In a demonstration of its commitment to advancing the ever-changing musical landscape, the Latin Recording Academy has announced several major developments to be introduced at the upcoming 2023 Latin GRAMMYs, officially known as the 24th Annual Latin GRAMMYs, which take place this November, including the addition of three new categories and a new Field. (The eligibility period for the 24th Annual Latin GRAMMYs is Wednesday, June 1, 2022 – Wednesday, May 31, 2023.)
These include: the launches of the Best Songwriter Of The Year category and the coinciding Songwriting Field; the Best Singer-Songwriter Song category; and the Best Portuguese-Language Urban Performance category. The Latin Recording Academy has also made amendments to several existing categories, including Album Of The Year, Song categories and Best Engineered Album.
While the news of these changes alone is monumental, it begs two questions: What do they signify for the Latin Recording Academy and the wider Latin music industry? And what will they ultimately lead to?
Firstly, introducing and awarding new categories allows the Latin Recording Academy to celebrate more artists and creators who are evolving genres and creating new, boundary-pushing sounds.
"The Latin music industry is very much alive and creating," Luis Dousdebes, the Chief Awards, Membership & Preservation Officer at the Latin Recording Academy, tells GRAMMY.com. "When we are awarding something really good to this community of artists and creators, they want to participate — and then they want to be part of the Latin Academy."
Secondly, by reaching new artist, producer and creator communities around the world, the Latin Recording Academy is diversifying its global base of members and the creators it celebrates at the annual Latin GRAMMYs, while also expanding its wider mission of elevating Latin music on a global scale.
"[We're] bringing more artist and creator communities to the process," Dousdebes reflects, "giving more inclusion to everyone who needs to be recognized; we're very excited about that potential."
Below, read some key takeaways explaining what these changes and amendments will mean for the 2023 Latin GRAMMYs and beyond.
Songwriters & The Art Of Songwriting Are Being Elevated
While the Latin Recording Academy has honored producers and artists with Latin GRAMMYs since its inception, songwriters are getting two much-deserved, standalone categories from here on out: Best Songwriter Of The Year and Best Singer-Songwriter Song.
The Best Songwriter Of The Year award, which is part of the newly created Songwriting Field, recognizes the written excellence, profession and art of songwriting.
Likewise, the Best Singer-Songwriter Song award, which lives within the Singer-Songwriter Field, honors singles or tracks from a Singer-Songwriter Album competing in the Singer-Songwriter Album Category in the same Latin GRAMMY year. Eligible songs must contain at least 51% of the lyrics in Spanish, Portuguese or any native regional dialect. As well, this category honors songs solely written by one person. "While the album can be co-written and 25% of a 75/25 share," Dousdebes explains, "we think it's a really good idea to motivate… the writing of a song by one person."
"As an Academy, we understand that everything starts with a good song," Dousdebes continues. "Since the Latin Recording Academy has been awarding artists and producers since the foundation of the Latin GRAMMYs in 2000, it was time to finally extend this honor to songwriters as well."
A Milestone For Artists Who Sing In Portuguese — A Growing Subset Of The Latin Music Community
In the past, Portuguese-speaking artists have largely competed with Spanish-speaking artists at the Latin GRAMMYs. Now, they're getting far more real estate on their own with the introduction of the Best Portuguese-Language Urban Performance award.
This exciting, new category, which lives within the Portuguese Language Field, recognizes the enormous amount of Urban music that is being created in Brazil and Portugal. Eligible singles or tracks can include a fusion mix of Urban styles with other genres as long as the Urban character predominates. This specialized performance category does not preclude Portuguese-speaking artists from competing in some of the other Urban Field categories.
"It is time to give [the Portuguese-language creator industry] the chance to grow within their community," Dousdebes says. "By introducing this categeory, we're motivating the participation of this community in the Latin GRAMMYs even more."
Eligibility For Album Of The Year And Best Engineered Album Is Now More Sharply Defined
Starting at the 24th Annual Latin GRAMMYs, all eligible albums submitted for consideration in the Album Of The Year category, within the General Field, must contain at least 51% playing time of newly recorded material. As well, award to the artist, producer(s), engineer(s), mixer(s), mastering engineer(s), and songwriter(s) of 33% playing time of the album if other than the artist will receive the award.
This also extends to the freshly amended Best Engineered Album category. As outlined in the recently announced amendments, new criteria for the Best Engineered Album category states, “Award goes to Recording Engineer(s) and Mixing Engineer(s) credited with at least 33% of the album and Mastering Engineer(s) credited with at least 51% of the album within the Production Field.”
Contributors to albums who do not meet the required percentages outlined in these amendments for both the Album Of The Year and Best Engineered Album categories will receive an official certificate.
While these amendments may seem minor on the surface, they carry profound effects.
"This is about the relevance of our award," Dousdebes says. As he explains, giving the same award to everyone who appeared on an album — even those who mixed one song — undermines such.
Of course, that doesn't mean a relatively minor participant shouldn't be honored at all. By giving certificates, as opposed to Latin GRAMMY statues, to scores of people, everybody shares in the recognition, Dousdebes clarifies. And in the end, this will bolster the integrity of both categories.
Recording Dates For Songs Are Now Requisite For Submission — Leading To Cleaner Organization And More Transparency
Obviously, a song popping up on Spotify doesn't mean it was recorded that day; the gap between a song being created and released can be months or even years.
That's why the date of a track's composition must be included when submitting eligible product for all of the Song categories going forward — to ensure it's truly new.
"We need to have the information of the date when the song was composed because it's very difficult to keep track of composition dates when you have hundreds of songs released every week," Dousdebes says. "It helps the submission process, helps the screening, and helps the staff.”
Ultimately, this small-yet-significant amendment will help streamline the submission process and screening process and will build even more transparency within the Song categories.
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