Record executive, and the man many say is responsible for Jay-Z’s business success, Steve Stoute took out a full page ad in Sunday’s New York Times to lash out at the GRAMMYs and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences because they “have clearly lost touch with contemporary popular culture”.
Stoute cites the recent snub of Justin Bieber for Best New Artist and Eminem and Kanye West being overlooked for Albums of the Year, 2001 and 2008, respectively, as examples.
Read Stoute’s letter in its entirety below, and share your thoughts in the comments section.
Over the course of my 20-year history as an executive in the music business and as the owner of a firm that specializes in in-culture advertising, I have come to the conclusion that the Grammy Awards have clearly lost touch with contemporary popular culture. My being a music fan has left me with an even greater and deeper sense of dismay — so much so that I feel compelled to write this letter. Where I think that the Grammys fail stems from two key sources: (1) over-zealousness to produce a popular show that is at odds with its own system of voting and (2) fundamental disrespect of cultural shifts as being viable and artistic.
As an institution that celebrates artistic works of musicians, singers, songwriters, producers and technical specialists, we have come to expect that the Grammys upholds all of the values that reflect the very best in music that is born from our culture. Unfortunately, the awards show has become a series of hypocrisies and contradictions, leaving me to question why any contemporary popular artist would even participate. How is it possible that in 2001 The Marshall Mathers LP — an album by Eminem that ushered in the Bob Dylan of our time — was beaten out by Steely Dan (no disrespect) for Album Of The Year? While we cannot solely utilize album sales as the barometer, this was certainly not the case.
Not only is Eminem the best-selling artist of the last decade, but The Marshall Mathers LP was a critical and commercial success that sold over 10 million albums in the United States (19 million worldwide), while Steely Dan sold less than 10% of that amount and came and went as quietly as a church mouse. Or consider even that in 2008 at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, after going into the night as the most-nominated artist, Kanye West’s Graduation was beaten out for Album Of The Year by Herbie Hancock’s River: The Joni Letters. (This was the first time in 43 years that a jazz album won this category.) While there is no doubt in my mind of the artistic talents of Steely Dan or Herbie Hancock, we must acknowledge the massive cultural impact of Eminem and Kanye West and how their music is shaping, influencing and defining the voice of a generation. It is this same cultural impact that acknowledged the commercial and critical success of Michael Jackson’s Thriller in 1984.
Just so that I’m not showing partiality to hip-hop artists (although it would be an entirely different letter as to how hip-hop music has been totally diminished as an art form by this organization), how is it that Justin Bieber, an artist that defines what it means to be a modern artist, did not win Best New Artist? Again, his cultural impact and success are even more quantifiable if you factor in his YouTube and Vevo viewership — the fact that he was a talent born entirely of the digital age whose story was crafted in the most humble method of being “discovered” purely for his singing ability (and it should be noted that Justin Bieber plays piano and guitar, as evidenced on his early viral videos).
So while these very artists that the public acknowledges as being worthy of their money and fandom are snubbed year after year at the Grammys, the awards show has absolutely no qualms in inviting these same artists to perform. At first I thought that you were not paying attention to the fact that the mental complexion of the world is becoming tanned, that multiculturalism and poly-ethnicity are driving new meaning as to what is culturally relevant. Interesting that the Grammys understands cultural relevance when it comes to using Eminem’s, Kanye West’s or Justin Bieber’s name in the billing to ensure viewership and to deliver the all-too-important ratings for its advertisers.
What truly inspired the writing of this letter was that this most recent show fed my suspicions. As the show was coming to a close and just prior to presenting the award for Album Of The Year, the band Arcade Fire performed “Month of May” — only to… surprise… win the category and, in a moment of sheer coincidence, happened to be prepared to perform “Ready to Start.”
Does the Grammys intentionally use artists for their celebrity, popularity and cultural appeal when they already know the winners and then program a show against this expectation? Meanwhile the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences hides behind the “peer” voting system to escape culpability for not even rethinking its approach.
