Harvey Manson Jr., the CEO of the Recording Academy, the organising body for the Grammy Awards, has revealed how winners are selected for the prestigious music award.
This comes in the wake of the controversy surrounding the 2024 Grammy Awards, where several Nigerian singers, including Burna Boy, Davido, Asake, and Ayra Starr could not secure a win in their respective categories.
Addressing the concerns in a viral video, Manson said Grammy winners are chosen based on votes from members of the Recording Academy, who are music professionals in the United States.
He said the selection process is not influenced by committees, labels, or journalists.
The Recording Academy CEO said: “You have to understand that the only way to win is to have the member of the academy vote for you. To be a member of the academy you have to be a professional working in music in the United States for now. Hopefully, we grow that.
“But right now, if you are working professionally in the United States you can become a member of the recording academy.
“Once you are a member of the recording academy, all the music is submitted, the members listen to it and they evaluate it on the quality of the art.
Burna Boy, Davido, Asake lose all nominations at 2024 Grammy Awards
“Not the sales, not the streams, not how many fans, but purely on the opinion. It is very hard, as you all know because it is subjective.
“It is no best song or best record; it is just the opinion of that membership of that particular year. That is how you win a Grammy. The voters vote. There is no committee, no journalist, and there are no labels.
“It is the music professionals voting for their peers.”
U.S. rapper, Jay Z, also slammed the Recording Academy for “never giving” Beyonce, his wife, ‘Album of the Year’ category despite her impressive record of 32 wins.
During Jay-Z’s acceptance speech for the Dr Dre Global Impact Award at the Grammys on Sunday, he said: “Some of you will go home tonight and feel like you’ve been robbed, some of you may be robbed, some of you don’t even belong in the categories.”
The Grammys snub sparked widespread disappointment and frustration among fans and the Nigerian music community.
Social media platforms have since the 2024 Grammy Awards ceremony on Sunday, February 4, been flooded with expressions of disappointment, as fans lament the loss of their favourite stars.
The Best African Music Performance category saw South Africa’s Tyla emerge victorious with her song, “Water”.
Also, in the much-anticipated Best Global Music Album category, Davido and Burna Boy fell short, with Shakti’s “This Moment” clinching the coveted award.
The hashtag, #GrammySnubNaija, trended on X (formerly Twitter), with fans venting their frustration over what they perceived as a missed opportunity for Nigerian music to gain international recognition.
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