The Beatles have recently been nominated for two Grammy Awards, nearly five decades after the band officially disbanded. Their unreleased final song, “Now and Then,” was restored last year using AI technology, and is now in the running for Record of the Year alongside artists like Beyoncé, Charlie XCX, Billie Eilish, and Taylor Swift. The song has also been nominated for Best Rock Performance, where it will be competing against Green Day, Pearl Jam, and The Black Keys.
Despite being completed with the help of machine learning, “Now and Then” still adheres to the Grammy’s regulations regarding AI involvement in music creation. The current guidelines specify that only human creators are eligible for Grammy consideration, nomination, and victory, but works that incorporate AI elements may still qualify in relevant categories.
It is quite unusual to see a Beatles song from the past competing with contemporary music like Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em,” but the long-awaited moment has finally arrived. The outcome of the Beatles’ nominations will be revealed at the 2025 Grammy Awards, scheduled for Sunday, February 2nd.
