Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on Dec. 9, 2018, and was updated on Oct. 31, 2025 to add updated information about the GRAMMY Awards process.

How many albums are in your record collection? You see, confusion between the terms "album" and "record" are nothing new, as vinyl albums are often called "records" — and those interchangeable words may leave some GRAMMY viewers puzzled.

The General Field Categories include both Album Of The Year and Record Of The Year, but recognize two different things. In short, Album Of The Year honors a full project of songs, and Record Of The Year highlights one song (though it's also different from Song Of The Year; more on that here).

While the Category names may seem somewhat intertwined, their qualifications are not. Below, learn more about how Album Of The Year and Record Of The Year are defined by GRAMMY standards.

Album Of The Year, Explained

According to the official Recording Academy guidelines, recordings must contain at least five different tracks and a total playing time of at least 15 minutes or a total playing time of at least 30 minutes with no minimum track requirement.

Voters in this Category are expected to consider the quality and artistry of the collection of tracks as a whole, and this GRAMMY is awarded to any Artist(s), Featured Artist(s), Songwriter(s) of new material, Producer(s), Engineer(s), Mixer(s), and Mastering Engineer(s) with greater than 20 percent playing time on the album.

Record Of The Year, Explained

On the other hand, the Record Of The Year Category awards a single track and recognizes the artist's performance as well as the overall contributions of the Producer(s), Engineer(s), Mixer(s), and Mastering Engineer(s).

In both cases, with Album Of The Year and Record Of The Year, recordings must be released within the eligibility period and available to the public as standalone purchases or audio-only streams, although exceptions are made for opera and music video/film.

For a further look into the contrast between these formats, the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame is filled with both, clearly labeled.

For more information about the 2026 GRAMMY Awards season, learn more about the annual GRAMMY Awards process; read our First Round Voting guide for the 2026 GRAMMYs; read our FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section; view the official GRAMMY Awards Rules and Guidelines; and visit the GRAMMY Award Update Center for a list of real-time changes to the GRAMMY Awards process.