The Recording Academy has made significant updates to the GRAMMY Awards by adding three new categories for the 2024 ceremony

The Recording Academy has made significant updates to the GRAMMY Awards by adding three new categories for the 2024 ceremony. The new categories include Best African Music Performance, Best Alternative Jazz Album, and Best Pop Dance Recording. In addition, the existing categories of Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical and Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical will be moved to the General Field, allowing all GRAMMY voters to participate in these non-genre-specific categories.

These changes were approved at the Recording Academy’s recent Board of Trustees meeting in May 2023, reflecting the Academy’s commitment to inclusivity and recognizing a diverse range of musical genres. Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. expressed the organization’s dedication to listening to feedback from the music community and adapting to the evolving musical landscape.

The new categories are as follows:

1. Best African Music Performance: This category acknowledges tracks and singles that incorporate unique musical expressions from across the African continent, including genres 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.

2. Best Pop Dance Recording: This category recognizes up-tempo, danceable tracks and singles with a pop arrangement. Eligible recordings should feature rhythmic beats, significant electronic-based instruments, and emphasize vocal performance, melody, and hooks. Dance remixes are eligible only in the Best Remixed Recording category and cannot be entered in Best Pop Dance Recording.

3. Best Alternative Jazz Album: This category celebrates artistic excellence in alternative jazz albums by individuals, duos, and groups/ensembles, with or without vocals. Alternative Jazz blends jazz with other genres such as R&B, Hip-Hop, Classical, Contemporary Improvisation, Experimental, Pop, Rap, Electronic/Dance music, and Spoken Word. It may also incorporate contemporary production techniques and instrumentation associated with other genres.

The Recording Academy accepts proposals for category updates from members of the music community throughout the year. The Awards & Nominations Committee, composed of diverse Academy Voting Members from various genres, reviews these proposals annually to update awards categories, procedures, and eligibility guidelines.

The Recording Academy is excited about these significant changes and looks forward to showcasing them at the 2024 GRAMMY Awards. Stay tuned for more information about Music’s Biggest Night!