And I imagine that next year there will be another televised super-close-up of an astonished front-runner as they come to the realization before a national audience… that he or she was used.
You are being called to task at this very moment, NARAS.
And to all of the artists that attend the Grammys: Stop accepting the invitation to be the upset of the year and demand that this body upholds its mission for advocacy and support of artistry as culture evolves.
Demand that they change this system and truly reflect and truly acknowledge your art.
Steve Stoute
He is BANG on.
Finally!!! Thank Mr. Stoute it’s about time that we have someone of statue stand up against the foolishness.
Cosign all the way.
i have thought this soooo many times and im proud that he is finally taking a stand against the bullshyt…go steve
This one woman wins a Grammy and people come out of the woodwork to say how this is so unfair. I didn’t see this when a few years back Noarh Jones won like 5 Grammys and most people had no idea who she was! I am suppose to pump my fist at Stoutes foolishness. I guess I am suppose to ignore the fact the Kayne has like 12 Grammy, right? I am suppose to ignore the fact Em has something like 11 Grammys. SMH So Esperanza Spalding gets one Grammy now the whole thing is janky? No Steve this is what’s wrong with music. You have a sense of entitlement. You think people are owed a Grammy. In a time when this young woman is suppose to be happy for her win people are hacking her Wikipedia page calling her a hoe. Now this dimwitted music executive is actually saying never mind they have won numerous times, they deserve to win every time. The Grammy is the only peer- presented award that honors artistic achievement without regard to album sales or chart position. Which is a GOOD thing. Steve knows the American Music Awards, MTV Awards are based on music buyers. He doesn’t have a problem that people like Spalding, Chrisette Michele don’t have a chance in hell of winning. BTW Beiber won 4 AMAs last year.
Artists perform because their are millions of people watching! Save the boycott talk.
So while I knew who Spalding was, but don’t listen to her music she deserved to win because her peers said so, not because some people are ignorant of her music. I find it tasteless and crass to rain on someone else parade.
Congrats
Esperanza Spalding
Oh yeah Esperanza Spalding Got Death Threats and called racist names. Thanks Steve for adding to these misguided pimple faced girls hate.
Wow!!! I love you now, B!. That was exactly what I was thinking. I mean, are we going off of sales or creativity? Make up your mind. People are always saying that radio music is all of the same stuff and when something different comes along, they reject it. People have no idea what they want. I’m done.
I wholeheartedly agree with B. To add to the artists who weren’t acknowledge for their achievements: India Arie!! Grammy’s f**king suck because of what they had done, they did not give her a damn award when she had wonderful and inspiring songs from her debut album Acoustic Soul. Than the awards show gave her a pity award the next time; The Grammy’s tried to play India Arie and the viewers stupid. I have boycotted The Grammy’s since that year. Plus majority of the artists nominated on the Grammy’s since then are not individuals I listen to. I very much disagree with Steve Coute; I am very proud the Grammy’s acknowledged Esperanza Spalding. Oh I have learned Chrisette Michele did win a Grammy Award for the song Be Ok however she probably was not asked on stage to accept it so the viewers could see her. Once again, I despise the Grammy Awards because it is only a popularity voting system instead of including true talent as well.
co-sign 1000%.
yall completely missed the point.
all that this guy was saying is that if youre going to give the award to herbie handcock and esperanza spalding, then have them perform. dont call up eminem and lady gaga to perform then have them lose to people who havent accomplished what they have. the grammys used these artists. if they arent using them then why nominate drake and justin beiber? seriously! there can only be 5 nominees in that category, so youre telling me drake and justin beiber are both in the top 5 for new artist but neither is number 1??? beiber blew up on youtube by singing, playing the piano and the guitar and putting it out there for the world to see, as a result he has a movie that did better than most movies are doing these days. over a billion youtube views and 300,000,000 views on 1 video. the grammys (all of a sudden) decide to stream the grammys on youtube and nominate an artist who(based on his album) has no chance of winning but guarantees online attention. then you have drake who had like 2 dozens hit records last year but an average album. theres no way they nominated him for that overhyped ass attepmt to make a classic record, so it must have been for his hits. just to have him lose as if what he did was easy to do.
