The Recording Academy just added three brand new categories for the upcoming 2024 Grammys or the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.
Because of the new addition, the total Grammy Awards to be given next year is now at 94, not including the lifetime achievement awards to be given to special industry figures during Grammy week.
2024 Grammy Awards New Categories
According to a release reported by Billboard, there were three new music categories added by The Recording Academy to the Grammy Awards.
Best African Music Performance
Based on the press release, the inaugural Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance shall recognize recordings that "utilize unique local expression across the African continent-including but not limited to Afrobeats, Afro-fusion, Afro-pop, Genge, Fuji, Ghanaian Drill, South African Hip-Hop, and Ethio Jazz genres, among many others.
Best Alternative Jazz Performance
Joining the existing jazz categories like Best Improvised Jazz Solo, Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album, Best Latin Jazz Album, and Best Jazz Vocal Album is the Best Alternative Jazz Performance.
It seeks to recognize artistic excellence in alternative jazz albums with or without vocals. It is defined as a hybrid mix between jazz and other music genres.
Best Pop Dance Recording
The pop category will be expanding into a new category as Best Pop Dance Recording will be finally added. It would recognize tracks that feature "up-tempo, danceable music that follows a pop arrangement."
This came after a controversy wherein Beyonce's "Break My Soul" was categorized as Best Dance/Electronic Recording, which dance artists thought was "unfair" given that popstars like her were given a fair advantage because of their household popularity.
"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.
2024 Grammy Awards Big 6
Aside from the introduction of three new categories, two existing categories will now be reclassified to the general field. (via The Hollywood Reporter)
For the past few years, the general field only recognizes Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best New Artist. Now, the Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, and Songwriter of the Year will be bumped up to the main event.
