As nominations for the 67th Annual Grammy Awards are set to be announced on Friday, November 8, discussions around the eligibility of various albums in their respective categories have intensified—particularly concerning South African sensation Tyla.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Recording Academy made a pivotal decision regarding Tyla’s self-titled debut album. Its R&B screening committee, which comprises artists, producers, songwriters, and other industry experts, opted to reclassify her album from R&B to pop.
This change allows it to compete for the Best Pop Vocal Album award, where it will face tough competition from Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department, Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine, Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft, Chappell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, and Sabrina Carpenter’s Short N’ Sweet.
While “Tyla” includes R&B elements, it is also infused with influences from Afrobeats and the South African genre Amapiano. Several tracks from the album, including “Water”—which previously won Best African Music Performance—have charted on Billboard’s Hot R&B Songs list.
