Jack Antonoff, Cirkut, Leon Thomas, Amy Allen Lead ASCAP’s Grammy Nominations

The nominations are in for the 68th annual GRAMMYs, and ASCAP members are well-represented across the entire genre spectrum!

Leading our nominees are the prolific writer-producers Jack Antonoff and Cirkut, with seven nominations apiece. Leon Thomas earned six nominations for his acclaimed R&B album MUTT, engineer/mixer Bryce Bordone earned five, while Amy Allen – who last year became the first woman to win the Grammy for Songwriter of the Year – is up for the category again, along with three other nominations. 

Also earning four nominations are Justin Bieber, Sierra Hull, Chris Stapleton and Hayley Williams. And ASCAP Board member Jon Batiste has three nominations!

We are also thrilled to congratulate our Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipients Chaka Khan, Cher, Fela Kuti and Whitney Houston; Trustees Award recipient Bernie Taupin and Technical Grammy Award recipient John M. Chowning. These awards will be presented at the Special Merit Awards Ceremony on January 31 at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles. 

See below for the ASCAP fam that we’ll be rooting for at the GRAMMYs ceremony on February 1, 2026.  

Album Of The Year

Award to Artist(s) and to Featured Artist(s), Songwriter(s) of new material, Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s), Mixer(s) and Mastering Engineer(s) credited with 20% or more playing time of the album. Artist name in parentheses.

DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS
Antonio Caraballo & Luis Amed Irizarry, engineers/mixers (Bad Bunny)

SWAG
Justin Bieber, artist; Justin Bieber, producer; Justin Bieber & Jackson Lee Morgan, songwriters; Dale Becker, mastering engineer (Justin Bieber)

Man's Best Friend
Jack Antonoff, producer; Zem Audu, Jack Antonoff, Bryce Bordone, Mikey Freedom Hart & Sean Hutchinson, engineers/mixers; Amy Allen & Jack Antonoff, songwriters; Nathan Dantzler, mastering engineer (Sabrina Carpenter)

Let God Sort Em Out
Mike Larson, engineer/mixer (Clipse, Pusha T & Malice)

MAYHEM
Cirkut, producer; Bryce Bordone, engineer/mixer; Henry Walter, songwriter (Lady Gaga)

GNX
Jack Antonoff, producer; Jack Antonoff & Ray Charles Brown Jr., engineers/mixers; Jack Antonoff & Scott Bridgeway, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar)

MUTT
Leon Thomas, artist; Freaky Rob & Leon Thomas, producers; Freaky Rob & Leon Thomas, songwriters (Leon Thomas)

Best Spoken Word Poetry Album

For albums containing greater than 50% playing time of new spoken word poetry recordings.

A Hurricane in Heels: healed people don't act like that (partially recorded live @City Winery & other places)
Queen Sheba

Black Shaman
Marc Marcel

Saul Williams Meets Carlos Niño & Friends At Treepeople
Saul Williams

Words For Days Vol. 1
Mad Skillz

Best Jazz Performance

For new vocal or instrumental solo, duo/group or collaborative jazz recordings.

Noble Rise
Featuring Immanuel Wilkins

Peace Of Mind / Dreams Come True
Samara Joy

Four
Michael Mayo

All Stars Lead To You - Live
Dan Pugach & Keyon Harrold

Best Jazz Vocal Album

For albums containing greater than 75% playing time of new vocal jazz recordings.

Elemental
Dee Dee Bridgewater

We Insist 2025!

Featuring Matthew Stevens

Portrait
Samara Joy

Fly
Michael Mayo

Live at Vic's Las Vegas
Dan Pugach & Keyon Harrold 

Best Jazz Instrumental Album

For albums containing greater than 75% playing time of new instrumental jazz recordings.

Belonging
Branford Marsalis Quartet 

Spirit Fall
John Patitucci

Fasten Up
Yellowjackets

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

For albums containing greater than 75% playing time of new large ensemble jazz recordings.