back in the days of motown and chess, people appreciated a hit record. they lost their minds trying to create one and its only gotten harder to make a hit but these days it means nothing.
and yes the grammys are full of shit because there is no way in hell that beiber and drakes music puts them in the top 5 for new artist if unknown(only in comparison) musicians like spalding are being considered. if they were basing this on the quality of music, 95 percent of the nominees should be artist we’ve never heard of.
so im not sayin she should have lost but if she was going to win then theres no way in hell drake and beiber shouldve been nominated. if we’re considering artist that are pretty much underground then theres no way jay z, beyonce, kanye, eminem should have a dozen grammys.
Yes congrats, but Spalding is not a new artist, this was like her third album.
Preach! Couldn’t have said it better.
Also (to Steph). “Best New Artist” does not literally mean that the person just came out. Ex: Amy Winehouse, Ledisi, etc.
THANK YOU B!!! i agree 100%. this is ridiculous. the people who won deserved their awards. maybe the grammys has finally realized that some of the best music isn’t on mtv all the time and in the top 10 on itune ringtones.
this dude needs to realize what he’s saying.
I completely co-sign with you B. People don’t get that the Grammys aren’t a popularity contest. Its about who has the best MUSIC not record sales.
I Agree….this is well said B! AND its the truth!!! Justin Beiber is a teen sensation, and no one is taking that from him…but is his music Grammy worthy??? its the same old bubble gum pop…that we’ve been hearing…nothing unique…sorry
Well, she’s talented and fresh and make personal stuff. She deserves that recognition a lot. We don’t give a fuck about the most sold album… Por Dios!!! Let the art shine a little bit.
I agree 100000000%. The Grammys are NOT a high school popularity contest and I am sooooo glad Bieber was shown this is a LIFE. Esparanza HAS performed, she was in a tribute to Prince and has 3 GREAT CDs out. I was surprised she was nominated yet elated she won! She’s also an instructor-she TEACHES ya’ll lol. The instruments she plays and the ranges her voice reaches-wow! NO comparison so a young man singing about “a baby”?? Come on now, she writes her own music too! Yipppeeeee Grammy committee, now keep up the good work, give to those who are derserving, not the popular kid on the block.
I would say that I agree witth some but no all things Steve said…..
Mr. Stoute…..Let us not forget the Debacle of Milli Villi. Granted Kanye and Marshall Mathers probably did deserve more accolades but Justin Bieber needs more seasoning. Being popular and selling the most records does not make you Grammy worthy it only gets you noticed. I wonder how you would feel if your artists didn’t get nominated AT ALL? You have been in the business for over 20yrs and now you want to complain…..Oh the politics of it all. MOVE ON!!!!
PREACH!!!! I agree popular does not equal best…My motto for 2011..
Thank you, Dino for your comment as well.
Espaeranza Spalding deserves her grammy with a few more who got theirs. The grammy is not no popular contest, What the grammy should have done let the true winner perform on stage.
Instead shaking your butt contest.
you think ppl would waste their time watching boring ass Jazz for couple hrs.. No tv station would broadcast it live. the tv stations could not sell that shit to advertisers. this is why they have to use pop music to promote the Grammy’s but diss them with the awards
Everyone who was nominated in that category deserves a grammy, they all did extremely well which is why they were placed in the category to begin with… that is not the issue. Point blank, the level of success that Justin Bieber gained within a years span of time was record breaking. Everyone knows he should have won “Best New Artist”. Im not a fan of Justin, but Im also not blind to the fact of his achievement.
so steve,
should the grammy’s be a popularity contest or a reward ceremony for the musically inclined? pop culture and art are two different things, often clashing due to the pull of a dollar. kanye destroyed someone’s at an award show, so music or not, don’t EVER exalt his musicality. eminem did win. so, what are you crying for?
