Conjunto Officially Moved to Best Regional Roots Music Album Category at the GRAMMY Awards

The Recording Academy, the organization behind the GRAMMY Awards, today announced updates to categories and eligibility for its annual awards process for the 67th GRAMMY Awards. 

Among the updates is something huge and exciting for the Conjunto music community: Conjunto music has been officially moved to the Best Regional Roots Music Album to be considered alongside other roots genres like Zydeco, Cajun, Hawaiian, Polka, and more. Previously, Conjunto was in the Best Música Mexicana (Including Tejano) category, which includes Regional Mexican, Banda, Norteño, and Tejano genres.

Conjunto, as most fans, musicians, and scholars know, is the traditional root of modern Tejano music. Conjunto has changed very little since the innovations of pioneers like Valerio Longoria and Tony De La Rosa over 65 years ago. The proposal to move the genre contends that this, along with its Texas origin and humble presentation, makes Conjunto a much better fit with the other regional roots genres in the new category. 

“A small, independent release on a Conjunto label recorded by an artist who attracts 100 people on a good night didn’t have a prayer against the well-funded, arena-filling artists in the Regional Mexican/Tejano category. This will give the Conjunto genre more visibility and give its artists a fighting chance to have their music considered by voting members,” says Piper LeMoine, of Austin-based nonprofit organization Rancho Alegre and Recording Academy Texas Chapter member. Rancho Alegre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Conjunto music whose projects include the annual Rancho Alegre Conjunto Music Festival and its record label, Rancho Alegre Records.

LeMoine wrote the proposal with support from fellow Recording Academy members Rancho Alegre Executive Director Baldomero Cuellar, Conjunto musicians Rodney Rodriguez and Brenda Martinez, and Texas Chapter Governor and three-time GRAMMY winner Sunny Sauceda. 

According to the official press release from The Recording Academy, “The 2024 amendments were voted on and passed at the Recording Academy’s semiannual Board of Trustees meeting in May. All updates go into effect immediately for the 2025 GRAMMYs,” and “The Recording Academy accepts proposals for changes to the GRAMMY Awards process from members of the music community year-round. The Awards & Nominations Committee, composed of Academy Voting Members from diverse genres and backgrounds, meets annually to review proposals to update Awards categories, procedures, and eligibility guidelines.”

Also, according to the Recording Academy, key dates for the 2025 GRAMMY Awards season are as follows:

• Sept. 16, 2023 – Aug. 30, 2024 – Product Eligibility Period 

The period by which recordings are submitted for GRAMMY consideration. All releases must be available for sale, via general distribution, to the public by this date and through at least the date of the current year’s voting deadline (final ballot) to be eligible for the 2025 GRAMMY Awards.

• July 8, 2024 – Aug. 23, 2024 – Media Company Registration Period Media companies must apply for registration with the Recording Academy to submit recordings.
• July 17, 2024 – Aug. 30, 2024 – Online Entry Period

All eligible recordings must be entered prior to the close of the Online Entry Period, regardless of the public release date.

• Oct. 4, 2024 – Oct. 15, 2024 – First Round Voting First Round Voting determines all the GRAMMY nominees for each GRAMMY Awards year.
• Nov. 8, 2024 – Nominees Announced for the 2025 GRAMMY Awards Announcing the official nominees list for the 2025 GRAMMYs.
• Dec. 12, 2024 – Jan. 3, 2025 – Final Round Voting Determines the GRAMMY winners across all categories revealed on GRAMMY night.
• Feb. 2, 2025 – 2025 GRAMMY Awards Music’s Biggest Night, recognizing excellence in the recording arts and sciences.

For information on the types of membership and eligibility for becoming a member of The Recording Academy, visit their organization website. 
The Latin Recording Academy, the organization that presents the Latin GRAMMY Awards, is a separate entity, but dual membership for both organizations is available.

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