How Are the Grammy Awards Encouraging Social Change?

Every year, the Recording Academy hosts the Grammy Awards to recognize achievements in the music industry. They have long been considered among the most prestigious awards in the industry, and in 2023, a new category was introduced: Best Song For Social Change.

Iranian singer-songwriter Shervin Hajipour was named the winner for “Baraye." The song, whose title is a Farsi word meaning “for” or “because of," was inspired by the tragic passing of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman who died in police custody last September after being arrested for not wearing her hijab in accordance with government standards. The circumstances of Amini's arrest and death resulted in a series of protests across Iran and around the world, with Hajipour’s “Baraye” becoming known as "the anthem of the protests.”

A mere 48 hours after its release on social media, “Baraye” had received 40 million views. Hajipour was arrested shortly after the song went viral and forced to remove it from social media platforms by the Iranian authorities. By then, however, it had been heard all across the world, clearly resonating deeply with listeners. Hajipour was released on bail after a few days but is facing serious charges that could lead to years in prison.

Leading up to the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2023, the Recording Academy had asked for public submissions for the inaugural Best Song For Social Change. Of the 115,000 submissions received, more than 95,000 were for “Baraye.” First Lady Jill Biden presented the award to the absent Hajipour, referring to his song as “a powerful and poetic call for freedom and women’s rights.”

The anthem of the protests: