Less Categories in The Grammy Awards Ceremony

The Grammy Awards ceremony, which is often considered “boring” due to its length, will cut its categories from 109 to 78. The Academy has adjusted its rules and adapted to industry changes over the years, these changes follow its first major examination of the awards structure, a process that took more than a year, however no musical genres will be excluded from Grammy contention, the changes will make the awards a lot more competitive.

“It ups the game in terms of what it takes to receive a Grammy and preserves the great esteem of with its held in the creative community, which is the most important element,” Recording Academy President and CEO Neil Portnow said in a telephone interview Wednesday.

Awards will no longer be given in such categories as rap performance by a duo or group; some of the instrumental categories in pop, rock and country; traditional gospel; children’s spoken-word album; Zydeco or Cajun music album; and best classical crossover album; those music genders will still be awarded but they will compete within larger fields.

Another of the changes will require each category to have at least 40 entries instead of 25, categories with entries between 25 and 39 will have only three nominations instead of four or five. If a category gets less than 25 entries, it will be removed for that year, and if it happens three years in a row, the category will be removed permanently and the material will find a new home in a related genre.

Separate male and female vocal categories in fields like pop, R&B and country will disappear as well. Men and women will now compete in each overall field. “A great singer is a great singer, and somebody that has a gift in terms of their voice, and is at the top of their game in terms of their delivery and emotion, really isn’t necessarily defined by gender,” Portnow said.

Source: AP