CNN
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Afrobeat – a pulsating fusion sound originating from West Africa and the Diaspora – has gained worldwide popularity over the past decade. In recent years, the genre has found its way into Western pop culture, and even grabbed a Grammy Award.
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. recently said the Grammys are considering adding an Afrobeat award category. Speaking to reporters in Ghana over the weekend, Mason said he is meeting with players in the genre to explore possibilities.
“We called in producers, songwriters, artists and executives for a virtual listening session where we heard from the creators of Afrobeat,” he said. Press conference on September 24th.[We] We talked about “What are the different subgenres?” What are your needs? What is desire? ”
However, it may take some time for such changes to take place. The Recording Academy, a group of music industry professionals who present Grammy Awards throughout the year, accept the proposal of new categories from its members. These proposals were then considered by the Commission, voted By the Recording Academy Board of Trustees.
For example, at its April 2021 meeting, the Recording Academy approved the addition of two new categories to the Global and Latin Music categories, but this change was not reflected in the 2022 Grammy Awards. .Recording Academy this year announced Five additional categories will be enabled at the 2023 Grammy Awards, including Songwriter of the Year and Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media.
“My goal is to represent all genres of music, including Afrobeat, at the Grammy Awards. But it has to be done properly,” Mason said at a press conference. I think it was very important, very valuable, and a step in that direction.”
Afrobeat artists have crossed over into mainstream pop through collaborations with Beyoncé, Drake, Ed Sheeran, and other stars. But they also achieved mainstream success single-handedly. Burnaboy, Wizkid, and Thames have each been nominated for Grammy Awards (they’re usually relegated to the global music arena), but Burnaboy won for his 2021 album Twice as Tall. did. CKay’s “Love Nwantiti” took TikTok by storm last year and eventually billboard chart.
UK’s Official Charts Company to launch Afrobeat singles chart in 2020, Billboard US based afrobeat chart This year we see more nods to the genre’s growth outside of Africa and the Diaspora.
