New Grammy rules embrace streaming-only songs
Print Edition
CHANGES at the Grammy Awards include songs only released on streaming services being in contention for nomination and members voting in fewer categories at the 2017 show.
The Recording Academy announced changes yesterday that will impact the 2017 Grammys, to be presented on February 12 in Los Angeles.
Streaming-only recordings — released on paid-subscription platforms like Spotify, Apple Music and Tidal but not for sale on iTunes — will now qualify for Grammy nominations.
“We noticed that there were a number of higher-profile artists who were choosing — for philosophical reasons as much as anything — to release their music through streaming-only, and we did not want to be exclusionary toward them,” said Bill Freimuth, the academy’s senior vice president of awards.
Some acts, including Prince and Beyonce, have exclusively debuted music on Tidal. They later released the music on iTunes and other platforms. Chance the Rapper’s project, “Coloring Book,” was released exclusively on Apple Music and will have a chance to compete.
Other changes include the number of categories that Grammy members can vote in, which is reduced to 15 from 20. That number doesn’t include the top four categories — album of the year, song of the year, record of the year and best new artist — which all members are allowed to vote in. They were approved last month by the board of trustees.
The best new artist category — often revamped to keep up with the changing music industry — will now allow a performer that releases at least five singles to qualify. Previously, acts would have to release an album. Best new artist isn’t only for brand-new acts: Acts qualify until they release three albums or 30 singles. The best rap/sung collaboration, awarded to rap and R&B acts that team up on a track, is being renamed to best rap/sung performance. And the award is no longer exclusive to collaborations: Solo acts who sing and rap on a track can now compete with a song featuring both vocal styles.
Songs and albums released between October 1, 2015 and September 30, 2016 will be eligible for nomination at the 2017 Grammys.
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