Original: According to the category description guide for the 52nd Grammy Awards , the award is presented to '' vocal or instrumental alternative music albums containing at least 51 % playing time of newly recorded music '' , defining '' alternative '' as a '' non-traditional '' genre that exists '' outside of the mainstream music consciousness '' .
Simplified: According to the Academy , the award is presented to '' vocal or instrumental alternative music albums containing at least 51 % playing time of newly recorded music '' . The Academy defines '' alternative '' as a '' non-traditional '' genre that exists '' outside of the mainstream music consciousness '' .