Recording Academy Announces 5 New Grammy Awards Categories

JAKARTA - The Grammy Awards will add five new categories starting next year. The Recording Academy committee believes this award can give appreciation to musicians.

Thursday, June 9, the Recording Academy announced five additional categories: Songwriter of the Year (Non-Classical), Best Alternative Music Performance, Best Americana Performance, and Best Spoken Word Poetry Album.

The committee also added the category of Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games, an award given for scoring that appears in video games.

The Songwriter of the Year (Non-Classical) award goes to those who are songwriters but not performers or producers.

“This new category is really for those who are good at songwriting,” said Harvey Mason Jr. as the Executive Recording Academy citing Variety.

The Recording Academy also awarded an honorary award for Best Song for Social Change. This award is given to songs that have content and promote social issues and empathy.

“We are excited to honor the diverse community of music creators with this newly created award. To continue to develop an environment of change, progress and collaboration," he said.

“The Recording Academy's priority is to represent music and every year we listen to members' suggestions and make sure our rules are evolving,” continued Mason.

This rule will apply to the 65th Grammy Awards to be held in 2023. This year the Grammy's peak night was postponed to April from January due to the COVID-19 pandemic.