Nigeria’s Afrobeats is certainly one big beneficiary of past attempts by the Recording Academy to trigger an introspection, so what is it going to be this time? Up to three months remain before the 67th annual GRAMMY Awards takes stage, what new changes are to be expected ahead of tonight when nominations will be announced by the likes of Kylie Minogue, Victoria Monét, Brandy Clark, Kirk Franklin and others?

As the 67th annual GRAMMY Awards approach, the music industry buzzes with anticipation. The GRAMMYs has historically been a catalyst for reflection and change within the music world, and Afrobeats, Nigeria’s vibrant music genre, stands as a testament to this.

With the nominations announcement now very close, the question on everyone’s mind is: what new tweak will be unveiled?

The GRAMMYs have been known to introduce updates that reflect the evolving landscape of music. This year, it is opening up to several key changes, including adjustments to eligibility criteria and the renaming of categories, which aim to create a more inclusive and representative awards process.

Additionally, the introduction of the Harry Belafonte Best Song for Social Change plaque from the Special Merit Award marks a significant shift towards recognising music that impacts society at large.

For Nigerian artists, the GRAMMYs have been a platform of both triumph and heartache. The last victory was savoured in February 2021 when Burna Boy won the Best Global Music Album for Twice As Tall.

Since then, despite their global influence and success, Nigerian musicians have faced consecutive losses at the prestigious awards. This has left many wondering how long they must wait to reclaim their spot on the GRAMMY stage.

ALSO READ: Tyla’s light shines the brightest again at 2024 BET Awards – Looking at how Nigerian musicians featured

The anticipation heading into the evening of the Grammy 2024 Awards was that any of the four Nigerian Afrobeats musicians contesting for the relevant Grammys spot was going to come home with a win.

But it was the 22-year-old South African R&B singer, Tyla who clinched the Best African Music Performance award because of her song, Water at the Crypto.com Arena on Sunday 4 February of this year. She was the toast of girl power in the smashing hit that focused storytelling on a woman being in control of her desires.

That sort of attraction certainly got the jury giving Tyla a nod ahead of not just Burna Boy, but Ayra Starr, Davido and Asake also included.

Maybe tweaks in the Best Traditional R&B Performance Category will offer a chance to be in the mix, who knows? In updates announced by the Recording Academy in mid-June, the criteria was amended to more accurately represent recordings that embody the classic elements of R&B/soul music, distinguishing them from contemporary interpretations of the genre.

As for the viewers eager to catch the nomination ceremony ahead of next February, it will be accessible via live stream. The Recording Academy has made it possible for fans worldwide to tune in and witness the announcement of nominees, ensuring that no one misses out on this pivotal moment in music.

With the world watching, tonight’s ceremony is more than an announcement—it’s a harbinger of hope for a more inclusive and celebratory future in music ahead of the main event. That is, the 2025 GRAMMY Awards which will take place Sunday 2 February at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Meiza Nigeria