In an exciting development, the Recording Academy has revealed the addition of three new categories to the forthcoming 2024 GRAMMYs, the 66th GRAMMY Awards. Among the fresh additions is a category called ‘Best African Music Performance,’ set to celebrate the unique and rich musical heritage of the African continent.
The Academy’s latest semiannual Board of Trustees meeting, held in May 2023, saw the unanimous vote and approval of these new category additions, along with notable modifications to existing categories.
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. expressed his delight and pride in these changes. “The Recording Academy is proud to announce these latest Category changes to our Awards process. 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,” he said.
The ‘Best African Music Performance’ aims to acknowledge a diverse range of music expressions unique to the African continent. This category will include a variety of musical styles such as 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, among others.
Mason emphasized the impact of these newly introduced categories. “By introducing these three new categories, we are able to acknowledge and appreciate a broader array of artists – and relocating the Producer Of The Year and Songwriter Of The Year categories to the General Field ensures that all our voters can participate in recognizing excellence in these fields,” he stated.
The two other additions to the GRAMMY categories include ‘Best Alternative Jazz Album’ and ‘Best Pop Dance Recording.’ In an effort to promote broader voting participation, the Recording Academy has also moved ‘Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical’ and ‘Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical’ to the General Field.
“We are excited to honor and celebrate the creators and recordings in these categories, while also exposing a wider range of music to fans worldwide,” Mason concluded.
The inclusion of these categories is a testament to the Academy’s commitment to embracing the global, diverse, and ever-changing music industry. With these additions, the GRAMMYs continue to establish themselves as a comprehensive platform that acknowledges and appreciates a broader spectrum of musical artistry.
