When Grammy voters open their digital ballots beginning on Friday Oct. 3, they’ll notice a big difference from years past – all entries will be listed in randomized, rather than alphabetical, order for the first time. That won’t make all that much difference in categories with modest numbers of entries, but it will make it significantly harder to find what you’re looking for in categories with large number of entries.

And, while the academy doesn’t come right out and say it, that’s the point. The academy is trying to force (or at least strongly encourage) voters to read through the entire list of entries, so they’re reminded of entries that they may have forgotten about, rather than just revert to a handful of favorite artists every year.

“This ballot update brings our process in line with standard voting best practices … and further ensures the process is fair and equitable for all entries,” Ruby Marchand, chief awards and global industry officer for the Recording Academy, said in an exclusive statement to Billboard. “As with any change, there will be an adjustment period in the first year but, our staff will be on hand to assist voters with any questions.”

All categories that appear on the first-round ballot will be listed in a randomized order. However, voters will be able to download a PDF of all entries listed in alphabetical order. And voters will still have access to locate their selections via a search tool within the voting platform.

The academy’s awards team has worked with their technical partners to craft uniquely personalized, randomized ballots. No two voter ballots will be identical (in terms of the order that entries are listed in).

This change was brought forward and supported by academy trustees, all of whom are members of the Recording Academy.

The change will make it harder to find entries in categories with large numbers of entries. Last year, 14 categories had 300 or more entries, topped by three of the highest-profile categories — song of the year (978 entries), record of the year (780) and album of the year (707). In the past, albums and songs were listed alphabetically by artist’s last names, so if you were looking for something from, say, Sabrina Carpenter or Kendrick Lamar, you could go right to it. Songs were listed alphabetically by song title, so again you could go right to, say “Espresso” or “Not Like Us.” Now, they’re in jumbled order. Voters will have to hunt through hundreds of entries to find what they want.

The Recording Academy has begun to put the word out so that voting members won’t be shocked when they go to vote – first-round voting runs from Oct. 3 through Oct. 15. The academy notes that members can return to their ballot multiple times, if need be, before they finally submit, at which no further changes can be made. Each voter’s ballot will remain the same, no matter how many times that voter revisits their ballot as they listen, assess, and make their final vote selections.

“The key is to approach the process with preparation and patience,” Marchand said in a Q&A posted on Grammy.com. “Start early, set a reasonable pace, and plan for multiple visits to the ballot. This year, the ballot will appear in randomized order (not alphabetical), so giving yourself time to navigate and review thoroughly is especially important. Don’t wait until the last day – or worse, the last hour – to submit, as technical issues can derail your vote. Use Academy resources ahead of time, and once the ballot opens, take time to explore the diversity of entries along with tools within the ballot to assist in your voting.”

All voting members may join a half-hour ballot overview webinar on Sept. 29 at 2 p.m. ET for guidance and tips. Marchand will be joined by Harvey Mason jr., Recording Academy CEO; Michael Almanza, senior director, awards; and Nick DiFruscia, senior director, awards

The webinar, dubbed “Your Ballot at a Glance,” promises to shed light on these topics: “how to navigate your voter portal, changes to the ballot, including the new randomized ballot order, the importance of having a voting strategy, features/tools within the ballot to assist with your voting and critical resources to help you during 68th Grammy voting.”

The number of categories in which voters can vote remains unchanged. Voters can vote in up to 10 categories across no more than three different genre fields plus all categories in the “general field” (which consists of album, record and song of the year, best new artist, and producer and songwriter of the year, non-classical).

A new season of NBCUniversal Local’s Emmy-nominated series The Swift Effect — which covers Taylor Swift‘s economic and brand power — will kick off its second season on Oct. 2 on Peacock and the NBC-owned stations’ free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels with the debut episode “A New Era.”

The show’s return will coincide with the Oct. 5 release of Swift’s upcoming album, The Life of a Showgirl, with the episode airing on the FAST channels at 10:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. ET and then encoring on CNBC and NBC News Now on Oct. 4, before hitting NBC-owned stations on album release day.

