Grammy Awards Add Songwriter Of The Year, Video Game Score And Other – Deadline

The Recording Academy has announced a series of five new Grammy Award categories, including Songwriter Of The Year (Non-Classical) and Best Score Soundtrack For Video Games And Other Interactive Media.

Among the five new Grammy Awards, which will be presented for the first time next year, is a Special Merit Award for Best Social Change Song. Also new: Best Alternative Music Performance, Best Americana Performance and Best Spoken Word Poetry Album.

“We are thrilled to honor these diverse communities of music creators through the newly established awards and changes, and to continue cultivating an environment that inspires change, progression and collaboration,” said Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of Recording Academy. “The Academy’s top priority is to effectively represent the music creators we serve, and each year that means listening to our members and ensuring our rules and policies reflect our ever-evolving industry.”

As described by the Academy, the new categories are:

Songwriter of the Year, non-classical
Recognizes the writing excellence, profession and artistry of songwriting and honors the most prolific non-performing and non-producing songwriters for their aggregate of new work released during an eligibility year.

Best Alternative Music Performance
A title and single category recognizing the best recordings in an alternative performance by a solo artist, collaborating artist, established duo or group.

Best Americana Performance
A track and single category recognizing artistic excellence in an Americana performance by a solo artist, collaborating artist, established duo or group.

Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media
Recognizes excellence in Score Soundtrack Albums consisting primarily of original scores and created specifically for or to complement a recent video game or other interactive media released within the Qualification Period.

Best Spoken Word Poetry Album
An album category that recognizes excellence in spoken word albums specifically designed for the performance of poetry, with or without music.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE SPECIAL MERIT AWARD:
Best Song for Social Change
This Special Merit Award is determined by a Blue Ribbon Committee and ratified by the Recording Academy Board of Trustees. Submissions must contain lyrical content that addresses a current social issue and promotes understanding, peacebuilding and empathy.