There are more than 20 times as many entries in this year’s most populated category as in this year’s least populated category.

All Grammys count the same toward someone’s career Grammy total, but we all know they’re not really on an equal footing. Every media outlet on Earth will report the winners of album of the year and record of the year next Feb. 1, but good luck trying to find out who won best regional roots music album (we’ll have it, of course).

Some categories are far more competitive than others. There are more than 20 times as many entries in this year’s most populated category, song of the year (1,015), as in this year’s least populated category, best compilation soundtrack for visual media (48).

Since final-round voting for the 68th Grammy Awards opened Friday (Oct. 3), Grammy voters have been conscientiously poring over the entry lists for 90 of the 95 Grammy categories (or so Recording Academy leaders fervently hope). The nominees in the other five categories are determined by committees.

The number of entries in four of the six categories in the General Field increased compared to last year. There are 894 entries for record of the year (up from 780 last year); 1,015 for song of the year (up from 978); 337 for best new artist (up from 323); and 63 for songwriter of the year, non-classical (up from 61).

The other two General Field categories saw a drop in entries compared to last year. The number of entries for album of the year dropped from 707 to 686. The number of entries for producer of the year, non-classical dropped from 200 to 161.

Note that the number of entries for songwriter of the year, non-classical, which is in its fourth year, is less than half of the number of entries for producer of the year, non-classical, which was introduced in 1975. That’s probably because of the newer category’s restrictive rules, which were intended to put the focus on songwriters who are not also artists or producers.

The Grammys introduced two new categories this year – best traditional country album and best album cover. There are 68 entries for best traditional country album. Perhaps surprisingly, that’s more than the number of entries for best contemporary country album (62). Last year, there was just one album category in country – best country album. It had 79 entries.

The Recording Academy keeps an eye on the number of entries in each category. Here’s the relevant rule, from the 68th Grammy Awards Rules & Guidelines booklet: “Each category shall have at least 40 distinct artist entries. If a category receives between 25 and 39 entries, only three recordings will receive nominations in that year. Should there be fewer than 25 entries in a category, that category will immediately go on hiatus for the current year – no award given – and entries will be screened into the next-most-appropriate category. If a category receives fewer than 25 entries for three consecutive years, the category will be discontinued, and submissions will be entered in the next-most-appropriate category.”

No category fell below the academy’s 40-entry minimum to sustain five nominees in the category, though with just 48 entries this year, best compilation soundtrack for visual media is a little too close for comfort.

My main takeaway from this annual exercise – these categories are highly competitive. As noted, 1,015 songs are vying for just eight slots in song of the year. When somebody says “It’s an honor just to be nominated,” they’re not just being polite. Okay, maybe they are, but it really is an honor. 1,007 eligible and entered songs this year will not be nominated for song of the year.

If you’re curious, the five categories where the nominations are determined by committees, rather than by voters at large, are best album cover (a new category this year), best recording package, best album notes, best historical album and best immersive audio album.

First-round voting for the 68th annual Grammy Awards opened on Friday (Oct. 3). Voters have until Oct. 15 to make their choices. Nominations will be announced on Nov. 7. Final-round voting runs from Dec. 12 through Jan. 5. The winners will be revealed on Feb. 1 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Here are the 20 categories with most entries this year, and the 21 categories (owing to a tie) with the fewest.

Categories with the most entries

(in descending order)

Song of the year, 1,015

Record of the year, 894

Album of the Year, 686

Best music video, 662

Best global music performance, 525

Best jazz performance, 458

Best engineered album, non-classical, 449

Best arrangement, instruments and vocals, 438

Best alternative music performance, 429

Best instrumental composition, 417

Best pop solo performance, 381

Best American roots song, 372

Best new artist, 337

Best rock performance, 322

Best arrangement, instrumental or acapella, 319

Best Americana performance, 311

Best American roots performance, 306

Best dance/electronic recording, 291

Best rock song, 291

Best arrangement, instrumental or acapella, 290

Categories with the fewest entries

(in descending order)

Best orchestral performance, 77

Best opera recording, 77

Best música urbanaalbum, 74

Best spoken word poetry album, 74

Best reggae album, 73

Best contemporary blues album, 71

Best choral performance, 69

Best traditional country album, 68

Best Latin jazz album, 65

Best large jazz ensemble album, 64

Songwriter of the year, non-classical, 63

Best contemporary country album, 62

Best bluegrass album, 60

Best regional roots music album, 59

Best musical theater album, 58

Best score soundtrack for video games and other interactive media, 56

Best classical solo vocal album, 53

Best roots gospel album, 53

Best traditional blues album, 52

Best gospel album, 51

Best compilation soundtrack for visual media, 48