Recording Academy Updates Grammy Rules
• The Recording Academy® announced major changes made to several rules and guidelines “that reflect its ongoing commitment to evolve with the musical landscape and to ensure that the Grammy Awards® nominating process and rules are more transparent and fair.” Among the changes are updates to the Best New Artist category, Latin, R&B and Rap Fields, Nominations Review Committees, and more.
Most notably, the “Best Urban Contemporary Album” category has been renamed as “Best Progressive R&B Album.” The Recording Academy states, “This change includes a more accurate definition to describe the merit or characteristics of music compositions or performances themselves within the genre of R&B. This category is intended to highlight albums that include the more progressive elements of R&B and may include samples and elements of hip-hop, rap, dance, and electronic music. It may also incorporate production elements found in pop, euro-pop, country, rock, folk, and alternative.”
The “Best Rap/Sung Performance” category has been renamed “Best Melodic Rap Performance” to “represent the inclusivity of the growing hybrid performance trends within the rap genre.” And in the “Best New Artist” category, the eligibility requirements have changed — “There is no longer a specified maximum number of releases prohibiting artists from entering the Best New Artist category. As such, the screening committees will be charged with determining whether the artist had attained a breakthrough or prominence prior to the eligibility year. Such a determination would result in disqualification.”
Harvey Mason, Jr., Chair & Interim President/CEO of the Recording Academy, remarked, “I’m excited to announce our latest changes, as we’re constantly evaluating our Awards process and evolving it to ensure the Grammy Awards are inclusive and reflect the current state of the music industry. The Academy accepts proposals for rule changes from members of the music community throughout the year that are carefully reviewed and, if accepted, ultimately ratified at our annual Board meeting, a process that we are proud to have continued in this challenging year.”
The new changes go into effect immediately for the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. For the full list of rule amendments, which were voted on and passed at the Recording Academy’s most recent semiannual Board of Trustees meeting held in May 2020, visit grammy.com.