Orchestrator Emulator
The 8-Bit Big Band

Basie Rocks!
Deborah Silver

Best Latin Jazz Album

For vocal or instrumental albums containing greater than 75% playing time of newly recorded material. The intent of this category is to recognize recordings that represent the blending of jazz with Latin, Iberian-American, Brazilian, and Argentinian tango music.

The Original Influencers: Dizzy, Chano & Chico 

Featuring Pedrito Martinez, Daymé Arocena & Melvis Santa

A Tribute to Benny Moré and Nat King Cole
Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Yainer Horta & Joey Calveiro

Best Alternative Jazz Album

For vocal or instrumental albums containing greater than 75% playing time of new Alternative jazz recordings.

honey from a winter stone
Ambrose Akinmusire

LIVE-ACTION
Nate Smith

Blues Blood
Immanuel Wilkins

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

For albums containing greater than 75% playing time of new traditional pop recordings.

Wintersongs
Laila Biali

The Gift Of Love
Jennifer Hudson

A Matter Of Time
Laufey

The Secret Of Life: Partners, Volume 2
Barbra Streisand

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album

For albums containing greater than 75% playing time of new contemporary instrumental recordings.

Ones & Twos
Gerald Clayton

BEATrio
Edmar Castañeda

Just Us
Bob James

Best Musical Theater Album

For albums containing greater than 51% playing time of new recordings. Award to the principal vocalist(s), and the album producer(s) of 50% or more playing time of the album. The lyricist(s) and composer(s) of 50 % or more of a score of a new recording are eligible for an Award if any previous recording of said score has not been nominated in this category.

Buena Vista Social Club
Dean Sharenow, producer (Original Broadway Cast)

Death Becomes Her
Michelle Williams, principal vocalist; Mary-Mitchell Campbell, Sean Patrick Flahaven & Scott M. Riesett, producers (Original Broadway Cast)

Just In Time
Derik Lee, Andrew Resnick & Bill Sherman, producers (Original Broadway Cast)

Maybe Happy Ending
Darren Criss, & Dez Duron, principal vocalists; Deborah Abramson, Will Aronson, Ian Kagey & Hue Park, producers; Hue Park, lyricist; Will Aronson, composer & lyricist (Original Broadway Cast)

Best Country Solo Performance

For new vocal or instrumental solo country recordings.

Good News
Shaboozey

Bad As I Used To Be [From F1® The Movie]
Chris Stapleton

Best Country Duo/Group Performance

For new vocal or instrumental duo/group or collaborative country recordings.

A Song To Sing
Chris Stapleton

Trailblazer
Reba McEntire

Amen
Shaboozey

Honky Tonk Hall Of Fame
George Strait, Chris Stapleton

Best Country Song

A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

Good News
Sean Cook, Michael Ross Pollack, Sam Elliot Roman & Shaboozey, songwriters (Shaboozey)

Somewhere Over Laredo
Andy Albert, songwriter (Lainey Wilson)

A Song To Sing
Chris Stapleton, songwriter (Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton)

Best Contemporary Country Album

For albums containing greater than 75% playing time of new contemporary country recordings.

Patterns
Kelsea Ballerini

Best American Roots Performance

For new vocal or instrumental American Roots recordings. This is for performances in the style of any of the subgenres encompassed in the American Roots Music field including bluegrass, blues, folk or regional roots. Award to the artist(s).

LONELY AVENUE
Jon Batiste

Ancient Light
I'm With Her

Best Americana Performance

For new vocal or instrumental Americana performance. Award to the artist(s).

Boom
Sierra Hull

Poison In My Well
Grace Potter

Best American Roots Song

A Songwriter(s) Award. Includes Americana, bluegrass, traditional blues, contemporary blues, folk or regional roots songs. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

Ancient Light
Aoife O'Donovan & Sara Watkins, songwriters (I'm With Her)

BIG MONEY
Jon Batiste & Mike Elizondo, songwriters (Jon Batiste)

Spitfire
Sierra Hull, songwriter (Sierra Hull)

Best Americana Album

For albums containing greater than 75% playing time of new vocal or instrumental Americana recordings.

