The GRAMMY Awards remains the most prestigious ceremony of all.

With such billing has come ample discourse about all corners of Music’s Biggest Night; a discourse that has led to a wave of changes in recent years. 

The amends continue today with the unveiling of several new categories.

Full story below…

In an announcement made by the GRAMMY committee, the following categories will be added to the nominations list beginning in 2023:

NEW GRAMMY AWARDS CATEGORIES:

Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical
Recognizes the written excellence, profession and art of songwriting honoring the most prolific non-performing and non-producing songwriters for their body of new work released during an eligibility year.

Best Alternative Music Performance
A track and single Category that recognizes the best recordings in an alternative performance by a solo artist, collaborating artists, established duo, or established group.

Best Americana Performance
A track and single Category that recognizes artistic excellence in an Americana performance by a solo artist, collaborating artists, established duo, or established group.

Best Score Soundtrack For Video Games And Other Interactive Media
Recognizes excellence in score soundtrack albums comprised predominately of original scores and created specifically for, or as a companion to, a current video game or other interactive media released within the qualification period.

Best Spoken Word Poetry Album
An album Category that recognizes excellence in spoken word albums specific to the performance of poetry with or without music.

SPECIAL MERIT AWARD ADDITION: 

Best Song For Social Change
This Special Merit Award will be determined by a Blue Ribbon Committee and ratified by the Recording Academy Board of Trustees. Submissions must contain lyrical content that addresses a timely social issue and promotes understanding, peacebuilding and empathy.

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Furthermore, there have been tweaks in the qualification criteria for existing categories. As such, for an album to be eligible in an album-related category, it  “must contain greater than 75 percent playing time of newly recorded (within five years of the release date), previously unreleased recordings.” This pertains to most categories, though some will be unaffected such as “Best Historical Album.”

This is of note given the rise in top-tier titans re-recording old material (for a multitude of reasons) and, under previous rules, being eligible to submit said projects in categories where the LP could in essence compete with all-new albums.

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Speaking on the developments, Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy said in a statement:

“We’re so excited to honor these diverse communities of music creators through the newly established awards and amendments, and to continue cultivating an environment that inspires change, progress and collaboration. The Academy’s top priority is to effectively represent the music people that we serve, and each year, that entails listening to our members and ensuring our rules and guidelines reflect our ever-evolving industry.”

What do you think of the new categories? As ever, let us know…

Your thoughts?