The Grammys Announce Change in Award Title After Realizing Colonialism Connotation
The Grammys change the name of the world music category in order to avoid any colonial connotation.
The Grammys are changing their category of world music album to the best global music album. The association is following the Oscars to form a path to stronger cultural sensitivity.
Grammys change Best World Music Album category name over “connotations of colonialism.” https://t.co/PrGrlJDGCu pic.twitter.com/x7paIjG1mV
— Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) November 3, 2020
The category name was solidified this past Monday by the academy. According to Billboard, they believed the previous award title to have a colonial connotation. This is an abrupt change with the award nominees releasing in 22 days.
The Recording Academy said in a statement, “As we continue to embrace a truly global mindset, we update our language to reflect a more appropriate categorization that seeks to engage and celebrate the current scope of music from around the world.”
💦 Grammys rename awards category after citing colonialism connotation: The category’s new name, best global music album, comes after a series of discussions with performers and others in the music industry. https://t.co/pAwC8R2oZx pic.twitter.com/6wQr6VQdAe
— Leak Freek (@leakfreek) November 3, 2020
The academy also mentioned how they have been working on this change since this past summer.
“Over the summer we held discussions with artists, ethnomusicologists, and linguists from around the world who determined that there was an opportunity to update the best world music album category toward a more relevant, modern, and inclusive term…The change symbolizes a departure from the connotations of colonialism, folk, and ‘non-American’ that the former term embodied while adapting to current listening trends and cultural evolution among the diverse communities it may represent.”
Additionally, the Grammys also renamed the category for the best urban contemporary album to the best progressive R&B album.
The Grammys are pathing their way to a more culturally sensitive awards show. We hope that artists may feel more appreciated and respected for these changes in titles. Make sure to watch the Grammys on January 26, 2021, on CBS.
