DISCLAIMER: THIS POST DEALS WITH SERIOUS ISSUES OF RACISM, DISCRIMINATION AND RACIAL BIAS. The post will include facts and figures but includes my own personal views and opinions.
When watching the Grammy nominations back in November 24 2020. One major thing stood out. Where the hell is The Weeknd (surely after the success he had in 2020 and his album After Hours receiving praise surely he would appear no?). Somehow he was left out of EVERY SINGLE CATEGORY (yet Yummy by JB gets a nomination 🤷🏻♀️). The question is WHY?
I have my speculations:
Was it because of management error and his work was submitted in the wrong genre (rnb vs pop) or could it be a racial issue?
It's not surprising that last Friday (12/03/2021) The Weeknd ( real name: Abel Makkonen Tesfaye) stated that he's boycotting the awards and he will prevent his label from submitting his work for future Grammy Awards.
This might shock you (or not) but the Grammys has had a very long controversial history with favouritism and racial bias. This stems right from the beginning of the Grammys inception in 1957. Fun fact: did you that since 1957 only 10 black artists have won Album of the Year.
It has to be noted that yes African/American artists do get nominated but their success rate is very low. If you take for example the battle for Album of the Year in 2017 that was between Beyoncé and Adele. Who do you think won?
Adele obviously. She herself admitted in her acceptance speech that she felt it was meant for Beyoncé.
So many artists have stated their dissaproval about the Grammys
Eminem
Drake
Zayn
The Weeknd
John Legend
Halsey
Nicki Minaj
And the list goes on
So are the Grammys racist? Not according to the former president of the recording Academy Neil Portnow. In a BBC article in 2017 he said and I quote "I don't think there's a race problem at all," he told Pitchfork, following Sunday's ceremony.
"Remember, this is a peer-voted award. So when we say the Grammys, it's not a corporate entity - it's the 14,000 members of the Academy.
"We stand 100% behind the process: It's a democratic vote by majority. So somebody could either receive or not receive a Grammy based on one vote. It could be that tight."
"I understand that people might feel left out," Portnow added in a separate interview with Billboard. "But it's really simple: Participate and vote, and then you're part of the conversation. Not only do we encourage and welcome that - we need it."
There's also the issue of rigged voting systems and voting issues but that's a different story all together.
ANOTHER DISCLAIMER: THIS IS THE SECTION WHERE I SHALL BE AS PROFESSIONAL AS POSSIBLE BUT PLEASE KNOW I'M ANGRY AND DISAPPOINTED WITH THE GRAMMYS
Racism doesn't affect just African/Americans but other minority groups which leads to my next point......
BTS a South Korean MEGA group were nominated FOR ONE CATEGORY though BigHit Entertainment (their label/management) submitted their work for other categories such as Album of the year) and as of 11PM UK time on Sunday 14th March 2020. Not only was the category of Best Duo/group performance not included in the main ceremony but moved to the pre event which was streamed on youtube 1.4 million times at its peak (there was a massive drop but will get to the reason why in a second) GET THIS:
BTS DIDN'T WIN (hence the drop in numbers yet the Grammys still brag about the viewings on Twitter like nothing happened.
RAIN ON ME BY LADY GAGA AND ARIANA GRANDE DID
If you read my Grammy Predictions I believed Taylor Swift could win too but nope it went to Rain On Me.
Now no hate to Lady Gaga and Ariana they don't deserve any hate for their win and I'm talking to everyone who's leaving hateful messages on social media to them and their families.
BUT the Grammys really showed their true colours with this situation.
Tell me if BTS were white and an American boy group would they get more recognition and nominations?
Not only has BTS given outfits from music videos and Red Carpet appearances (FOR THE 2019 GRAMMYS) to the Recording Academy museum, appeared at Grammys affiliated charity performance and the amount of tweets the Grammys have posted about the Dynamite performance yet they still lost. You might say that this just an award show and that the Grammys snub everyone. I would say you're right and I agree with you 100% but it is clear to see that the Recording Academy is so out of touch of the music that's healing and helping millions across the world. That's the part that upsets me not the trophy itself but the message it gives out to minority artists.
That unless you release only English songs forget the chance of getting recognised by the Grammys.
The siver-lining is that BTS and all the others artists will thrive regardless if they win or not. Zayn, Harry Styles, The Weeknd, BTS, etc... they will be successful.
Now even though I'm upset about the outcome I'm I still going to watch the 2021 GRAMMYS?
Yes, but only to cover for you lovely readers here on SerendipityMusic.org but by god you can be sure next year's Grammys rating will be significantly less after the mess of this years event.
ALSO P.S.
Good luck to the social media managers for the Grammys Twitter account you're gonna need it if you snub more artists and their fans today 🙏🏻
Let me know you're opinions in the comments down below and on Twitter @serenmusicial! I want to know how you feel about all of this.
Until the next post!