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Artist News Awards
Grammys to allow samples in songwriting categories
By Andy Malt | Published on Monday 16 June 2014
The Board Of Trustees over at the Grammy Awards has announced that the use of samples is now allowed in all songwriting categories. Previously only the Best Rap Song category was given such dispensation.
Recording Academy President Neil Portnow said in a statement: “The Academy’s Board of Trustees continues to demonstrate its passionate commitment to keeping The Recording Academy a relevant and responsive organisation in our dynamic music community. This year’s changes to our awards process are thoughtful, inclusive, and reflective of the current musical landscape, and we look forward to implementing them for the upcoming 57th Annual Grammy Awards”.
The exact wording of what the Academy is now allowing is “samples or interpolations of previously written songs”. And I’m pretty sure you’ll agree that they’re being pretty responsive to new trends in music by doing so. For the 2016 ceremony, they might even allow the use of harpsichords.
There’s also been a bit more restructuring of some of the awards categories, but looking at the list makes my head hurt, so I’m not going to tell you about them. There will be 83 categories at next year’s ceremony. 83. And the awards will all be handed out on 8 Feb 2015.
