The Grammy Awards is an award show popularly known as Grammys. They are presented and sponsored by the Recording Academy, which is an academy situated in America and has marked its name as an outstanding academy in the music industry.
Initially, Grammy Awards were called Gramophone Awards. And it is considered one of the most prestigious awards in the country. It is among the four top annual awards presented, which are the Emmy Awards (which is meant for television), the Tony Awards (which is meant for theatre), and the Academy Awards (which is meant for films).
The first ever Grammy Awards were presented on May 4, 1959, which was held 64 years back, and was first distributed first on NBC Networks. Another interesting fact about the Grammy Awards is that it was the first event to be aired on television, but they didn’t air it until 1971, which was the 13th Annual Grammy Awards.
The Grammy Award is shaped in a gilded gramophone, which is gold plated. By the year 2009, around 7,578 Grammy Awards had been distributed. The process of nomination of the candidates for Awards is simple the candidates are nominated by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), members from both individuals as well as from media companies.
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Welcoming Three Exciting Additional Categories:
The Grammy Awards, known for honoring exceptional achievements in the music industry, are undergoing an expansion to embrace the ever-evolving landscape of music. The Recording Academy has announced the introduction of three new categories, recognizing a broader spectrum of genres, artistic expressions, and musical talent. These additions aim to provide more opportunities for artists from various backgrounds and genres to receive recognition for their exceptional work.
The first new category is “Best African Music Performance.” This category aims to acknowledge the outstanding contributions and achievements in African music genres such as Afrobeats, Afro-fusion, Afro-pop, Ethio jazz, Fuji, Ndombolo, Bongo Flava, Kizomba, High Life, Mapouka, Afro-house, and Ghanaian drill, South African hip-hop. It highlights the influence and global popularity of African artists, including Wizkid, Burna Boy, and Tems, who have achieved great success on the charts.
The second category, “Best Pop Dance Recording,” celebrates the growing popularity and influence of dance-pop music. It recognizes artists who have made a significant impact in this genre, showcasing their creativity, innovation, and cultural significance. This category will bring greater visibility to artists and works that haven’t been represented previously within the Grammy Awards.
The third category, “Best Alternative Jazz Album,” acknowledges the significance of collaborations and collective efforts in the creation of music. It recognizes outstanding achievements in hybrid jazz albums that blend jazz with other genres such as R&B, hip-hop, classical, contemporary improvisation, experimental, pop, rap, electronic/dance music, and spoken word. This category is important as it showcases that the best music can emerge when artists from different backgrounds come together and also signifies inclusivity.
The introduction of these categories in the Grammy Awards reflects the Recording Academy’s commitment to a diverse and dynamic music industry. It seeks to maintain the relevance and significance of the awards by embracing emerging genres, supporting innovative artists, and staying adapted to the pulse of music culture.
At the same pace, the Grammy Awards have also made a few changes to the voting process. The categories of Producer of the Year (Non-Classical) and Songwriter of the Year (Non-Classical) have been shifted to the general field, which allows all Grammy voters to participate in recognizing excellence in these fields, further emphasizing the importance of these categories.
During the recent Board of Trustees meeting, All the new additions and changes were discussed and approved. For the upcoming 66th Grammys, the eligibility period has been adjusted for the duration from October 1, 2022, to September 15, 2023. The number of categories has increased to 94. Nominations are scheduled to be revealed in November, and the awards ceremony will be held in early 2024.