why you thing pop music are less of a music than Jazz? just remember Jazz was thought of as ghetto music because it was black music when it started. Jazz is now an elitist music that’s why herbi Hancock got album of the year over kanye and Esperanza over JB. Justine plays over 4 Instruments so he’s just as talented as Esperanza. had he been playing Jazz he would have won. the Grammy use pop artist to promote the show ,but does not give them the awards. M&M, gaga & JB with lots of nominations is a better sell to advertisers than Esperanza or arcade on fire.Basically, the Grammy is pimping pop music. If pop music are not good enough to get the big awards then they should not be good enough to promote the Grammys
So this is WHY Jay-Z didn’t attend…#JustSaying
He should have won Album of the Year Blueprint III was #classic
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below by Outcast won Grammy for Album of the Year in 2004. I didn’t see stubby complaining then. Taylor Swift won in 2010,. She old sold everybody which disproves his point. Just because the people he wanted to win didn’t he threw a hissy fit. SMH. He can pull that ish on people who don’t know any better.
I tend to agree with your sentiments.
If I’m looking for sincere acknowledgment of the artistry, I’ll watch the Grammys.
If I’m looking for champions of the popularity contests – I have the rest of the award shows to watch.
And it is comical that with the exception of one, Stoute cited examples of multiple grammy award recipients as artists who’ve somehow been robbed of just appreciation.
And I have to thank the Grammy’s for introducing me to Norah Jones. She wasn’t on my radar prior to their acknowledgment.
Justin Bieber sucks so sit down.
This guy is a LOSER!!! Like how can u say oh Eminem, Bieber and what not deserve the award because they are popular and have a lot of sale. Ummm…popularity doesn’t equal QUALITY MUSIC!!! smh.
Esperanza Spalding is an accomplished bassist, jazz vocalist who attended college @ the age of 16 and she is a professor @ Berklee School of Music she has been an artist since 06!!!…I think she deserves a GRAMMY!
I am so glad the Grammy’s woke up and gave it to someone w/ such enormous talent i am so tired of people recognizing “mainstream” there is a HUGE world of music and people need to discover it.
Um, who the hell is this idiot?! It’s an award show, since when the winners are defined by popularity and cultural impact?!
Also, we all know this is how the Grammies work; the biggest awards go to not well known artists so they may have a chance at success…
Did you even take the time to listen to Esparanza’s music? Even if Jazz is not your thing, no denying her talent. Everyone says that real music has been lost, well here it is without any gimmicks. I’m a grown woman, and I like grown woman music. Give credit where credit is due.
He’s a coon, where was the outrage when Jazmine Sullivan went 0-5 last year, or when Jill Scott lost “Best New Artist” to some white chick no one ever heard of? As soon as a black woman wins–based strictly on her musical ability–you have these self-hating down-low negro’s racing to the white man’s side. Boo-friggin-hoo, I’m glad Esperanza won.
Let the church say…AMEN.
Oh sh*t, I am more pissed now since you just mentioned of Jill Scott. I have forgetten that she did not win. I will continue to boycott the Grammy’s.
Amen!!!
HELLO!!!
Downlow? B!TCH PLEASE!!! I’m tired of you homophobic black people coming in here trying to come for someone’s sexuality because they said something you don’t agree with.
Lauryn Hill won in 2000 for album of the year… That was popular and hip-hop so, I can’t really agree with his argument. I think it’s a little tacky to write a long ass letter opposing an organization that pays your mortgage. This is like the human resources of your job.. Wtf is he smoking… I just think ppl need to move on and realize it’s just an award. Stop putting all this meaning behind decisions… It’s not like it’s the first time this has happened.. Esperanza might wither away and we never hear from her again.. Justin might be the next Mike J. Who knows but to get so deep into something that is voted on by peers in the industry.. Justin is 16 he has plenty of time to grow and make a dinstinct creative album. I kind of understand where the academy is coming from.. Baby, baby, baby oh is not a creative masterpiece it is bubblegum pop.. He needs to come with more substance. JMHO.
