Tyla’s album moved to pop category for Grammys, sparking debate
Tyla’s debut album, originally submitted in the R&B category, has been moved to the pop category by the Recording Academy.
Tyla’s rise to fame has been nothing short of meteoric, and her musical journey has captured the hearts of fans across the globe.
However, her path to Grammy glory just hit an unexpected bump.
TYLA’S ALBUM GETS MOVED TO A NEW CATEGORY
Tyla’s debut album, originally submitted in the R&B category, has been kicked out and will now compete in the pop category. It will compete for the 2025 Grammy Awards.
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The decision has left fans and music experts alike puzzled, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
This is especially so given her strong roots in Afrobeats, Amapiano, and R&B.
GRAMMY’S CONFUSING DECISION REGARDING TYLA’S ALBUM
The South African star, known for her viral hit Water, had hoped her self-titled debut would shine in the R&B category.
Instead, the Recording Academy’s R&B screening committee, composed of industry experts, moved it to the highly competitive pop category.
TYLA’S FANS REACT TO THE NEWS
This move feels surprising considering her 14-track album’s clear connection to R&B and African genres.
“It’s a strange choice,” said one music critic.
“Her album could have competed in progressive R&B, especially with its blend of different sounds.” Tyla’s fans feel particularly frustrated.
‘WATER’ THE HIT SONG
Her track Water dominated charts worldwide. It spent an incredible 51 weeks at the top of the U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart.
The song also peaked at No. 7 on the all-genre Hot 100 and hit No. 1 on the Hot R&B Songs chart, according to Rolling Out.
These achievements make it seem odd for her album to be competing in the pop category. In the pop category she’ll face heavyweights like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, and Ariana Grande.
TYLA’S FIRST GRAMMY WIN
In 2024, Tyla made history by winning the first-ever Grammy for Best African Music Performance with Water.
It was a groundbreaking moment for African music and set the stage for her to possibly add more Grammy gold to her collection, according to Vibe.
THE POP CATEGORY
However, the move to pop could make that journey harder.
“The pop category is one of the toughest to win,” said another industry insider.
“Tyla has done incredibly well, but now she’ll have to go up against some of the biggest names in the business.”
FANS SPECULATE ABOUT THE MOVE
Speculation is growing about why her album was pushed into the pop category.
Many fans think it’s a way of preventing her from winning another Grammy.
“Taylor Swift almost always wins the pop categories,” said a fan on X (formerly Twitter). “Maybe they’re trying to make it harder for Tyla to win again.”
TYLA’S ALBUM
Tyla’s album, with collaborations from stars like Tems, Travis Scott, and Becky G, also raises the question of whether the Grammys are struggling to understand genre-blending albums.
Lizzo’s Cuz I Love You won Best Progressive R&B Album in 2020, despite its pop sound.
So why didn’t the Grammys consider Tyla’s album in the same light?
GRAMMY NOMINATIONS
Grammy nominations will be announced on 8 November. The ceremony will take place on 2 February at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
With first-round voting now closed, all eyes are on Tyla’s next move.
“I’m just excited to see what happens,” Tyla said. “I’ve always made music that crosses boundaries, and I’ll keep doing that no matter what.”
STILL HOPEFUL
Tyla’s fans remain hopeful, but it’s clear this Grammy season is going to be a tough one for the South African star.
Will she walk away with a Grammy in the pop category, or is this change a sign of a more strategic move behind the scenes? Only time will tell.