RECORDING ACADEMY ADDS FIVE NEW GRAMMY CATEGORIES, UPDATES RULES FOR 2026 AWARDS. (PHOTO).

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 Recording Academy adds five new Grammy categories, updates rules for 2026 awards NEW YORK - The Recording Academy is introducing five new categories and making several rule changes for the 2026 Grammy Awards in an effort to reflect the evolving global music landscape. Among the new additions is a best Asian pop music performance category, which will honor performances across genres such as K-pop, J-pop, C-pop and other Asian pop styles, with the award going to performers. A new best traditional pop vocal performance category will recognize artists whose work does not fit within modern pop styles. A best Latin song category will spotlight songwriters for Spanish-language Latin recordings. Changes are also coming to existing categories in R&B and folk music. The academy is adding a best R&B collaboration or duo/group performance category alongside a revised best R&B solo performance award. In folk, the best folk album category will be split into best contemporary folk al...
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ALMOST 1,000 GOOGLE EMPLOYEES CALL ON COMPANY TO CUT TIES WITH ICE AND CBP . (PHOTO).

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 Almost 1,000 Google employees call on company to cut ties with ICE and CBP 

More than 900 Google employees have signed an open letter criticizing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and urging the company to disclose its involvement with the agencies and cut ties.

The letter highlights recent ICE-related deaths, including Keith Porter, Renee Good, and Alex Pretti, and says employees are “appalled by the violence” and “horrified” by Google’s role. It claims Google Cloud supports CBP surveillance and powers Palantir’s ImmigrationOS system used by ICE, while Google’s generative AI tools are also being employed by the agency. The letter adds that the Google Play Store has blocked ICE tracking apps.

Citing a January post by Google Chief Scientist Jeff Dean about the importance of speaking out, employees called for the company to end partnerships with ICE, CBP, and the Department of Homeland Security. They demanded full disclosure of all contracts, emergency internal Q&A sessions on government work, and protective measures for workers, including flexible remote work policies and immigration support.

“As workers of conscience, we demand that our leadership end our backslide into contracting for governments enacting violence against civilians,” the letter reads. “Google is now a prominent node in a shameful lineage of private companies profiting from violent state repression. We must use this moment to come together as a Googler community and demand an end to this disgraceful use of our labor.”

The letter reflects growing pressure on tech companies to take a stand on government surveillance and immigration enforcement. Employees at Amazon, Spotify, Meta, and other firms sent a similar letter just two weeks ago calling for ICE to be removed from U.S. cities. Google has not commented on the letter.


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