The Grammys will feature a minor facelift next February. Recording Academy president Neil Portnow says the new category changes, which take effect immediately, provide “more flexibility to our voters when having to make the often challenging decisions about representing excellence and the best in music for the year.”

In one of the most sweeping changes since the introduction of the Grammy Awards in 1959, the number of nominations in the record, song, album of the year and best new artist categories will expand from five to eight. The change takes effect immediately with the 61st Annual Grammy Awards in 2019.

“Throughout the year, we team up with music people across all genres and disciplines to consider revisions and subsequently make amendments to our rules and entry guidelines to ensure we’re keeping up with our ever-changing industry and meeting the needs of music creators,” said Recording Academy president/CEO Neil Portnow in a statement. “This creates more opportunities for a wider-range of recognition in these important categories and gives more flexibility to our voters when having to make the often challenging decisions about representing excellence and the best in music for the year. We look forward to celebrating all of our nominees when they are announced later this year.”