The streaming game done changed and new rules are in full effect. Last month, the Recording Academy, the organization responsible for the annual Grammy Awards, announced that they will now take streaming-only releases into consideration when choosing nominees for the 2017 awards.

Projects dropped between Oct. 1, 2015 and Sept. 30, 2016, whether they were released for official sale or on a streaming service such as Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal or Google Play, will be considered for Grammy Awards nominations. Releases via YouTube, Datpiff or LiveMixtapes will not be eligible. This new ruling opens the floodgates for a bunch of rappers' projects to be included in the discussion for a Grammy nomination.

"Our trustees felt like the time had come; it's been on our radar for a couple of years now," Recording Academy SVP of Awards Bill Freimuth told Billboard when discussing the change.

According to the Academy, this applies to music “released via general distribution, defined as the nationwide release of a recording via brick and mortar, third-party online retailers, and/or applicable digital streaming services. Applicable streaming services are paid subscription, full catalog, on-demand streaming/limited download platforms that have existed as such within the United States for at least one full year as of the submission deadline.”

SoundCloud golden child Chance The Rapper is undoubtedly a new contender for a golden gramophone now that streaming-only releases are in the running. Based on the new rules, Chano's highly anticipated third mixtape, Coloring Book, released in April, is in the running to be considered for next year's nominations. Chance was one of the most outspoken voices in lobbying the Academy to change their rules, urging his massive social media following to sign a petition to allow free music for award consideration. But imagine some of your favorite trap stars or Internet sensations walking home with Grammys? Young Thug? Lil Uzi Vert? It could very well happen.

From Chance The Rapper to Kevin Gates and more, check out the artists who are now eligible for Grammy Award nominations now that the door to streaming-only releases has been opened.

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