“We’re thrilled to present the next installment our series just as she embarks on the next phase of her groundbreaking career with her highly anticipated new album and the personal news she recently announced,” said Diane Petzke, NBCU Local V.P. of programming and partnerships and one of the series’ executive producers. “Her remarkable story as a performer, businesswoman and cultural icon continues to expand and evolve, and we’re proud to continue to explore her and her impact in a meaningful way.”

The first, four-episode season of the series was nominated for a 2025 Daytime Emmy award in the arts and popular culture programming category; the 52nd annual Daytime Emmys will be held on Oct. 17.

According to a press release, the “A New Era” episode will reveal Swift’s impact on the rise of fan-led media, as well as, “the growth of Swift-focused journalism, and the way traditional outlets now approach coverage of her work. The new episode explores how the icon has redefined the balance of power between artist, audience and the press through the lens of influencers, podcasters, established media figures and other leading experts.”

Among the experts who appear in the episode are dedicated USA Today Swift reporter Bryan West, the New York Post Page Six editorial team, the co-hosts of the Taylor Watch podcast Kelly Keegs and Gia Mariano; psychotherapist, author and commentator Dr. Robi Ludwig, Swift influencer Vinny Sonderby, author and music critic Annie Zaleski, DNY senior strategic advisor Valerie DiFebo, Billboard deputy editor Andrew Unterberger and others.

“With each new episode of The Swift Effect, we’re showcasing another layer of Taylor Swift’s influence — not just as an artist, but as a force reshaping industries,” said series producer Cody Broadway. “This next chapter continues to spotlight the ripple effects of her creativity, showing how one person’s vision can spark cultural and economic transformation on a global scale.”

Check out the scheduled for the “A New Era” episode below.

Peacock:
Oct. 2 at 12:00 a.m. ET
NBC-Owned Stations FAST Channels:
Oct. 2
10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT
11:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. PT
CNBC:
Oct. 4 at 10 p.m. ET
NBC News Now:
Saturday, Oct. 4 at 11 a.m. ET
Sunday, Oct. 5 at 10:30 p.m. ET
NBC-Owned Stations:
Oct. 5
NBC 7 San Diego, NBC 4 Los Angeles, NBC Bay Area: 11 a.m. PT
NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth, NBC 5 Chicago: 1 p.m. CT
NBC6 South Florida: 12:30 p.m. ET
NBC4 Washington, NBC Connecticut: 1 p.m. ET
NBC10 Philadelphia: 1:30 p.m. ET
NBC 10 Boston, NBC 4 New York: 2 p.m. ET

In the wake of today’s (Sept. 22) announcement of Sylvia Rhone‘s departure as chairwoman/CEO of Epic Records at the end of this month, Billboard has obtained two letters that Rhone wrote to her Sony and Epic families.

Rhone exits Epic after 11 years, coming on board as president of the company in 2014 before being elevated to chair/CEO in 2019. Her trailblazing career has seen her become the first Black executive and first woman to chair a major record company, having been appointed to oversee Elektra Entertainment Group in 1994.

Over the course of her five-decade career, the pioneering executive has been honored with such accolades as the City of Hope’s Spirit of Life Award, the Black Music Collective’s Recording Academy Global Impact Award, the Black Music Action Coalition’s BMAC Clarence Avant Trailblazer Award and the Vanguard Award at the inaugural Black Women in Music dinner last year. In 2023, she was named Billboard’s Women in Music executive of the year, where she was feted as “a force, an alchemist, a savant of creative artistry and an inspiration to all women for the glass ceilings you have conquered.”

Read both of Rhone’s notes in full below.

TO MY EPIC FAMILY,

As I step away from this role that has defined so much of my journey, I am filled with pride in the extraordinary tapestry we’ve created together. From Future to Travis Scott to 21 Savage, Meghan Trainor, Tyla, Madison Beer, Giveon, Zara Larsson, Mariah the Scientist, Absolutely, ScarLip, BIA, UMI, Real Boston Richie, Eddie Benjamin, the late, great Ozzy Osbourne and more.

