Celebrating New Grammy Categories

(Shervin Hajipour Best Song for Social Change "Baraye")

Last night was the Grammys but most of the awards were given before primetime. This morning I happeed to see J. Ivy from Chicago won one of the 5 new categories this year so I wanted to hold up those categories and share what each one is celebrating.

Best Song for Social Change

Before we get to the 5 newly created categories, I need to mention the anthem of Iran's protests won Best Song for Social Change. As others have stated Social justice and the power of music were put center stage when Iranian singer Shervin Hajipour was awarded the new Best Song for Social Change for his powerful song "Baraye", which became the anthem of the Mahsa Jina Amini protests in Iran. 

Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical

Added after the Recording Academy initiated a Songwriters & Composers Wing, the Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical award is intended to honor a songwriter for the entirety of their writing credits, across any genres, over the given year.

Nominees included:

Amy Allen (who wrote or co-wrote songs for Lizzo and Harry Styles, among others)
Nija Charles (writing credits include Beyonce, City Girls, Megan Thee Stallion)
Tobias Jesso Jr. (Harry Styles, Adele, FKA Twigs, Orville Peck)
The-Dream (co-writer of more than half the songs on Beyoncé’s “Renaissance”)
Laura Veltz (Maren Morris, Demi Lovato, Ingrid Andress)

The Winner Was: Tobias Jesso Jr.

Best Alternative Music Performance

The Grammys have long recognized a Best Alternative Music Album (sometimes even calling the category “Best Alternative Music Performance”), though there will be two separate categories at the 2023 ceremony. The latest iteration honors a song in the Alternative genre, rather than a whole album.

Nominees include:

Arctic Monkeys – “There’d Better Be a Mirrorball”
Big Thief – “Certainty”
Florence and the Machine – “King”
Wet Leg – “Chaise Longue”
Yeah Yeah Yeahs featuring Perfume Genius – “Spitting Off the Edge of the World”

The Winner Was: Wet Leg – “Chaise Longue”

Best Americana Performance

Part of the American Roots Music slate of categories, Best Americana Performance is intended to celebrate the personnel and performers behind a single song in the Americana-genre — which itself includes American Roots, Bluegrass, Blues and Folk music.

Nominees include:

Eric Alexandrakis – “Silver Moon (A Tribute To Michael Nesmith)”
Asleep At The Wheel featuring Lyle Lovett – “There You Go Again”
Blind Boys of Alabama featuring Black Violin – “The Message”
Brandi Carlile featuring Lucius – “You and Me on the Rock”
Bonnie Raitt – “Made Up Mind”

The Winner Was: Bonnie Raitt – “Made Up Mind”

Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media

A self-explanatory category, the Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games of Other Interactive Media was created to honor music composed specifically for such games or media.

Nominees include:

Austin Wintory – “Aliens: Fireteam Elite”
Stephanie Economou – “Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok”
Bear McCreary – “Call of Duty Vanguard”
Richard Jacques – “Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy”
Christopher Tin – “Old World”

The Winner Was: Stephanie Economou – “Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok”

Best Spoken Word Poetry Album

The Spoken Word field previously consisted of only an award for Best Spoken Word Album (now known as Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording). The new poetry category was reportedly added in response to requests from the “spoken word and poetry communities,” according to the Recording Academy.

Nominees include:

Ethelbert Miller – “Black Men Are Precious
Amanda Gorman – “Call Us What We Carry: Poems”
Malcolm-Jamal Warner – “Hiding in Plain View”
J. Ivy – “The Poet Who Sat By The Door”
Amir Sulaiman – “You Will Be Someone’s Ancestor. Act Accordingly.”

The Winner Was J. Ivy – “The Poet Who Sat By The Door”