys previously featured a similar category, Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, which ran from 1967 through 2011. The final winner of that award was Brandy‘s contemporary, Sade, before the category was folded into the general Best R&B Performance award in 2012.
Broader Industry Changes
Beyond the R&B field, the Academy has introduced categories such as Best Asian Pop Music Performance, Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance, Best Latin Song, and Best Traditional Folk Album. Furthermore, the organization has updated its voting processes and criteria for several categories, including Best New Artist and Best Historical Album. Notably, the threshold for new recordings required on an album has been lowered from 75% to 66%.
The Academy has also expanded recognition for songwriters and composers. Under the new rules, songwriters and composers of new material on winning albums in most genre categories will receive Grammy statuettes and Achievement Certificates, placing them in parity with producers and engineers.
These updates continue a decade-long trend of refining the awards process to better reflect the evolution of music. In 2020, the Academy famously renamed the Best Urban Contemporary Album to Best Progressive R&B Album to better acknowledge the fusion of R&B with hip-hop, rap, and electronic elements. As the industry continues to shift, the Recording Academy remains focused on ensuring its categories honor the creators driving music forward.
The 69th Grammy Awards will air live on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2027, across ABC, Disney+, and Hulu.