Top 10 Do’s & Don’t’s of Grammy Campaigning

The Recording Academy has always had rules and guidelines, dating back to its founding in 1957. In recent years, in a bid for greater transparency, and at the direction of Academy CEO Harvey Mason, jr., the Academy has posted its rules and guidelines online. It’s not a little digital pamphlet, either: It’s a 76-page document that spells out in detail what each of the 94 Grammy categories is meant to honor, who is and isn’t in line to receive a nomination in each category and what is and isn’t allowed in terms of campaigning for Grammys.

One of the most interesting sections is “Voting and Solicitation Guidelines.”  We learn that “FYC” (industry jargon for “For Your Consideration”) events and communications are allowed, with certain restrictions. FYC communications “include, but are not limited to: emails, mailings, invitations, social media, websites, and print ads.”

The Academy spells out the reason for all these rules: “It is the goal of the Recording Academy to ensure the Grammy Awards process is led in a fair and ethical manner and that voting members make their choices based solely on the artistic and technical merits of the eligible recordings. In an effort to maintain a high degree of integrity and transparency, it is crucial that the following guidelines be understood and followed by all voting members.

“If any activity is determined to work in opposition to the Recording Academy’s guidelines, the Academy may take any corrective actions, including disqualification of entries. Furthermore, any member who has authorized, executed or otherwise enabled a voting solicitation activity that is deemed to have undermined the letter or spirit of the Academy’s regulations may be subject to suspension or termination of Recording Academy membership.

Here are 10 highlights of this section of the Rules & Guidelines booklet on what is and isn’t allowed.