A year after the Grammy Awards cut 31 categories, sparking protests
and a lawsuit by Latin jazz musicians, the music organization has made
more changes by adding three awards, including the reinstatement of best
Latin jazz album.
The Recording Academy announced Friday in a statement to The
Associated Press that the upcoming Grammys will feature 81 categories.
It reduced the number from 109 to 78 last year.
New entries include awards for best urban contemporary album — to
honor R&B albums that may include elements of pop and rock — and
best classical compendium to highlight albums “involving a mixture of
classical subgenres.”
The Academy shook up the music industry when it announced in April
2011 that it would downsize its categories to make the awards more
competitive. That meant eliminating categories by sex, so men and women
compete in the same vocal categories.
