No women will be competing for producer of the year, non-classical at the 2026 Grammy ceremony, in contrast to the ceremony earlier this year where R&B producer/musician Alissia was a surprise nominee in the category (becoming only the ninth woman, or team of women, to receive a nod in the category). Superproducer Jack Antonoff likewise is shut out (he was nominated in five consecutive years, winning in 2022, 2023 and 2024 before being omitted for 2025), and fellow hit-maker Dan Nigro is also missing from the class; he competed in 2024 and won at the 2025 ceremony.

Of the 2026 class of nominees, three are up for producer of the year, non-classical for the first time: Cirkut, Dijon and Sounwave. Veteran producer-musicians Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys and Blake Mills of Band of Horses round out the group. Below, all five of those nominated reflect on being up for the trophy on Feb. 1, 2026.

Dan Auerbach

This is your fifth time being nominated for producer of the year, non-classical, including a win in 2013. How have you seen this field change over time?

I’m always surprised to get the nomination. I feel lucky to be recognized for doing what I love to do. If the Grammys didn’t exist, I’d still be doing the same thing.

What’s your key to consistently scoring a nod in this field?

It’s hard to say. I just keep trying to follow my instincts and do my best to not get in the way of the process.

All of the work included in your nomination was released through your label, Easy Eye. How does it feel to see your roster succeed?

I just want to help artists make the music they truly want to make. It’s a privilege to be trusted with that opportunity. Easy Eye exists to give them that freedom. The label and the studio allow us to work fast and instinctually. To not worry about trends or industry pressure. Our role is rudimentary — support the vision and serve the song.

Cirkut

How did you find out you were nominated for producer of the year, non-classical?

I watched it live — I was still in bed! I couldn’t believe my eyes. Leading up to it, there’s always moments when you think you might have a shot, but to see it actually happen was surreal. I don’t think I’ve really formally celebrated, but all the love and support I’ve been getting from other music people, friends and family has meant everything.

How does this year’s class of producer nominees represent what’s resonating in music today?

Each nominee brings their own distinct style to the table. I’m glad that the Recording Academy is being proactive in representing both established names as well as new names across all genres.

Five of your seven total nominations are across the album, record and song of the year categories for your work with Lady Gaga and Rosé with Bruno Mars. How does that reflect your major 2025?

Gaga had an absolutely incredible year. I don’t often work on full albums, so being involved in 12 out of 14 tracks made the AOTY nomination [for MAYHEM] especially meaningful to me… To see “APT.” become such a phenomenon is so cool — Rosé and Bruno are absolute superstars and gave the record such a distinct personality. It’s been one of those rare records that captures the attention of people of so many different ages and backgrounds. I can’t count how many times I’ve had people tell me, “Wait, you did that song?! That’s my 5-year-old’s favorite song and now I love it, too.”

Both “APT.” and Gaga’s “Abracadabra” are nominated for record and song of the year — what’s the key to a hit landing in both categories?

If I knew the key, I would do it every year.

Dijon

How did you react to earning your first Grammy nominations?

I was asleep in the front lounge of my tour bus and I smiled!

How does this year’s class of producer nominees represent what’s resonating in music today?

Blake Mills is a friend and extremely influential, so it seems communal and cool. I also really love the beat for the song “GNX” [by Kendrick Lamar, which Sounwave co-produced], so I’m in rad company.

Your second nomination is for album of the year with Justin Bieber’s SWAG. What’s a favorite memory from working on that album?

Freedom and adventure. No expectations and no judgment, plenty of wine, all hands on deck. Really grateful for the time.

How would you celebrate a win come Grammys night?

Put my son to bed, then invite homies to my garage for a beer.

Blake Mills

How did you find out you were nominated for producer of the year, non-classical?

I woke up to a bunch of very sweet “congratulations” texts from my friends and family, but I was totally confused as to what they were about. Five minutes later, I realized the Grammy nominations were being announced, and after 20 minutes of Googling, it started to feel like I was getting really close to finding out what I had been nominated for. It was surreal and hysterical.

This is your third time being nominated in this category. What would a win mean to you?

The community of people producing records right now is just so diverse, and it’s cool that we all share that same credit of “producer” while being drastically different in our practices. Songs and albums that we worked on this year may have each required something completely unique from us, so choosing the “best” producer out of the lot is kind of an impossible task.

You’re no stranger to best engineered album, non-classical, but this is your first time scoring two simultaneous nominations in the category. How does that reflect your output in the last 12 months?

I’ve just kept my head down and worked on one thing or another every day of my life since I was about 18. I am incredibly lucky to do this for a living — playing and collaborating with so many incredible artists — so I rarely feel that burnout from being overworked. I’ve enjoyed staying busy throughout my career and just try to do as much as I possibly can every year.

