The Grammys will now consider streaming-only releases

Streaming services like Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal and Google Play have finally been officially recognized by the Recording Academy. Now, streaming-only releases will be eligible for Grammy consideration.

However, the Academy will not consider just any track released online and has limited streaming consideration to only those released on one of the "majors" of the streaming realm, which includes Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal and Google Play only. SoundCloud Go, YouTube or Pandora releases will not be considered.

"The goal was to include recordings that were worthy of Grammy consideration that were streaming-only [...] and exclude the 12-year-old singing a Beyonce cover into her comb that's easy to put up online also these days for streaming," Recording Academy SVP of Awards Bill Freimuth explained to Billboard.

The addition of streaming consideration is one of a few major changes that the Academy has implemented. Some changes include the fact that artists no longer are required to release an album within an eligibility period to be considered for Best New Artist and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration has been changed to Best Rap/Sung Performance to allow the consideration of solo tracks.

****Valerie Lee is Mixmag's US Digital Editor. Follow her on Twitter here****