schmiggens
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New Grammy Categories and Why They're Here
LOS ANGELES - It's tempting to let out a groan when the Recording Academy announces it has added even more categories to the ever-growing list of Grammy Awards. But, honestly, who's counting?
Well, we are. This year, the Grammys will hand out awards in 107 categories, including four new slots, on Feb. 13. Although it is certainly easy to joke that pan flute or throat singer categories must be next, the truth is a great deal of thought, debate and deliberation goes into each new category.
"We have an awards and nominations committee comprised of trustees, staff and experts who regularly examine the categories every year," Recording Academy president Neil Portnow says.
During this evaluation process, the committee also reviews recommendations for new categories.
Here's a look at this year's four new categories and the reasoning behind them.
Best electronic/dance album: This is the first dance category that honors albums. Portnow says the addition is a direct result of the diligence and coalescing of the dance community and the clear growth in the dance album arena.
"We try to give anything new a fair opportunity to really establish itself," Portnow says. "What we don't want to do is add dozens of categories and find that it's premature and that this music is not ongoing."
He freely admits that the academy can, therefore, look a little behind the curve when adding a genre. But he stresses, "We may arrive there other than on day one of a movement, but we have tried to accelerate the ability to get there within a reasonable period of time."
Best gospel performance: While it may seem that the gospel field is already well-represented with six categories, Portnow says the committee takes note when sufficient activity within a section of a category may warrant its own consideration. As such, the committee felt that it was time to create a new category that specifically honored performances on singles or tracks in the gospel field as opposed to the other categories that honor entire albums.
Best Hawaiian music album: Similar to the Native American community that finally received its own category in 2001, the Hawaiian music community has long petitioned for representation and has shown that the genre experienced a steady level of success.
"I'm not sure it's always about growth," Portnow says. "It just seems to be an area that is consistent and sustaining. We're seeing albums made in Hawaii by Hawaiian musicians that are doing well, and the format is keeping a certain level of activity."
Best surround sound album: "We are the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences," Portnow says. "It's the sciences piece that we always want to pay attention to."
With the proliferation of recordings now available in 5.1 sound, "it makes sense to address technical changes and innovations that begin to feel they're going to be part of the landscape going forward."
Does that mean we're headed for best ringtone? Portnow doesn't rule it out. "It wouldn't surprise me if we see more (technical awards). We have to be up to speed with all elements of technology."
If you're looking to petition the committee to add a category, Portnow has some advice.
"Make the case for your community," he says. "Who's in it, how many records are being made, what is the reach of that community, the geography, the history, the projections of where it is going. Have the facts, figures and statistics and the community behind you to back it up."
And if the committee turns you down, Portnow stresses you can always come back next year. Indeed, it took the dance community five years to get the best dance recording category added in 1997. As Portnow says, "Good for those folks who persevere."
- Billboard
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02-07-2005 07:17 AM
