The Beatles, despite their official disbandment nearly five decades ago, have garnered two Grammy Award nominations. Their recently revitalized track, "Now and Then," which was enhanced using artificial intelligence, is now a contender for the prestigious Record of the Year award, alongside renowned artists such as Beyoncé, Charlie XCX, Billie Eilish, and Taylor Swift. 

Furthermore, the track has also been nominated in the Best Rock Performance category, where it will compete against esteemed bands such as Green Day, Pearl Jam, and The Black Keys.

Released in November 2023, "Now and Then" originated as a demo recorded by John Lennon in the late 1970s. This recording, along with "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love," was shared with Lennon's three surviving bandmates in the 1990s, with the intention of incorporating it into The Beatles Anthology project.

However, “Now and Then” remained unreleased for years due to the limitations of technology at the time, which could not effectively isolate John’s vocals and piano for a clear sound. In 2021, filmmaker Peter Jackson and his sound team utilized machine learning technology to separate the instrumentals and vocals, enabling Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr to finally finish the song.

Despite being completed with the aid of machine learning, “Now and Then” adheres to the Grammy’s regulations regarding AI. The current guidelines specify that “only human creators are eligible to be submitted for consideration for, nominated for, or win a GRAMMY Award,” although works that incorporate “elements” of AI material can be considered in relevant categories.

It is somewhat unusual to see “Now and Then” competing alongside contemporary music such as Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em,” but this moment has been anticipated for a long time. The outcome for The Beatles will be revealed at the 2025 Grammy Awards, scheduled for Sunday, February 2nd.