Bulletin YOUR DAILY ENTERTAINMENT NEWS UPDATE JUNE 10, 2020 Page 1 of 27 INSIDE Recording Academy Announces • AEG Layoffs Hit 9 Rule Changes to Its Grammy as Company Looks to Reschedule Awards & Nominations Process Coachella, Global Tours to Next Year BY PAUL GREIN • iHeartMedia Extends Staff The Recording Academy announced nine key changes lar problem for rap and hip-hop artists, who tend to Furloughs Another to its awards and nominations process on Wednesday release more songs than artists in other genres. They 90 Days morning (June 10). These changes were ratified at the can hit the 30-song cap with just two mixtapes. “In • Latin American semiannual Trustees Meeting in May. They take effect [some] genres, specifically hip-hop and rap, their Delivery App Rappi immediately and will be in place for the upcoming mode of development is record and release. We felt it Launches Livestream 63nd annual Grammy Awards. Billboard discussed the was unfairly punishing artists who are prolifically re- Offer With Manuel changes with Harvey Mason, Jr., Chair & Interim leasing material early in their careers. We do not want Medrano President/CEO of the Recording Academy. to exclude any artist based on a rule that was specifi- • Virtual Concert 1. In best new artist, the Academy dropped the cally affecting one genre more than the other.” Startup Wave Raises rule that an artist may have released no more than Mason remembers times that artists were excluded $30M From Backers 30 tracks prior to the start of the current eligibil- because of this rule. “I know that there have been Including Scooter ity year: The Academy had sought to quantify its times we’ve had to go back and do the math and look Braun, Twitch’s Kevin Lin definition of best new artist, but found that it’s almost at the number of releases and you’re calculating ‘does impossible to come up with numbers that are fair in this count?’ and ‘does that count?’…[This change] • Gotye, INXS, Tina every situation. They will go back to looking at each takes away any penalty for an artist feeling they need Arena and More artist on a case-by-case basis. to create and release a lot of content in order to mar- Implore Australian Going forward, the screening committees will be ket themselves; in order to find themselves; in order to Government to ‘Come to Our Aid’ charged with determining whether the artist had build themselves as an artist.” attained a breakthrough or prominence prior to the 2. Changed best urban contemporary album to • BILLBOARD 200 eligibility year. Such a determination would result in best progressive R&B album: Some in the industry CLICK HERE disqualification. think the term “urban” is outdated and racially insen- Mason added that the 30-song cap posed a particu- (continued) ACCESS THE BEST IN MUSIC. A DIGITAL VERSION OF EVERY ISSUE, FEATURING: COVER STORIES . SPECIAL REPORTS . CHARTS . REVIEWS INTERVIEWS . EVENT COVERAGE & MORE AVAILABLE FREE TO CURRENT BILLBOARD SUBSCRIBERS billboard.com/iPad Page 3 of 27 IN BRIEF sitive. Just last week, Republic Records said Barias in a statement. “It shows that the of dialects, lyrics or performance elements banned the use of the term. Mason notes academy is listening to the music commu- from non-rap genres including R&B, rock, that the deadline for awards and nominations nity and self-correcting by removing a term country, electronic or more. The production proposals is March 1, so this move was well that’s been a contentious topic of discussion may include traditional elements of rap or underway before Republic’s announcement. over the years in the spirit of inclusion. I, elements characteristic of the aforemen- “There were some uncomfortable feelings along with the co-authors, felt it was time tioned non-rap genres.” around [the term urban],” Mason said. “I to find a new name that still reflects the Mason said this change “puts an emphasis think it’s been a gradual shift within in the original definition while making room for on the melodic nature of the performance. R&B community. It’s been discussed [within the more progressive styles emerging in the It opens the door to more forward-thinking the Academy]. It’s been a little contentious genre.” and more different genre blends. It makes at times.” McClenney added: “It feels good to move it a little bit more inclusive to have records The best urban contemporary album forward from the word ‘urban’ and embrace that have rap but also melody and lyrics.” category dates to 2002. The Weeknd and a more inclusive future.” 