The Harry Belafonte Best Song for Social Change Award is a special honor presented by the Recording Academy (GRAMMYs) to recognize music that inspires positive social impact.

Yangaroo is honored to play a pivotal role in the submission and adjudication process for this award named after Harry Belafonte – the legendary singer, actor, and activist known for using his art to fight for civil rights and social justice, and celebrating songs that address important social issues and promote awareness, unity, and change through their lyrics and message.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• The Award recognizes a song or composition (single or multi-movement) containing lyrics that has had profound social influence and impact.
• Submissions should contain lyrical content that: a) addresses a timely social issue; b) explores a subject impacting a community of people in need; and c) promotes awareness, raises consciousness, and builds empathy.
• The Award is given to the songwriter(s) or composer(s) (including librettist(s) and/or lyricist(s), as applicable) of new songs or compositions. The Recording Academy defines a “new” song or composition as material that has been written within five (5) years of the release date and not previously released. The song or composition must have been commercially released within the Eligibility Period (defined above) and submitted for consideration during the Submission Period (defined above).
• The song or composition may reference previous work and may include previously recorded or published lyrical material; in addition, a significant degree of new creative and lyrical content is required. The songwriters or composers of the new material are eligible to receive the Award; determination of songwriter or composer eligibility for previously recorded or published lyrical work will be at the discretion of the Academy.
• Recordings featuring samples or interpolations are eligible; however, in alignment with GRAMMY Awards rules, songwriters or composers of sampled or interpolated material are not eligible to receive the Award. (A sample is defined as an element of a previously released recording incorporated into a new recording. Samples can be entire parts of earlier recordings or isolated sections of earlier recordings including, but not limited to, tracks with vocals removed, hooks, riffs, basslines, or background vocals).
• Previously GRAMMY-nominated and/or GRAMMY-winning songs or compositions are eligible for this honor as long as they meet the Eligibility Period for the Harry Belafonte Best Song For Social Change Award.

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Selection criteria include the lyrical content of the song or composition, the artistic quality of the song or composition, and the perceived impact of the song or composition in delivering an empowering message that brings awareness about social issues that affect the world.
• The criteria to select the song or composition will be guided by the principle that social good is “an action that will result in a benefit being available to the general public”, which may include songs or compositions that affirm the basic humanity of all people.
• In this context, the Award will recognize a song or composition that promotes:
  • Understanding – educates and /or raises awareness of other people’s experiences, advocacy, and tolerance.
  • Peacebuilding – measures intended to create or sustain peace or freedom from dissention.
  • Empathy – the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
  • Being Positive – a good, affirmative, or constructive quality or attribute. In contrast, songs or compositions containing hate speech or advocating violence or terrorism would be deemed ineligible.

The Harry Belafonte Best Song for Social Change Award 2026 winner will be announced as part of the 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards on Sunday, February 1, 2026