The evolution of the GRAMMY Awards continues.
For, the industry leading platform has unveiled three new categories at the forthcoming 66th Annual edition of the ceremony in 2024.
Full story below…
Moments ago, the Recording Academy confirmed the addition of the following categories: Best African Music Performance, Best Alternative Jazz Album and Best Pop Dance Recording.
Peep what each entail:
Best African Music Performance
A track and singles Category that recognizes recordings that utilize unique local expressions from across the African continent. Highlighting regional melodic, harmonic and rhythmic musical traditions, the Category includes but is not limited to the 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 genres.Best Pop Dance Recording
Recognizes tracks and singles that feature up-tempo, danceable music that follows a pop arrangement. Eligible Pop Dance recordings also feature strong rhythmic beats and significant electronic-based instruments with an emphasis on the vocal performance, melody and hooks. Dance remixes are eligible in the Best Remixed Recording Category only and may not be entered in Best Pop Dance Recording.Best Alternative Jazz Album
This Category recognizes artistic excellence in Alternative Jazz albums by individuals, duos and groups/ensembles, with or without vocals. Alternative Jazz may be defined as a genre-blending, envelope-pushing hybrid that mixes jazz (improvisation, interaction, harmony, rhythm, arrangements, composition, and style) with other genres, including R&B, Hip-Hop, Classical, Contemporary Improvisation, Experimental, Pop, Rap, Electronic/Dance music, and/or Spoken Word. It may also include the contemporary production techniques/instrumentation associated with other genres.
Furthermore, the existing Categories of Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical and Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical have been moved to the General Field, allowing all GRAMMY voters to vote in these important, non-genre-specific Categories.
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Interesting!
The African category has long been called for. Especially given the pervasiveness of Afrobeats on a global scale and the high profile wins and nominations for the likes of Burna Boy and Wizkid. So, we’re elated.
