The US Recording Academy, organizer of the prestigious Grammy Awards, announced on Tuesday that the 66th edition will include three new categories: best African music performance, best pop dance recording and best alternative jazz album.

In addition, the existing non-classical producer of the year and non-classical composer of the year sections will become part of the general categories, allowing all voters recognized by the institution to participate in choosing their winners.

“These changes reflect our commitment to actively listening to and responding to feedback from our music community, and to accurately represent a wide variety of relevant genres of music,” Harvey Mason Jr, CEO of Recording Academy, said in a statement.

These changes were voted on and approved at the semi-annual meeting of the US Recording Academy Board of Directors held last month. music for fans around the world.

The category of Best African Music Performance It will contain recordings that use “unique artistic expressions from across that continent” with rhythms and melodies ranging from Afrobeat or Kizomba to South African hip-hop or Ethiopian jazz, among others, according to the statement.

As for the best pop dance recording, Songs of “pop-arranged dance music” that also contain “strong rhythms and significant electronic instrumentation” will be considered, with an emphasis on vocal performance and melody.

The award on best alternative jazz album will recognize excellence in records of this genre made by individuals, duos or groups that may or may not include a vocal section.