The Grammys are considering adding an Afrobeats category to their annual music poll (the Grammys have never been particularly well-organized but never entirely abandoned in the past: in 2004, they introduced a Best New genre category, they added a Best R&B category in 2006 and an African American category in 2008. They were also the first to include the category of Best R&B or Rap Song at the ceremony in 1987 and had the categories Best R&B Song, Best Rap Song, Best Urban Contemporary Song, Best Traditional R&B Single and Best Jazz or Gospel Song in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2002, respectively. However, it was not until 2004, when they introduced the Best New Artist category, that they started recognizing the new genres of Hip-Hop, R&B, Jazz and World/Tribal Music, as valid forms of music that deserve nominations, and as legitimate music genres to be included.
In their introduction, the new category will stand in for the Best R&B/Hip Hop Album category that they had previously not recognized as a legitimate category and to replace it with an Afrobeats category. The only argument that is offered by the new category is the argument that there may not be enough room in the Best R&BCategory to recognize all new forms of music that are only receiving their first big-budget attention thanks to social and technological innovation such as the Internet. The fact that it was only ever a discussion at a meeting, and not a decision until they realized that it was a large enough category for an Afrobeats category was irrelevant. The award of the Best R&B Song will fall into the category of Best New Artist. In other words, all the best songs from all the best artists of all the best genres will enter the category of Best Afrobeats Song.
The reasoning for making the change can be attributed to the fact that there are not too many categories (and categories aren’t there for a reason). They are there to show that the music industry has a variety of different categories. So if there is not room for a Best New Artist category, maybe they could move a Best R&B Song category to the top of the list? Maybe it was decided that they didn’t