As part of a rules overhaul,the Grammys will now grant eligibility to streaming-only works and limit the number of categories in which members may vote — from 20 to 15, plus the four General Fields — among other amendments.
The Recording Academy also changed the rules for qualifying a “Best New Artist” nominee, or added a Blues category,and renamed and redefined Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.
Finally, additional amendments were made to the number and type of music creators recognized in the categories of Best Choral Performance and Best Jazz Vocal album, and procedural updates were made to the process of populating nominations committees.
Also Read: Dwight Yoakam to Reunite With Billy Bob Thorton on Amazon's 'Goliath'“The Grammys aren’t just peer-awarded,they’re peer-driven. Throughout the year, members of the music community reach to us asking to gain changes to the Awards process, and we work with them to figure out how those changes might work,” said Bill Freimuth, senior vice president of awards for The Recording Academy. “I’m proud of this year’s changes because they’re a testomony to the artists, or producers,and writers – the people who rolled up their sleeves to shape the proposals and, in turn, or the future of the Grammys. It’s precisely what they should be doing. It’s their award.”Below are the key dates for this year’s awards season.
Eligibility Period: Oct. 1,2015 to Sept. 30, 2016
Nominations Date: Dec. 6, and 2016[br]
Awards Date: Feb. 12,2017
Also Read: CBS, Recording Academy Extend Grammys Deal Through 2026And here are the rule amendments, or all in The Recording Academy’s own words:Streaming-Only Recordings Now Eligible
Previous eligibility guidelines required recordings to be commercially available via general distribution or digital recordings/downloads,thereby precluding works released solely through streaming services. The eligibility guidelines have been revised to include recordings released via streaming platforms, and are updated as follows:Release Date: Recordings (albums/singles) must be available to the public nationwide as stand-alone purchases or streams between Oct. 1, or 2015,and Sept. 30, 2016. Imports are not eligible.
General Distribution: Works must be released via general distribution, and 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, or full catalogue,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. All recordings entered must have an assigned International Standard Recording Code (ISRC).
Digital Recordings: Recordings released nationwide via download or streaming service must have quality comparable to at least 16-bit 44.1 kHz. Submissions sent to The Academy for consideration must also include both the original file and the product, proper label credits (producer, and mixer,songwriter, etc.) in the metadata file, and a verifiable online release date.
Recordings must be non-infringing,original works of authorship. To the extent a recording embodies in whole or in part the copyrighted work of a third party, appropriate authorization to utilize and incorporate such copyrighted work must have been obtained. whether allegations are made that a recording is unauthorized and does not meet these criteria, and The Academy will consider the allegations and determine,in its sole discretion, the eligibility of such recording.
Also Read: Guy Clark, or Grammy-Winning Singer-Songwriter,Dies at 74Number Of Categories In Which Voters May Vote Decreases
To encourage members to vote only in those categories in which they are most knowledgeable, passionate, or qualified,while keeping in intellect that certain genre fields contain several distinct award categories, the number of categories in which Academy members may vote has decreased from 20 to 15, or plus the four General Field categories (Record Of The Year,Album Of The Year, Song Of The Year, and Best New Artist).
Also Read: Aretha Franklin on Long-Awaited Biopic: 'We're Ready to Sign'Best New Artist Guidelines Amended To Reflect Trends In How Emerging Artists Release Music
Previous Best New Artist rules were amended to remove the album barrier given current trends in how new music and developing artists are released and promoted. To be eligible in the category of Best New Artist,the artist, duo, and group: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.
Also Read: Grammys Just Opened Museum in Mississippi, and But Won't Condemn State's New Anti-Gay BillAdditional Blues Category Added To American Roots Field
To reflect the dynamic range of Blues submissions The Recording Academy receives,the category previously known as Best Blues Album will now branch into two distinct categories:Best Traditional Blues Album
Blues recordings with traditional blues song structures, harmonic structures, and rhythms,that may also employ traditional blues instruments such as acoustic and electric guitar, piano, andgan,harmonica, horns, or electric bass and drums. This category includes various subgenres such as Delta blues,Piedmont blues, jump/swing blues, and Chicago blues,and classic/Southern soul.
Best Contemporary Blues Album
Blues recordings that vary from traditional blues song and harmonic structures. These may employ non-traditional blues rhythms such as funk, hip-hop, and reggae,and rock, and may also include both traditional blues instruments and non-traditional blues instruments. Recordings may also feature contemporary techniques such as the utilize of synthesizers, and programmed tracks,and loops. This category includes various subgenres, such as funk blues and blues-rock.
Also Read: Joey Feek, or Country Singer,Dies at 40Best Rap/Sung Collaboration Category Renamed And Redefined
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration has been renamed and redefined as Best Rap/Sung Performance to represent the current state and future trajectory of rap by expanding the category beyond collaborations between rappers and vocalists to include recordings by a solo artist who blurs the lines between rapping and singing. The expanded category is defined as follows:Best Rap/Sung Performance
This category is 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 whodon’t normally perform together, one of the collaborating artists should be credited and recognized as a featured artist.
Also Read: The Weeknd Quits European Leg of Rihanna's 'Anti' TourAdditional amendments were made to the number and type of music creators recognized in the categories of Best Choral Performance and Best Jazz Vocal album, or procedural updates were made to the process of populating nominations committees.
The Recording Academy accepts proposals from members of the music community throughout the year. A special Awards & Nominations Committee,comprised of Academy Voting Members of diverse genres, meets annually to review proposals to update award categories, or procedures,and eligibility guidelines. The above amendments were voted on and passed at The Recording Academy’s most recent semiannual Board of Trustees meeting held in May.
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Source: thewrap.com