At this pivotal time in music history, your voices have not just survived; they have soared. Your creativity doesn’t just fill rooms and bottom lines — it fills the spaces between heartbeats, just when the world needs reminding that the soul of music still exists.

Together, we’ve scored the soundtrack to countless lives. We’ve given voice to the voiceless and rhythm to the restless. Your contributions haven’t just shaped our catalog — they’ve shaped culture itself. Every late night in the studio, every “what if we tried this,” every moment you pushed past the comfortable into the extraordinary — these are the building blocks of our legacy.

Thank you for trusting me with your brilliance. Thank you for making every day feel like the first-time music was invented. Your voices make a difference. Your creativity makes a difference.

You make a difference.

The stage is yours now. Make it sing.

Sylvia ❤️

TO MY SONY FAMILY,

It’s been an extraordinary journey: eleven years since my promotion to President of Epic Records and six years since my appointment as Chairwoman and CEO. This role at Epic represents the third time in my career that I’ve been the first woman and first Black person to serve as CEO of a major record label owned by a Fortune 500 company.

And today, I am moving on from this historic role at Epic and I’m very excited about the future.

I’ve always been surrounded by excellent teams, but our current one at Epic is extraordinary. Spanning multiple generations, our team understands music’s history, finds meaning in complex data, and anticipates emerging trends. From Travis Scott, Future and 21 Savage, to Meghan Trainor, Tyla and Madison Beer, Zara Larsson to Giveon and Mariah The Scientist, Q-Tip to Andre 3000 and the late, great Ozzy Osbourne…Epic artists thrive through bespoke campaigns that honor their unique voices and goals. While helping artists maintain authentic fan connections, our team guides them through partnerships in video, fashion, gaming, and content innovation. We’re proud of leading Sony Music’s 2020 “Your Voice, Your Power, Your Vote” campaign and fostering a workplace culture that reflects our values: 62% women and 57% people of color. From day one, we set out to build something special at Epic — and we have.

This moment of my transition invites reflection on a journey that has been wide-ranging in its scope and impact.

Following my graduation from The Wharton School, I started as a secretary at Buddha Records and after working my way up through radio promotions, I was privileged to be appointed SVP of Black Music at Atlantic Records.  Those times feel like yesterday, working with Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, En Vogue, LeVert, Brandy, Adina Howard, Troop, DAS EFX, Snow, MC Lyte, Kwamé, Miki Howard, Gerald Albright, The System and Ice Cube’s Lynch Mob and Yo-Yo.  Through our Ruthless Records deal, we also released The D.O.C., JJ Fad, Michel’le, and Easy-E.

In July 1994, I was appointed Chairwoman of Elektra Records, where we orchestrated a cultural renaissance that still resonates today. There, we became guardians of musical diversity, nurturing the power of AC/DC and Metallica alongside the genius of Missy Elliott and Busta Rhymes. From Pantera’s intensity to Phish’s improvisational spirit, from Tracy Chapman’s truths and Anita Baker’s soul to Tamia’s powerful vocals — each artist flourished on their own frequency. Third Eye Blind, Yolanda Adams, Silk, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Gerald LeVert, Keith Sweat, Natalie Merchant, The Cure, Björk, Staind, Better Than Ezra, The Afghan Whigs, and Jason Mraz all found their home in our musical family, creating moments that transcended mere entertainment.

Then came my chapter at Motown, where the label’s iconic history and its future converged under my leadership as Chairwoman and CEO. It was an honor to record Stevie Wonder’s last full-length studio album while simultaneously collaborating with artists like Nelly, Erykah Badu, Kid Cudi, and Akon. We also extended hip-hop’s global reach by distributing Cash Money Records’ roster — elevating Baby, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, and Drake.

