Best Reggae Album winner at the 66th Annual Awards, Alexx Antaeus stated that he already knew who would win the award at the 67th annual, owing to the fact he predicted his own win. He posted on social media: “In 2023 I predicted that @kabakapyramid will win the REGGAE GRAMMY! In January 2024, when asked by @jrwatkis from @worldmusicviews who will win the REGGAE GRAMMY, I replied, “JULIAN MARLEY’S ‘COLORS OF ROYAL’ WILL WIN BEST REGGAE ALBUM.” JR then said, “Sure you want me to print that?” I said YES. I was right, again. I already know who’s gonna win the 2025 REGGAE GRAMMY. Will make the announcement in due time.”
No charges have been made to the Reggae category this year, but a dancehall category is expected for next year.
However, The Recording Academy has announced several significant updates for the 67th GRAMMY Awards, aimed at enhancing inclusivity and representation across various categories. These changes reflect the evolving music industry and ensure the awards continue to honor artistic excellence accurately.
One of the most notable changes is in the Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical category. The submission guidelines have been expanded to better represent the songwriting community. Songwriters must have written a minimum of four songs credited as a songwriter or co-writer, excluding those where they are also a Primary or Featured Artist or Producer. Additionally, songwriters can submit up to five more songs where they hold additional credits, with a total submission cap of nine songs. This category recognizes the written excellence, profession, and art of songwriting, with strict criteria to ensure that only new, original works are considered.
The Best Remixed Recording category has been moved from the Production, Engineering, Composition & Arrangement Field to the Pop & Dance/Electronic Field. This adjustment is designed to make the category more accessible to Dance/Electronic voting members, reflecting the genre’s growing influence and importance.
In a move to properly recognize Conjunto music, it has been relocated from the Best Música Mexicana Album (Including Tejano) category to the Best Regional Roots Music Album category. This change acknowledges Conjunto as a distinct roots music genre separate from its descendant, Tejano music.
The category formerly known as Best Pop Dance Recording has been renamed to Best Dance Pop Recording. This change aligns the category with the recognized sub-genre of Dance, ensuring clarity and consistency. Similarly, the Best Dance/Electronic Music Album category has been renamed to Best Dance/Electronic Album, with revised criteria requiring albums to be comprised of at least 50% Dance/Electronic recordings to qualify.
The Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media category now includes qualifications for new downloadable content (DLC) and seasonal expansions. To be eligible, more than 50% of the music on a qualifying soundtrack must come from new episodes or programming released during the eligibility year, including new DLC and seasonal expansions.
The Best Traditional R&B Performance category criteria have been amended to distinguish recordings that embody classic R&B/Soul elements from contemporary interpretations. This category is intended for recordings with classic R&B/Soul vocal, instrumental, and compositional elements that set them apart from modern approaches to the genre.
The Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album category has been broadened to include more entries from the Musical Theater community. This category now recognizes albums consisting of songs and performances that cannot be intermingled with contemporary pop music forms. It includes new performances of songs from the Great American Songbook and classic popular music from any era, as well as albums of musical theater songs independent of a unifying narrative.
The criteria for the Best Children’s Music Album category now require that lyrics and English language translations be included with entry submissions. The intended audience age range has been defined as infant to twelve years old. This category recognizes excellence in children’s music recordings, created and intended specifically for children, and includes all musical styles.
Additionally, all eligibly-credited Featured Artists with under 50% playtime will now be awarded a Winners’ Certificate for all genre album categories, except for Musical Theater Album, General Field categories, and Craft categories.