BIG MONEY
Jon Batiste

Best Bluegrass Album

For albums containing greater than 75% playing time of new vocal or instrumental bluegrass recordings.

A Tip Toe High Wire
Sierra Hull

Outrun
The Steeldrivers

Best Traditional Blues Album

For albums containing greater than 75% playing time of new vocal or instrumental bluegrass recordings.

One Hour Mama: The Blues Of Victoria Spivey
Maria Muldaur

Best Contemporary Blues Album

For albums containing greater than 75% playing time of new vocal or instrumental contemporary blues recordings.

Breakthrough
Joe Bonamassa

Family
Southern Avenue

Best Folk Album

For albums containing greater than 75% playing time of new vocal or instrumental folk recordings.

What Did The Blackbird Say To The Crow
Justin Robinson

Crown Of Roses
Patty Griffin

Wild And Clear And Blue
I'm With Her

Best Regional Roots Music Album

For albums containing greater than 75% playing time of new vocal or instrumental regional roots music recordings.

For Fat Man
Preservation Brass

Second Line Sunday
Trombone Shorty and New Breed Brass Band

Best Gospel Performance/Song

This award is given to the artist(s) and songwriter(s) (for new compositions) for the best traditional Christian, roots gospel or contemporary gospel single or track.

Church
Tasha Cobbs Leonard; Tasha Cobbs Leonard, songwriter

Still Live
Britney Delagraentiss & Orlando Joel Palmer, songwriters

Amen
Terrell Anthony Pettus, songwriters

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song

This award is given to the artist(s) and songwriter(s) (for new compositions) for the best contemporary Christian music single or track, (including pop, rap/hip-hop, Latin, or rock.)

I Know A Name
Brandon Lake; Brandon Lake, songwriter

YOUR WAY'S BETTER
Pera, songwriter

Hard Fought Hallelujah
Brandon Lake; Brandon Lake, songwriter

Headphones
Lecrae, Killer Mike, T.I.; Clifford Harris, Lecrae Moore & Michael Render, songwriters

Best Gospel Album

For albums containing greater than 75% playing time of newly recorded, vocal, traditional or contemporary/R&B gospel music recordings.

Tasha
Tasha Cobbs Leonard

Only On The Road Live
Tye Tribbett

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album

For albums containing greater than 75% playing time of newly recorded, vocal, contemporary Christian music, including pop, rap/hip hop, Latin, or rock recordings.

King Of Hearts
Brandon Lake

Reconstruction
Lecrae

Best Roots Gospel Album

For albums containing greater than 75% playing time of newly recorded, vocal, traditional/roots gospel music, including country, Southern gospel, bluegrass, and Americana recordings.

I Will Not Be Moved (Live)
The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

Best Latin Pop Album

For albums containing greater than 75% playing time of new Latin pop recordings.

BOGOTÁ DELUXE
Andrés Cepeda

Cancionera
Natalia Lafourcade

¿Y ahora qué?
Alejandro Sanz

Best Música Urbana Album

For albums containing greater than 75% playing time of new Música Urbana recordings.

FERXXO VOL X: Sagrado
Feid

Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album

For albums containing greater than 75% playing time of new Latin rock or alternative recordings.

PAPOTA
CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso

ALGORHYTHM
Los Wizzards

Novela
Fito Paez

Best Música Mexicana Album (Including Tejano)

For albums containing greater than 75% playing time of new regional Mexican (banda, norteño, corridos, gruperos, mariachi, ranchera and Tejano) recordings.

Palabra De To's (Seca)
Carín León

Bobby Pulido & Friends Una Tuya Y Una Mía - Por La Puerta Grande (En Vivo)
Bobby Pulido

Best Tropical Latin Album

For albums containing greater than 75% playing time of new tropical Latin recordings.

