CMT News

The Recording Academy announced changes to the Grammy Awards' best new artist qualifications on Wednesday (July 7), ensuring that musicians with an early hit single, or those who collaborate on an established artist's project, can be eligible for the best new artist category even if they receive Grammy nominations the previous year. However, if rising artists have already won a Grammy, they will be ineligible for the best new artist award. All nominees in that category must have released a full-length album, but no more than three, according to guidelines previously established by the Recording Academy. The Zac Brown Band won the award in January. However, Lady Gaga had been excluded from the category because her first hit, "Just Dance," was nominated for best dance recording a year earlier, prompting the change from the Recording Academy. The 53rd annual Grammy Awards will take place in Los Angeles on Feb. 13, 2011.