After decades of gender segregation, the Grammys have set up some battles of the sexes.
The Recording Academy on Wednesday announced some rules changes for next year and a major streamlining of its Grammy categories, from a bloated 109 to a more palatable 78. There will no longer be separate awards for best male and female vocal in the pop, country and R&B fields, with single trophies being doled out for “solo performance” in those genres.
In all, 52 awards were eliminated in the revamp, and 21 were created, including consolidations of existing categories. Many of the changes involve combining contemporary and traditional categories in certain genres — such as blues, folk and world music — under catch-all headings. The American Roots Music field was among the most affected, with the Grammys for best Hawaiian, Native American and zydeco/Cajun music being scrapped in favor of a single award for best regional roots music album.
…
“Every year, we diligently examine our awards structure to develop an overall guiding vision and ensure that it remains a balanced and viable process,” Recording Academy president Neil Portnow said during a news conference at the group’s Santa Monica headquarters. “After careful and extensive review and analysis of all categories and fields, it was objectively determined that our Grammy categories be restructured to the continued competition and prestige of the highest and only peer-recognized award in music.”
Full story: Grammys to eliminate more than 30 categories