Kristian Dowling / AP Photo
The Grammy Awards are trimming the fat. More than 30 honors are being cut from the previous 109 categories in an effort to maintain the “prestige of the highest and only peer-recognized award in music.” While the top awards—Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist—have not been changed, some of the existing categories will be merged for the 2012 Grammys, while others are being dropped completely. For instance, three R&B vocal performance awards for males, females and groups have been combined into a single Best R&B Performance category. If a category receives fewer than 25 submissions, it will be cut and if it receives between 25 and 39 entries, there will be three nominees instead of the customary five. Those glued to the Grammys telecast in 2012, however, will not notice the changes since only 10 or so awards are announced during TV ceremony.