Sounwave

You have 18 Grammy nominations, but this is your first for producer of the year, non-classical. Why was this the year, and what would a win mean to you?

I’ve been blessed to do what I love for more than 20 years, and I’ve poured everything into my work each of those years. That’s why receiving this nomination means so much to me on so many levels. And a win will show that I’m living proof that you don’t have to change who you are or what you believe in to receive major blessings. Stay focused, stay true and keep the faith.

You and Kendrick Lamar have collaborated for years — what’s the key to your success?

Trust — always. And always keep it authentic and real with each other. We’ve been in sync in just about every aspect of life since day one. And of course, it doesn’t hurt that he’s one of the most genuine and amazing human beings I’ve ever met. He makes the work fun and exciting with every album.

You’re the only producer in this class to be nominated for just one project. How does that speak to the impact of GNX?

I’m a firm believer that when you have a platform capable of reaching the masses, you should use it to push boundaries and explore creative outlets with purpose. GNX was our way of planting a flag in our culture while transcending the rap genre. And being on a stadium world tour seeing the reactions showed us just how important that message truly was.

This story appears in the Dec. 6, 2025, issue of Billboard.

Monte Lipman and Avery Lipman are set to receive the 2026 Grammy Salute to Industry Icons honor. The Recording Academy and industry legend Clive Davis will celebrate the accomplishments of the brothers and co-founders of Republic Records at the 2026 Pre-Grammy Gala on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, the night before the 68th annual Grammy Awards.

“Monte and Avery are proof of how far drive and dedication, combined with passion and talent, can go in this industry,” Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, said in a statement. “Their collective vision and unwavering will to go above and beyond for the incredible community of artists they support have made Republic Records one of the most influential labels in the world. We look forward to celebrating their impact as true industry icons at the 2026 Pre-Grammy Gala.”

“Monte and Avery are two of the music industry’s most illustrious leaders, and I am thrilled that they will be this year’s Salute to Industry Icons honorees,” said Davis. “Their longtime trailblazing commitment to supporting songwriters across the music spectrum as well as their staunch dedication to advocacy, diversity and equality in the music business are exemplary. Artists and the industry at large are fortunate to have Monte and Avery’s insights and passion at the helm.”

The brothers launched Republic Records in 1995. Monte Lipman is founder and CEO, while Avery Lipman is founder and COO.

Republic Records has become the music industry’s most successful label of the past decade, being named Billboard‘s Hot 100 label of the year in 11 of the past 12 years. Recently, Monte and Avery have been appointed to lead Universal Music Group’s East Coast Collective of labels including Island Records, Def Jam Recordings, Mercury Records, and Republic Records among others.

Alongside their professional success, Monte and Avery are dedicated to philanthropic and charitable initiatives. Their efforts have been recognized with honors such as City of Hope’s Spirit of Hope Award, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation’s Spirit of Hope Award, UJA-Federation’s Music Visionary of the Year, the T.J. Martell Foundation’s Humanitarian of the Year, and by Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation. Monte has also been honored by the DKMS Foundation, alongside his wife, Dr. Angelina Lipman, and has served on the board of directors for the Robin Hood Foundation since 2022.

The invitation-only Pre-Grammy Gala has been one of the music industry’s most coveted invites for more than 50 years.

Leon Thomas’ Mutt received a Grammy nomination for album of the year at the 68th annual awards, but another “Mutt” got there first. Robert John “Mutt” Lange has been nominated for album of the year three times, as the producer of Shania Twain’s Come on Over and as one of a platoon of producers of Backstreet Boys’ Millennium and Lady Gaga’s Born This Way.

As Marvin Gaye might say, “I’ll be doggone.”

Thomas and Lange have something in common beyond their “Mutt” connection. Both received their first Grammy Awards as songwriters. Thomas won best R&B song in 2024 for co-writing SZA’s “Snooze.” Lange won best song written specifically for a motion picture or for television in 1992 for co-writing Bryan Adams’ “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” for Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

Lange has since won four more Grammys – best country album for producing Twain’s The Woman in Me, best country song for co-writing (with Twain) her smashes ‘You’re Still the One” and “Come on Over” and best rock album co-producing Muse’s Drones with the band. Lange and Twain met at Nashville’s Fan Fair in June 1993. They were married six months later; separated in 2008 and divorced in 2010.

Thomas has six Grammy nominations this year, including best new artist, best R&B album for Mutt and best R&B performance for “Mutt (Live from NPR’s Tiny Desk).”

Final-round Grammy voting begins one week from today – on Friday Dec. 12 and continues until Jan. 5. The 68th annual Grammy Awards will be presented on Feb. 2 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.