4. Moved Latin “urban” recordings Beyoncé are the only repeat winners in 3. Changed best rap/sung performance from one category to another: Latin the category (counting Beyoncé’s win as to best melodic rap performance: This is “urban” recordings are moving from best one-half of The Carters). The newly named the second major change in this category, Latin rock, urban or alternative album to best progressive R&B album will be handed which was introduced in 2001 as best rap/ join Latin pop albums in the newly renamed out alongside a returning award, best R&B sung collaboration. Five years ago, the Acad- best Latin pop or urban album. The former album. emy changed it from an award for a collabo- category will be renamed best Latin rock or Here’s the academy’s definition of best ration to an award to a recording whether it alternative album. progressive R&B album: “This category is was a collaboration or by one artist. Two of The winners this past year were Alejan- intended to highlight albums that include the last four winners have been by individu- dro Sanz’s #ELDISCO for best Latin pop the more progressive elements of R&B and als—Drake’s “Hotline Bling” and Childish album and Rosalía’s El Mal Querer for best may include samples and elements of hip- Gambino’s “This Is America.” Latin rock, urban or alternative album. hop, rap, dance, and electronic music. It may Best melodic rap performance will given Mason said this change “came directly also incorporate production elements found alongside an existing award, best rap perfor- from the community. The urban commu- in pop, euro-pop, country, rock, folk, and mance. nity, the reggaeton community tend to feel alternative.” Here’s the definition of the renamed they’re closer in sound to the pop music. The proposal for this change was co-au- category: “This category is intended to rec- This is coming from them. They asked for thored by Ivan Barias (Philadelphia chapter ognize solo and collaborative performances this change.” trustee), Kokayi Walker (Washington, D.C. containing elements of rap and melody over Mason agrees that there isn’t the sensi- chapter trustee) and Chris McClenney (Los modern production. This performance re- tivity about the word “urban” in the Latin Angeles chapter member). quires a strong and clear presence of melody music world that there is in the Black music “I’m truly excited for the name change…,” combined with rap cadence, and is inclusive world. DECISIVE INTELLIGENCE. DELIVERED DIGITALLY. CLICK HERE FOR FREE DELIVERY DIGITAL NEWSLETTERS PROMOTION UPCOMING SPECIAL FEATURES THE GAMING TOP MUSIC ISSUE LAWYERS This special Gaming issue will Behind every artist, songwriter and highlight how artists, labels and music producer is a trusted group of promoters are harnessing major advisers who provide guidance, advice gaming platforms to market their and negotiate deals. Billboard’s 6th music to a larger - and more engaged annual Top Music Lawyers list will - audience. The editorial package recognize the biggest names and most will also spotlight other pioneering prominent legal mindsin the world of companies,executives and innovation music and entertainment law. They at the intersection of music are the deal makers behind the major and gaming. contracts and lawsuits in the music industry. ISSUE DATE: 7/25 AD CLOSE: 7/15 MATERIALS DUE: 7/16 CONTACT: Joe Maimone Gene Smith 212.493.4427 | [email protected] 973.452.3528 | [email protected] Ryan O’Donnell Marcia Olival +447843437176 | [email protected] 786.586.4901 | [email protected] Lee Ann Photoglo Debra Fink 615.376.7931 | [email protected] 213.448.5157 | [email protected] Cynthia Mellow 615.352,0265 | [email protected] BBHA_UPCOMING_ISSUE_2020_GAME&LAWYERS.indd 1 5/27/20 2:38 PM Page 5 of 27 IN BRIEF 5. In response to allegations of conflicts a member or a chairperson). They now can relevant to what’s going on in music today. of interest in its nominations review serve a maximum combined five consecu- In order to do that, you have to be able to committees, the Academy has tightened tive years. look at things as many times as we need to its rules: Previously, the rule was that “com- “We want to make sure we have new and be as open as we need to.” mittee members must disclose conflicts and experts in the room. It keeps it fresh makes leave the room and not vote in respective sure the leadership is changing over more categories.” Now, they may not participate often,” Mason said. “That’s just good gover- AEG Layoffs Hit as on the committees. “The rule change makes nance; good practice, to make sure that new it even more clear who should and should people are in the room.” Company Looks not be in the room.,” Mason said. “We never 7. In a push for greater transparency, want a conflict [of interest]; we never want the official Grammy Awards Rulebook is to Reschedule people to perceive there’s a conflict.” available for the first time on Grammy.