Fotografías
Rubén Blades with Roberto Delgado & Orquesta 

Bingo
Alain Pérez

Debut y Segunda Tanda, Vol. 2
Gilberto Santa Rosa

Best Global Music Performance

For new vocal or instrumental Global music recordings.

Cantando en el Camino
Ciro Hurtado

JERUSALEMA
Angélique Kidjo

Inmigrante Y Que?
Yeisy Rojas

Shrini's Dream (Live)
Shakti

Daybreak
Anoushka Shankar

Best African Music Performance

PUSH 2 START
Tyla

Best Global Music Album

For albums containing greater than 75% playing time of new vocal or instrumental Global Music recordings.

Sounds Of Kumbha
Siddhant Bhatia

Eclairer le monde - Light the World
Youssou N'Dour

Mind Explosion (50th Anniversary Tour Live)
Shakti

Chapter III: We Return To Light
Anoushka Shankar

Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album

For albums containing greater than 75% playing time of new vocal or instrumental new age recordings.

Kuruvinda
Kirsten Agresta-Copely

According To The Moon
Cheryl B. Engelhardt, GEM, Dallas String Quartet

Into The Forest
Jahnavi Harrison

NOMADICA
Featuring The Scorchio Quartet & Tonality

Best Children's Music Album

For albums containing greater than 75% playing time of new musical or spoken word recordings that are created and intended specifically for children.

Buddy's Magic Tree House
Mega Ran

The Music Of Tori And The Muses
Tori Amos

Best Comedy Album

For albums containing greater than 75% playing time of new recordings.

PostMortem

Sarah Silverman

Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media

Award to the principal artist(s) and/or ‘in studio’ producer(s) of a majority of the tracks on the album. In the absence of both, award to the one or two individuals proactively responsible for the concept and musical direction of the album and for the selection of artists, songs and producers, as applicable. Award also goes to appropriately credited music supervisor(s).

Sinners
(Various Artists)

Ryan Coogler, compilation producer

Wicked
Cynthia Erivo

Stephen Schwartz and Greg Wells, compilation producers

Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media (Includes Film And Television)

Award to Composer(s) for an original score created specifically for, or as a companion to, a current legitimate motion picture, television show or series, or other visual media.

How To Train Your Dragon
John Powell, composer

Wicked
John Powell & Stephen Schwartz, composers

Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media

Award to Composer(s) for an original score created specifically for, or as a companion to, video games and other interactive media.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora - Secrets of the Spires
Pinar Toprak, composer

Helldivers 2
Wilbert Roget, II, composer

Indiana Jones And The Great Circle
Gordy Haab, composer

Star Wars Outlaws: Wild Card & A Pirate's Fortune
Cody Matthew Johnson & Wilbert Roget, II, composers

Sword of the Sea
Austin Wintory, composer

Best Song Written For Visual Media

A Songwriter(s) award. For a song (melody & lyrics) written specifically for a motion picture, television, video games or other visual media, and released for the first time during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

As Alive As You Need Me To Be [From TRON: Ares]
Trent Reznor, songwriter (Nine Inch Nails)

Golden [From KPop Demon Hunters]
EJAE, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Teddy Park, Jeong Hoon Seo & Mark Sonnenblick, songwriters (HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna & REI AMI)

I Lied to You [From Sinners]
Raphael Saadiq, songwriters (Miles Caton)

Never Too Late [From Elton John: Never Too Late]
Bernie Taupin, songwriter (Elton John, Brandi Carlile)

Sinners [From Sinners]
Tarkan Kozluklu, songwriter (Rod Wave)

Best Music Film

For concert/performance films or music documentaries. Award to the artist, video director, and video producer.

