Grammy Awards Chief Says AI “Does Not Make Your Entry Ineligible”
The Recording Academy is redefining its future, signaling major implications for electronic artists as AI becomes a standard tool in modern production.
In a wide-ranging interview with Billboard, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. sent ripples through the music industry after confirming the use of AI in music production “does not make your entry ineligible” for the Grammy Awards.
For EDM producers who regularly experiment with AI in lyric generation, sound design ideation or workflow efficiency, the announcement provides relief but also raises urgent new questions. Mason Jr. clarified that the Grammys do not automatically disqualify works created with AI assistance, so long as humans meaningfully contribute to the submission and it is entered in the correct category.
He also acknowledged that these conversations represent “the toughest part of [his] job,” pointing to the inscrutable lines between creative augmentation and creative replacement that now permeate the studio.
“There are things that can disqualify a recording, absolutely,” he said. “If you’re doing something illegal or something that affects an artist in a way that is protected, there are things that we can do to avoid that. But all that is starting to look really blurry and needs clarification more now than ever.”
Beyond the AI debate, electronic artists will likely find reassurance in the Academy’s recent overhaul. More than 70% of Grammy voters have joined since 2019. Mason Jr. credits this shift for greater global representation and for the Academy’s improved relationship with artists who historically felt overlooked. The newer voting body has already championed categories like Best Remixed Recording.
He also emphasized his belief that fragmentation in music consumption is not a threat, but a massive accelerant for global creativity. Fans are discovering niche sounds at unprecedented speed and that reality influences how the Academy recruits members and evaluates music, making it increasingly responsive to genres where evolution is expected.
For an industry in which music producers already treat emerging technology as an extension of their creative toolkit, the statement marks a turning point for how the governing bodies of the Recording Academy may evaluate nominations moving forward. The message is clear: the Grammys are watching closely, but they are not shutting the door just yet.
