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The Recording Academy has announced the addition of three
new categories for the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. Those new awards include Best
African Music Performance, Best Pop Dance Recording, and Best Alternative Jazz
Album
In addition, two existing categories have been moved to the
general field, which means that all Grammy voters can participate in selecting
the winners: producer of the year, non-classical, and songwriter of the year,
non-classical, the latter of which was first introduced this year.
Previously, the general categories were made up solely of
the “Big Four” awards: best new artist, as well as album, record, and song of
the year. Grammy voters are eligible to vote in general categories, as well as
up to ten categories across three genre fields — and are instructed only to
vote in their area of expertise. The changes to those two categories reflect an
evolving music industry, where songwriters and producers have become
increasingly celebrated for their contributions.
The new best African music performance category will
highlight “regional melodic, harmonic and rhythmic musical traditions,”
according to a Recording Academy press release, including genres like
“Afrobeat, Afro-fusion, Afro Pop, Afrobeats, Alte, Amapiano, Bongo Flava,
Genge, Kizomba, Chimurenga, High Life, Fuji, Kwassa, Ndombolo, Mapouka,
Ghanaian Drill, Afro-House, South African Hip-Hop, and Ethio Jazz.”
Before the addition, those artists would compete in the best
global music performance category, first introduced in 2022 as part of the
global music field.
Prior to 2020, the field was previously referred to as
“world music.” The Grammys enacted the name change to curb “connotations of
colonialism,” according to a press release.
The best pop dance recording category is defined by
“up-tempo, danceable music that follows a pop arrangement” and recordings that
“feature strong rhythmic beats and significant electronic-based instruments
with an emphasis on the vocal performance, melody and hooks.” Dance remixes do
not apply.
And finally, the best alternative jazz album category will
spotlight alternative jazz albums that blend genre, hybridizing jazz and other
musical styles including “R&B, Hip-Hop, Classical, Contemporary Improvisation,
Experimental, Pop, Rap, Electronic/Dance music, and/or Spoken Word.”
“The Recording Academy is proud to announce these latest
Category changes to our Awards process. These changes reflect our commitment to
actively listen and respond to the feedback from our music community,
accurately represent a diverse range of relevant musical genres, and stay
aligned with the ever-evolving musical landscape,” Recording Academy CEO Harvey
Mason Jr. said in a statement.
“By introducing these three new categories, we are able to
acknowledge and appreciate a broader array of artists,” he said. “We are
excited to honor and celebrate the creators and recordings in these Categories,
while also exposing a wider range of music to fans worldwide.”