Devo
Danny Gabai & Chris Holmes, video producers

Relentless
Diane Warren

Best Recording Package

And The Adjacent Possible
Yuri Suzuki, art director (OK Go)

Sequoia
Tim Breen, art director (Various Artists)

Best Album Cover

moisturizer
Rhian Teasdale, art director (Wet Leg)

Best Album Notes

Adios, Farewell, Goodbye, Good Luck, So Long: On Stage 1964-1974
Scott B. Bomar, album notes writer (Buck Owens And His Buckaroos)

Árabe
Amanda Ekery, album notes writer (Amanda Ekery)

Best Historical Album

Joni Mitchell Archives - Volume 4: The Asylum Years (1976-1980)
Joni Mitchell, compilation producer (Joni Mitchell)

You Can't Hip A Square: The Doc Pomus Songwriting Demos
Cheryl Pawelski, compilation producer (Doc Pomus)

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

An Engineer's Award. (Artists names appear in parentheses.)

All Things Light
Jon Castelli, Matt Chamberlain, Tyler Johnson, Nick Lobel, Rob Moose & Ryan Nasci, engineers; Dale Becker, mastering engineer (Cam)

Arcadia
Neal Cappellino, engineer (Alison Krauss & Union Station)

Best Engineered Album, Classical

An Engineer's Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.)

Cerrone: Don't Look Down
Mike Tierney, engineer (Sandbox Percussion)

Standard Stoppages
Sean Connors, Robert Dillon, Peter Martin & David Skidmore, engineers (Third Coast Percussion)

Producer Of The Year, Classical

A Producer's Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.)

Sergei Kvitko
-Biedenbender: Enigma; River Of Time (Kevin L. Sedatole & Michigan State University Wind Symphony) (A)
-Chiaroscuro (Vedrana Subotic) (A)
-Dancing In A Still Life (Tasha Warren) (A)
-Excursions (Vuorovesi Trio) (A)
-Four Hands. Two Hearts. One Hope. Ukrainian And American Music For Piano Duo (Mykhailo Diordiiev & Anastasiia Larchikova) (A)
-Here And Now - Trumpet Music By Virginia Composers (Jason Crafton, Richard Masters, Annie Stevens & Paul Langosch) (A)
-Lansky: Touch And Go (Gwendolyn Dease) (A)
-Orbiting Garden (William Hobbs) (A)
-Would That Loving Were Enough (Haven Trio) (A)

Best Immersive Audio Album

For vocal or instrumental albums in any genre. Must be commercially released for physical sale or on an eligible streaming or download service and must provide a new immersive mix of four or more channels. Award to the immersive mix engineer, immersive producer (if any) and immersive mastering engineer (if any).

Immersed
Justin Gray, immersive mix engineer; Michael Romanowski, immersive mastering engineer; Justin Gray & Drew Jurecka, immersive producers (Justin Gray)

Tearjerkers
Hans-Martin Buff, immersive mix engineer & immersive producer (Tearjerkers)

Yule
Arve Henriksen, immersive producer (Trio Mediæval)

Best Instrumental Composition

A Composer’s Award for an original composition (not an adaptation) first released during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only

First Snow
Remy Le Boeuf, composer (Nordkraft Big Band, Remy Le Boeuf & Danielle Wertz)

Live Life This Day: Movement I
Miho Hazama, composer (Miho Hazama, Danish Radio Big Band & Danish National Symphony Orchestra)

Lord, That's A Long Way
Sierra Hull, composer (Sierra Hull)

Train To Emerald City
John Powell & Stephen Schwartz, composers (John Powell & Stephen Schwartz)

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella

An Arranger's Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

Be Okay
Cynthia Erivo, arranger (Cynthia Erivo)

A Child Is Born
Remy Le Boeuf, arranger (Nordkraft Big Band & Remy Le Boeuf)

Fight On
Andy Clausen, Riley Mulherkar & Chloe Rowlands, arrangers (The Westerlies)

Super Mario Praise Break
Bryan Carter, Charlie Rosen & Matthew Whitaker, arrangers (The 8-Bit Big Band)

Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals

An Arranger's Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

Big Fish
Johnaye Kendrick & Nate Smith, arrangers (Nate Smith Featuring säje)

Keep An Eye On Summer
Jacob Collier, arranger (Jacob Collier)

What A Wonderful World
Cody Fry, arranger (Cody Fry)

Best Orchestral Performance

Award to the Conductor and to the Orchestra.

