The Grammy’s are switching things up a bit in the ever changing landscape of Music. More artists can now be eligible for the Best New Artist award and streaming only music (such as Chance The Rapper’s Coloring Book) will now be eligible to receive the prestigious awards.
Posted by: Frankie Zing
In a press release, the Academy announced the new amendment will take effect for the 2017 Grammy Awards with the eligibility schedule between Oct. 1, 2015 and Sept. 30, 2016.
The RA described eligible streaming only recordings as music “released via general distribution, defined as the nationwide release of a recording via brick and mortar, third-party online retailers, and/or applicable digital streaming services. Applicable streaming services are paid subscription, full catalog, on-demand streaming/limited download platforms that have existed as such within the United States for at least one full year as of the submission deadline.”
Bill Freimuth, Senior Vice President of Awards for the Recording Academy, stated:
“The Grammys aren’t just peer-awarded, they’re peer-driven. Throughout the year, members of the music community come to us asking to make changes to the Awards process, and we work with them to figure out how those changes might work. I’m proud of this year’s changes because they’re a testament to the artists, producers, writers – the people who rolled up their sleeves to shape the proposals and, in turn, the future of the Grammys. It’s exactly what they should be doing. It’s their award.”
An amendment for the decrease in categories for Voting members to vote on will also take effect. Previously voting members were allowed to vote on 20 categories plus the four general field categories (Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Best New Artist), now that changes to 15.
As far as the coveted Best New Artist goes, artists will no longer be ineligible if they have released a recording prior to Grammy consideration. The new amendment stipulates:
-Must have released a minimum of five singles/tracks or one album, but no more than 30 singles/tracks or three albums.
-May not have entered into this category more than three times, including as a performing member of an established group.
-Must have achieved a breakthrough into the public consciousness and impacted the musical landscape during the eligibility period
Oh and also the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration award has now been redefined as Best Rap/Sung “Performance”. It’s “intended to recognize solo and collaborative performances containing elements of R&B and rap in melody and song. In the case of a collaboration of artists who don’t usually perform together, one of the collaborating artists should be credited and recognized as a featured artist.”