I am blessed to have worked with some of the most brilliant and influential artists in the history of recorded music. And I’ve discovered this: when we channel our strength and creativity in service of a vision, and collaborate with artists who do the same, we create music that reflects our world, questions our assumptions, and uplifts our spirits. This is a kind of magic, a deeply human connection. Right now, when music’s DNA is being reimagined, when artists face existential challenges, and when all of us are building the future in real time, there is little that is more profound.

Looking back on my Epic era fills me with great pride. To my team of creative champions, you now hold the reins, and I know your best work lies ahead. I’m grateful for Zeke Lewis, Rick Sackheim, Sandra Aflorei, Tyler Pittman, John Shoup, Dave Bell, Lisa Kasha, Shannon Mingal, Margeaux Watson, Justin Duran, Chelsea Donnarumma, Brooke Marcimo, Mez Tara, Gina Harrell, Melissa Victor, Traci Adams, Scott Dimig, Dontay Thompson, Jennifer Goicoechea, Patrick Afeku, John Kirkpatrick, Michael Petullo, Max Sholl, Hector Rosario and the countless other executives who made Epic Records home.

I thank my daughter Quinn for her unconditional love and my late parents Marie and Bob Rhone for their heroic support. And I am forever grateful for my prior teammates from over the years. Not only did we work great music, but we also created an amazing network of advocacy and goodwill! Thanks to Rob Stringer for his trust and camaraderie and to Doug Morris for empowering me to shatter the glass ceiling.

I have worked in our industry since vinyl ruled, and women were rarely if ever in line for C-level or even vice-presidential roles. I am proud of my achievements, and of my commitment to those who take inspiration from them. The many individual honors I’ve received — from Billboard, Fortune Magazine’s Most Powerful Women, Essence, Variety, Ms. Magazine’s Woman of the Year, and the recent honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music — serve as grace notes on my years of dedication. But they pale beside what we’ve all built together. They pale beside the glory of our musical culture.

Onward and upward,

Sylvia

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Have you ever asked yourself, “Am I the drama?” If so, Cardi B’s latest merch drop at Hot Topic is for you.

The “Press” rapper just launched a T-shirt at the retailer in support of her new album, Am I the Drama?, which was released on Sept. 19. The 23-track album marks Cardi’s full-length return after a seven-year gap following her 2018 album Invasion of Privacy, which took the music world by storm. For fans eager to rep the star and her long-awaited new album, Cardi’s Drama T-shirt is currently available to shop at Hot Topic in store and online. The best part? It’s currently 20% off.

Retailing for $21.52, the unisex tee comes in sizes XS through 3X and depicts a graphic of the rapper’s face on the front in muted hues above the album’s title in bold white lettering. The black tee is made of breathable and easy-to-clean 100% cotton and comes in a standard, slightly baggy fit.

Cardi B Drama T-Shirt

$21.52 $26.90 20% off

Buy Now at hot topic

A black T-shirt with Cardi B’s face on it.

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It’s a simple style that we can see getting a lot of use, especially if you’re looking for something subtle. Versatile pieces like this are easy to style alongside everyday basics such as baggy jeans or even sweatpants if you’re in the mood for something comfy. All this to say that you’ll want to act fast and take advantage of this deal before the shirt is gone for good.

To celebrate the launch of her tee and her vinyl in store, Hot Topic hosted a meet-and-greet for fans on Sept. 21 held at Queens Center mall in New York. Fans who pre-purchased Cardi’s new album via Hot Topic received wristbands for entry. The event was first-come, first-served, and gave fans the opportunity to meet and chat with the performer, if only briefly.

Am I the Drama? has already received a Platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America. The project features a host of features from top artists including Megan Thee Stallion, Selena Gomez, Kehlani, Summer Walker, Lizzo, Cash Cobain, Lourdiz, Janet Jackson and Tyla. Previously released singles WAP and Up are also featured on this new offering.

“Since then, I’ve experienced a lot. The good and bad of fame, the hate, jealousy, drama, balancing my career with my personal life and growing up and maturing,” Cardi told Billboard in her cover story. “I’ve learned to control my emotions and understand how life works and how to play chess better.”