Ravel: Boléro, M. 81
Gustavo Dudamel, conductor (Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra Of Venezuela)

Stravinsky: Symphony In Three Movements
Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor (San Francisco Symphony)

Best Opera Recording

Award to the Conductor, Album Producer(s) and Principal Soloists, and to the Composer and Librettist (if applicable) of a world premiere Opera recording only.

Jake Heggie: Intelligence
Kwamé Ryan, conductor; Gene Scheer, librettist (Houston Grand Opera)

Huang Ruo: An American Soldier 
Huang Ruo, composer; David Henry Hwang, librettist (American Composers Orchestra)

Mary Kouyoumdjian: Adoration 

Omar Najmi; Mary Kouyoumdjian, producer; Mary Kouyoumdjian, composer; Royce Vavrek, librettist (Silvana Quartet; The Choir Of Trinity Wall Street)

Jeanine Tesori: Grounded
Jeanine Tesori, composer (The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus) 

Best Choral Performance

Award to the Conductor, and to the Choral Director and/or Chorus Master where applicable and to the Choral Organization/Ensemble.

Advena - Liturgies For A Broken World
Craig Hella Johnson, conductor (Simon Barrad, Emily Yocum Black & Michael Hawes; Conspirare)

Ortiz: Yanga
Gustavo Dudamel, conductor (Los Angeles Philharmonic; Los Angeles Master Chorale)

Requiem Of Light
Emily Drennan, & Patti Drennan, chorus masters (Brian Giebler & Sangeeta Kaur; The Clarion Choir)

Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance

For new recordings of works with chamber or small ensemble (twenty-four or fewer members, not including the conductor). One Award to the ensemble and one Award to the conductor, if applicable.

Dennehy: Land Of Winter
Alarm Will Sound 

Standard Stoppages
Third Coast Percussion

Best Classical Instrumental Solo

Award to the Instrumental Soloist(s) and to the Conductor when applicable.

Hope Orchestrated
Mary Dawood Catlin (Venezuela Strings Recording Ensemble)

Shostakovich: The Cello Concertos
Yo-Yo Ma (Boston Symphony Orchestra)

Best Classical Solo Vocal Album

Award to: Vocalist(s), Collaborative Artist(s) (Ex: pianists, conductors, chamber groups) Producer(s), Recording Engineers/Mixers with greater than 50% playing time of new material.

Alike - My Mother's Dream
Allison Charney, soloist (National Symphonia Orchestra)

Best Classical Compendium

Award to the Artist(s) and to the Album Producer(s) and Engineer(s) of over 50% playing time of the album, and to the Composer and Librettist (if applicable) with over 50% playing time of a world premiere recording only.

Cerrone: Don't Look Down
Sandbox Percussion; Victor Caccese & Mike Tierney, producers

The Dunbar/Moore Sessions, Vol. II
Will Liverman; Jonathan Estabrooks, producer

Ortiz: Yanga
Gustavo Dudamel, conductor

Seven Seasons
MB Gordy; Kitt Wakeley, producer

Tombeaux
Christina Sandsengen; Shaun Drew & Christina Sandsengen, producers

Best Contemporary Classical Composition

A Composer's Award. (For a contemporary classical composition composed within the last 25 years, and released for the first time during the Eligibility Year.) Award to the librettist, if applicable.

Dennehy: Land Of Winter
Donnacha Dennehy, composer (Alan Pierson & Alarm Will Sound)

León: Raíces (Origins)
Tania León, composer (Edward Gardner & London Philharmonic Orchestra)

Okpebholo: Songs In Flight
Shawn E. Okpebholo, composer (Will Liverman, Paul Sánchez & Various Artists)