I agree with everything you said except JB might be the next Mike J. By the time MJ was 12 he and his brothers sold over 100 million albums. MJ had two careers J5 & Off the wall on…competitively JB would be a underachiever at age 16 when it comes to MJ. MJ is the only star that had generational appeal..from 8 to 80.
I agree with you B, like thats a no brainer. There aint no comparison & there never will be.
Honey, you lost me at Justin Bieber, just because he is popular does not mean he should win. Sit down somewhere.
Justin Bieber didnt deserve SHIT!!!!! Yeah, its cool that he can play instruments and that he can “carry a tune”(because he isnt just that dynamic, of a singer). Although, I do agree with some of the things that Stoute stated in his letter, I also respect the Grammys for honoring traditional musical talent, and not just whats popular. So many artist are overlooked because of whats “Popular”!!!! Record labels know how to market an artist so that can appeal to the average consumer…..Simple but Flashy, with no depth!
I reflect back to the grammys, during the year that Alicia Keys came out. Dont get me wrong, I think that keys is a very talented pianist and song writer(notice that I didnt say singer). However, for what ever stupid reason that the Grammys decided to give alicia keys all those grammys and overlook Tweet-Southern Hummingbird, and India Arie’s solo debute,..I have no idea. With this being said, this goes to show that the Grammys do give to those who have made a greater impact in pop culture which in a sense proves Stoute wrong.
I think that the Grammys try to balance on both sides.
Example: Esperanza Spalding-Best New Artist(pure traditional jazz….and shes young), Lady Gaga- Best Pop Vocal, and Best Pop Vocal Album (and if she isnt a reflection of “POP CULTURE”, I dont know what is.)
Now they need someone to write a letter to the Oscars and that academy…I’m tired of all these films being nominated that no one has ever heard of..I’m tired of them only giving awards and nominating black ppl who play stereotypes..and also noticing clearly how they snubbed tyler perry for colored girls when that was at least oscar nomination worthy
Amen, and I’m still mad over Antoine Fisher.
Oh please Mr. Stoute you have every power to show a change in the music today. It’s sad that the grammy’s did not look at any R&B artist, like back in the day, the choice of music was abundant. However, it’s stupid record executives like yourself who look at the numbers$$$ than the talent. So please you writing a letter to the grammy’s is BS…Over the 90′s the industry of music, has gone down..the reocrd labels only look at what sells, sex, u name it. Your guys also looked at the same, so now deal with what you created. Too bad your choices were selected, if it was, this stupid letter wouldnt be written. dummy!
ARCADE FIRE HAD A BETTER ALBUM THEN BIEBER AND EMINEM PERIOD! stoute and people like him don’t like artists or musicians who create. They are invested in pop.
I do agree with “The Marshall Mathers LP” and “Graduation” being good albums. Just because they sold way more than whoever won, doesn’t mean they were way better than whoever won. Let’s remember quality over quantity. And with Justin Bieber not winning, I don’t get the hype over it. Yes, Justin Bieber had a wonderful year selling his album and touring all over, but that doesn’t mean he deserved the Best New Artist of the Year award. It’s not all about popularity, you have to bring way more to the table. Granted, Justin is talented, but he has a long way to go. Steve Stoute should appreciate the fact that they were honored enough to be nominated. They were plenty of people who didn’t get that. And what he should be mad about is Monica not winning. She truly sung her ass off on that album and deserved to leave with arms full of awards.
I agree…120 percent!
thiz dude iz a dumbass! im srry…but tha grammyz r about tha MUSIC…NOT POPULARITY! i dnt even kno who thiz douche iz so he needz 2 sit dwn n shut up! justin beiber didnt win best new artist..SO THA F*CK WHAT!!!! esperanza spalding waz WAYYYYYYYY more dezerve’n than that little douche in training! LOL
i agree…my point well taken!
