Number of award categories to be cut

     LOS ANGELES, April 6 (Xinhua) -- The number of award categories(种类) will be reduced from 109 to 78 for next year's Grammy Awards, a move intended to streamline¹ the ceremony, it was announced on Wednesday.

    The reduction will not affect top categories of record, album and song of the year and best new artist, according to The Recording² Academy, organizer of The Grammy Awards ceremony.

    Most other award fields, however, will be reduced. In the R&B field, for instance, the past categories of best male and female vocal³ performance were combined into a single "best R&B performance" category. In previous years, there were eight R&B categories, but now there will be only four --performance, traditional performance, song and album, the academy said.

    The country field, which had seven categories, will have four -- solo performance, duo/group performance, song and album.

    Specific categories for Hawaiian, Native American, zydeco and cajun albums will also be dropped.

    Despite the reduction, every submission⁴ would continue to have a home in other categories -- in this case possibly in categories such as best Americana, bluegrass, blues⁵, folk or regional-roots albums, academy officials said.

    "After careful and extensive review and analysis of all categories and fields, it was objectively determined⁶ that our Grammy categories be restructured to the continued competition and prestige of the highest and only peer-recognized award in music," said Neil Portnow, the academy's President/CEO.

    "Our Board of Trustees continues to demonstrate its dedication⁷ to keeping The Recording Academy a pertinent⁸ and responsive organization in our dynamic music community," he said.

    The academy also made changes in some of the ceremony's voting and submission requirements.

    Under one change, if there are between 25 and 39 entries in a category, there will only be three nominees⁹. If there are less than 25 entries, there will be no nominees, and if the lack of submissions¹⁰ continues for three years, the category will be permanent eliminated. The Grammy Awards are the only peer-presented award to honor artistic¹¹ achievement, technical proficiency¹² and overall excellence¹³ in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position. The annual awards ceremony features performances by prominent artists, and some of the awards of more popular interest are presented in a widely viewed televised ceremony. It is the music equivalent to the Emmy Awards for television, and the Academy Awards for film.（本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑）

1 streamline   

vt.使成流线型；使简化；使现代化

参考例句：

• We must streamline our methods.我们必须简化方法。
• Any liquid or gas passing it will have streamline flow.任何通过它的液体或气体将呈流线型的流动。

2 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

3 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。

4 submission   

n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出

参考例句：

• The defeated general showed his submission by giving up his sword.战败将军缴剑表示投降。
• No enemy can frighten us into submission.任何敌人的恐吓都不能使我们屈服。

5 blues   

n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐

参考例句：

• She was in the back of a smoky bar singing the blues.她在烟雾弥漫的酒吧深处唱着布鲁斯歌曲。
• He was in the blues on account of his failure in business.他因事业失败而意志消沉。

6 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

7 dedication   

n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞

参考例句：

• We admire her courage,compassion and dedication.我们钦佩她的勇气、爱心和奉献精神。
• Her dedication to her work was admirable.她对工作的奉献精神可钦可佩。

8 pertinent   

adj.恰当的；贴切的；中肯的；有关的；相干的

参考例句：

• The expert made some pertinent comments on the scheme.那专家对规划提出了一些中肯的意见。
• These should guide him to pertinent questions for further study.这些将有助于他进一步研究有关问题。

9 nominees   

n.被提名者，被任命者( nominee的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• She's one of the nominees. 她是被提名者之一。 来自超越目标英语 第2册
• A startling number of his nominees for senior positions have imploded. 他所提名的高级官员被否决的数目令人震惊。 来自互联网

10 submissions   

n.提交( submission的名词复数 )；屈从；归顺；向法官或陪审团提出的意见或论据

参考例句：

• The deadline for submissions to the competition will be Easter 1994. 递交参赛申请的截止时间为1994年的复活节。 来自辞典例句
• Section 556(d) allows the agency to substitute written submissions for oral direct testimony in rulemaking. 第五百五十六条第（四）款准允行政机关在规则制定中用书面提交材料替代口头的直接证言。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法

11 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

12 proficiency   

n.精通，熟练，精练

参考例句：

• He plied his trade and gained proficiency in it.他勤习手艺，技术渐渐达到了十分娴熟的地步。
• How do you think of your proficiency in written and spoken English?你认为你的书面英语和口语熟练程度如何？

13 excellence   

n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德

参考例句：

• His art has reached a high degree of excellence.他的艺术已达到炉火纯青的地步。
• My performance is far below excellence.我的表演离优秀还差得远呢。