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The 65th annual Grammy Awards, in the US, took place on Sunday the 5th of January. For the first time a new category was introduced as the Best Song for Social Change award was given out.

Further reading: Iranian Protest Song Gains Thousands Of Submissions For New Grammy Award

The first recipient of the new award is Iranian musician Shervin Hajipour who wrote a protest song in solidarity with protesters and activists in Iran who sought justice for all women after a young Iranian woman was killed in police detention. Mahsa Amini was only 22 years old when her life was cut short by the so called morality police after allegedly breaking hijab rules.

Further reading: Why Is Iran’s Regime So Afraid Of This Song

Hajipour’s song, Baraye, quickly became an anthem in the protests that followed and caused the artist to be arrested. Now the Grammy winning musician is awaiting trial.

In her article about the power this song has over the Iranian regime, an article which we republished recently here on Shouts, Iranian author Nahid Siamdoust writes:

“The state security system instantly understood the significance of “Baraye” as a protest song. Hajipour was forced to take it off his Instagram account; however, not only has his song already been shared widely by other accounts and on other platforms, but the sentiments behind the lyrics are within the millions of people who wrote them.

The chants of “Death to the Dictator” have reverberated from the streets to the universities, from oil refineries to urban rooftops, and from bazaars to school courtyards. And so have the haunting calls for freedom repeatedly intoned at the end of “Baraye,” pouring forth from every corner of the actual and virtual Iranian public sphere.

That song’s reality can no longer be repressed and hidden by force.”

As powerful and popular many protest songs have been throughout history they have not had their own category at one of the world’s largest music awards ceremony – until now.

The annual Grammy Awards, in the US, have now added a new category called “Best Song for Social Change”. With this The Recording Academy aims to recognise songs with profound social influence and impact.

Also read: Iran Arrests Singer Whose Song Became Anthem Of Ongoing Protests

One song in particular has by now received a vast amount of submissions for the new award. “Baraye” by 25-year-old Iranian musician, Shervin Hajipour, was written in response to the death of 22 year old Mahsa Amini.

The song went viral on social media, gaining over 40 million views, before Hajipour was arrested by Iranian authorities. The artist has since then been released on bail.

In a recent Instagram post, Hajipour denied any links to any “movement or organisation outside the country” and said clarified that his song was only meant to “express solidarity with the people”.

“Thousands turn out in Melbourne to stand in solidarity with protests that have broken out in Iran following the death of 22-year old Mahsa (also known as Jina or Zhina) Amini at the hands of the country’s brutal dictatorship and its ‘morality’ police.” Image licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0.

In a statement, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr said: “The Academy is deeply moved by the overwhelming volume of submissions for Shervin Hajipour’s ‘Baraye’ for our new Special Merit Award, Best Song for Social Change.

“While we cannot predict who might win the award, we are humbled by the knowledge that the Academy is a platform for people who want to show support for the idea that music is a powerful catalyst for change.

“The Academy steadfastly supports freedom of expression and art that’s created to empower communities in need. Because music serves the world, and the Recording Academy exists to serve music.”