HUGEL Appeals Grammy Disqualification Over AI Concerns

Track Removed From Consideration

HUGEL is requesting a second review from the Recording Academy after his track "Movin' To The Sun" was removed from Grammy consideration over concerns about artificial intelligence. The producer, who released the song with Imael Angel and Ultra Naté, is asking the organization to identify which elements of the finished recording prompted the decision.

HUGEL developed the production with Maximilian Riehl and Loris Cimino in Ableton Live, rebuilding instrumental parts, programming drums and revising the arrangement. The team has preserved session files, working versions, source material and production communications to support its request.

AI Role and Human Authorship

HUGEL's team acknowledges that AI played a role in the track's development, which began with an earlier recording by Imael Angel. However, the producer maintains that the released version reflects substantial human work. "Some ideas were intentionally retained from the earlier version of the song," HUGEL said. "But the production you hear on the released master involved substantial, identifiable human performance, programming, production and authorship."

HUGEL estimates that approximately 95% of the released production consists of conventionally produced or human-created elements. The Academy's published guidance allows recordings containing AI-generated material to remain eligible when the relevant human authorship or performance meets the category's requirements. AI involvement alone does not automatically exclude a submission.

The appeal comes as the Recording Academy continues to refine its policies around emerging production technologies and artist eligibility.