I can’t stand Justin Bieber and I actually love Esperanza Spalding, but Justin Bieber should have won Best New Artist. That was robbery.
this is the CHANGE you voted for. dont complain now. every single facet of black america is going down down down – from the rich to the poor.it is going to be a lot worse when it is over. we wont see a black face on tv but once a week.
the warning shots were fired when every negro with a little power called for the destruction of rap music and came down hard on every black young millionaire. i didnt forget. presidents have enormous POWER to make social change. the black president is using his to BRING UP whites and foreigners.
IM SUPRISED THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL TALKING ABT THE GRAMMYS!!! SMDH GET OVER IT!!! IT DOESNT MATTER WHAT THE HELL HE SAYS!!! U KNOW WHY??!! CUZ ITZ OVER!!! WHOEVER WON, WON!!! ITS NOT LIKE PEOPLE CAN TAKE THE GRAMMY AWAY FROM THE THE WINNERS SO WHAT IS THE DAMN DEAL!!!??? WHATS DONE IS DONE!! BEIBER IS STILL YOUNG AND STILL HAS A CHANCE TO WIN ONE NEXT YEAR!!! HOWEVER, IT WAS SHOCKING TO ME THAT ESPERANZA WON, BUT I BEEN LISTENING TO HER MUSIC SINCE 08, SO TO SEE A JAZZ ARTIST TO WIN ( AND EVEN BE NOMINATED IN THAT CATAGORY FOR THAT MATTER) IS TRULY AMAZING!!!
Word!!!!
Dude embarrassed himself in the NEW YORK BLOODCLAAT TIMES! *shakes head* I wonder if he realizes how WEAK and unfounded his argument is. Educated fool…
F-CK THIS BIG HEAD D-CK IN THE BOOTY N-GGA!! ESPERANZA DESERVED THAT AWARD AND F-CK ANY F-G AZZ N-GGA WHO SAY DIFFERENT.
WHO CARES?! In life there are winners and losers.
Right now in South Dakota, there’s a fat girl with a lazy eye who can sing better than Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston and dance better than all the Jackson 5 on their best day, who’ll never get a record deal, or have a chance in hell at winning a Grammy. People go without awards and rewards alllll the time. And PS: Steve Stoute would not sign the fat chick.
I agree with his letter whole-heartedly. I don’t care what anyone has to say. Justin Bieber frankly was a ROCK star this past year. Best New Artist should have definitely gone to him. Esperanza should have considered it an honor that she was nominated (though I have never heard of her and don’t care to). But no one can deny the Bieber Fever and how he took the world by storm.
said it perfectly
I agree with everything he said.
People are missing the point of the essay. The Grammy’s get popular artists to perform so that they can get viewers but then they never give them the actual awards. No, it shouldn’t be a popularity contest but they’re ignoring the artists that the general public actually listens to.
If this was based solely on talent then there would be no popular artists there in the first place. We all know unknown rappers that are better than Eminem. And singers that are better than Beyonce or Lady Gaga. Lets be real. The Grammy’s need to choose whether they want to really award the best period or the best of the well known. Because it can’t be both and that was proven this year.
I think that artists do need to take a stand. Don’t go to Grammy’s if they don’t respect you enough to really consider you for one.
And I won’t even get into the way they treat Hip Hop artists. Come on, yall. We all know Kanye West had the best album of the year.
Ok. I’m done.
I agree with B so much! This man is upset for the wrong reasons. Also, these so called well known artist that you guys are talking about, will/do end up having tons of freakin grammys anyway!
And for whoever said Bieber plays just as many instruments as Esperanza so he is just as talented…doesn’t know what they are talking about. Esperanza Spalding is a MUSICAL PRODIGY. Not someone who “can play a few instruments”. People also need to look up what the qualifications are to be nominated for the “Best New Artist”. Amy Winehouse won BNA in 2008… and I had been listening to her first album since 2003! And while your there, check out why Gaga wasn’t qualified to be nominated as BNA when she came out.
