AceShowbiz - The road to the Grammys is often fraught with questions about eligibility and merit. This year, the Best New Artist nomination of 25-year-old pop star Sabrina Carpenter who already boasts six studio albums, has brought these questions to the forefront.

On November 8, it was announced that Carpenter had received a nod for her latest work, "Short N' Sweet," sparking considerable chatter among fans and industry insiders alike.

Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy - the body responsible for the Grammy Awards - acknowledged the complexities involved in deciding who qualifies for this coveted category. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he remarked, "It's difficult, I'll say that. I was going to say it's pretty simple, but it's actually not that simple. It's difficult, and it's challenging because it's a little bit amorphous how you would evaluate best new artist."

This complexity is underscored by a recent shift in the Grammy Awards Screening Committee's guiding principles, which now adhere to a more inclusive "Let 'Em In" policy. This change has broadened the eligibility pool, allowing artists like Carpenter - whose breakthrough occurred within the current eligibility period but who had previous modest chart performances - an opportunity to compete.

Mason further elaborated, "But for me, what it comes down to is when an artist rises to national or international prominence. It could be their first record, it could be their sixth record. To me, this feels like a time when our best new artists have broken through and become nationally prominent and are doing amazing work."

The determination of "breakthrough or prominence" means that the focus is more on the impact and recognition an artist gains, rather than how many albums they have released.

Ultimately, it is not an easy calculus to determine which artists fit these criteria. Mason expressed his trust in the committees and voters responsible for making these difficult decisions. "I trust our committees that do that work, and I trust the voters to vote for the right people, and I'm really pleased with the outcome," he said.

For young artists navigating the music industry, Carpenter's nomination is a testament to the evolving landscape of recognition and success. It's a reminder that breakthroughs can happen at any point in an artist's career and that persistence and evolution are key components of long-term success.