On June 16, the Recording Academy announced several rule changes and five new categories that will go into effect for the 69th Grammy Awards, in 2027. Among the new rules is one that increases the number of times a musician can be submitted for best new artist. Meanwhile, the new categories are: best Asian pop music performance; best R&B collaboration or duo/group performance; best traditional pop vocal performance; best traditional folk album; and best Latin song. But it’s that first new category that has generated near-immediate discourse, largely because of what it implies about how the Grammys see music on a global scale, and how it continues a history of what many see as harmful gatekeeping. At the link in bio, writer Ayan Artan examines how the new Grammys 2027 rules and categories, especially best Asian pop music performance, can be seen as part of a history of gatekeeping non-white artists from major award categories. #OpEd (📸: Getty Images)