"The official guidelines are as follows: "For a new artist who releases, during the Eligibility Year, the first recording which establishes the public identity of that artist."
I'ma go ahead and say hells no.
It wasn't even like they were UNKNOWN when it was released in 2012 - it debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200, and the album's lead single "It's Time" had already peaked at #15. Their public identity was most definitely established in the LAST eligibility year, not this one.
So basically 3 of the possible frontrunners for "Best New Artist" shouldn't even be eligible.
They should listen to you imo Phillips would have his chance then lol
