The Latin Grammy 2023 will take place in Seville. For the first time in more than twenty years that these prizes have been awarded, the ceremony will take place in Spain. Used to seeing awards across the pond, specifically in the United States, for the first time they travel to Europe and will take place at our borders.
It was Juan Manuel Moreno, president of the Junta de Andalucía, who announced it: “The most important stars of Latin music will shine precisely in Andalusia and will participate in a program of complementary activities that remains to be developed”.
But this is not the only novelty brought by this edition. And it is that the most important Latin music awards have introduced some changes for this edition: from new categories to small nuances when voting. All with the aim of representing all possible aspects of Latin music.
New categories
This 2023 new categories are coming to the Awards. One of them very prominent: Best Composer of the Year. As part of the newly created Songwriting Zone, this new category recognizes excellence in songwriting, the profession and the art of songwriting. Songwriters must have a minimum of six newly written songs on which they receive credit as a songwriter or co-songwriter and on which they are not a performer, producer or engineer.
Also the best song by the singer-songwriter. To be eligible for this new category in the Singer-Songwriter Area, at least 51% of the lyrics of the single or track must be in Spanish, Portuguese or any other regional indigenous dialect, and they must be from an album current from a competitor. singer-songwriter in the Album Singer-Songwriter category that year.
Another category that falls in is that of Best Urban Interpretation in Portuguese Language. This new category within the Portuguese-speaking area recognizes the enormous amount of urban music created in Brazil and Portugal. Singles or cuts may include a fusion of urban styles with other genres as long as the urban character predominates.
Changes in categories
But these are not the only novelties. We find new nuances during the recording of the albums of the year. At least 51% of the total length of the albums in the general area must be newly recorded material. Awarded to artist or producer(s), engineer(s), mixer(s), mastering(s), and songwriter(s) of 33% of total time on album s ‘it is not granted by the artist himself receives.
Also, in all song categories, the date of composition must be included. In the criteria of the best recording engineering for an album, we also find nuances. Awarded to Accredited Sound Engineer(s) and Accredited Mixing Engineer(s) with at least 33% of the album and Accredited Master(s)( s) with at least 51% of the album in the production area.
All these novelties will come into effect during the 24th edition of the Latin Grammy Awards which will take place in November. Remember, this year’s Latin GRAMMY online entry process begins Thursday, March 23, 2023.