Just because 4-5 grammys don’t end up going to hip-hop/pop acts, doesn’t mean the grammys are a sham. There are other genres like indie, jazz, rock, country,etc. that have amazing musicians! The Grammys are the one chance where artist who are not pop can get their recognition. Just because Bieber has a bunch of mindless drones that watch his youtube videos on repeat, means that he is a great artist? I’m going to need Steve Stoute to get more people. His claims are bogus.
what a genius….it took him 20 yrs to figure out that the Grammy’s are are a joke when it should have taken 20 min….anyone who takes this award seriously should be just as hopeful for a Nick kids award….
Mr. Stoute:
Your full of shit! You don’t represent me with your asinine opinions! It’s obvious that you had or have a working relationship (or some association to) with the artist you defend in your article. I don’t give a Damn if JB plays, guitar, etc.! He did not teach himself how to play music at the age of five, get a scholarship to college at the age of 16 and is not an instructor at the Berkley College of Music. If your as astute as you claim to be, you would know the work of Esperanza Spalding, and know she deserves all accolades. Besides, this issue of people being overlooked in the Grammys in not an issue of who sold the most albums or popularity, it’s a race issue. How the hell are 3 white women but only two black women chosen to pay tribute to Aretha Franklin!
You people have really got to stop putting on the blinders and be honest to yourselves!!!!!!!
now that was some bs. where was mary j blidge, alicia keys, fantasia etc. there is way too many successful sistas out there for them to be calling up country and pop singers. bet they dont call up usher to give a tribute to elvis.
This is the biggest crock of bull I have ever read. To say that people who sell the most should win the awards is ridiculus. The Grammy’s are a joke but not for that reason. Although I do agree with it being unfair that they ask certain artists to perform but won’t give them their rewards on air. But when he said stupid ish about the numbers should equate awards it just blows my mind. The Grammy’s should not be a popularity contest it should refelct true talant. And the committee has a responsibility to award artists according to their talent and dedication to their craft. Ms. Spalding deserved that award. How Alicia Keys has more Grammy’s than Chaka Khan is really an indication of how the Grammy’s as a brand has gone down the drain. (That’s not to say that AK is not talented but the fact that these new artist are just collecting these Grammy’s like new purses is a joke)
I like the way the Oscar’s do its voting. Actors who have won an Oscar are elgible to vote for the movies. So essientially actors and directors are being judged by their own peers who study the craft. And although they don’t always get it right, we don’t see movies winning awards just because they made a lot of money (Avatar).
This was some bull. I completely disagree. All he is saying is that popularity should be a major factor in Grammy voting. He could have saved this money…feed some kids with this or something.
what about the singers choice for artha franklin songs. why wasn’t fantasia in the group to sing why have country singer to sing
They choose someone from every genre to sing (pop, r&b, country, rock, gospel). I thought that was so awesome. Fantasia will be alright. J. Hud is who she would have been competing for a spot against anyway.
This is all based on the opinion of the people voting and I for one agree that Arcade Fire had the best album of the year.
If you have not heard all the nominated albums and listen to one genre of music your opinion is null and void.
Albums sell because of the machine – of course Kanye, Em, and Justin Bieber are going to sell because the machine is working in their favor.
The music industry knows what the masses will buy so they continue to push out what will sell.
Sure Justin has a great story but so does Arcade Fire – they made the music they wanted to make talking about subjects in an abstract way and still won the biggest award of the night despite the fact that they are not known to the masses.
What part is so hard to understand or better yet comprehend? He stated clearly that it is not all about record sales!! Bottom line is if the grammys were worried about “true talent” getting recongnized then why weren’t they performing? I mean it doesn’t matter how many awards someone has if they continue to work hard on their craft and give 150% every time then they should be rewarded every time. And for the people who actually think that a successful music rep. in the game for 20yrs is only current on one genre of music, you have completely lost it. He is speaking from a fan’s point of view. I know I switched channels here and there but I can’t recall one person from urban culture receiving an award on screen that night. Things are getting a little out of control w/this whole discrimination thing. People can scream open your mind all they want but maybe you should open your eyes. The no big deals of today can be big problems tomorrow. Before you know it we’ll be fighting a war that should’ve ended as a battle.