Grammys brings more controversy to the music industry

Music might be a universal language that brings people together, but that doesn’t mean that the business of this art, especially its award ceremonies, is free of arguments. After a nearly two month delay due to a surge of COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles, anticipation built to a frenzy pitch. Like previous ceremonies in the entertainment industry, such as the Golden Globes, however, the frenzy faded to a whimper as backlash and grumbling furnished the predominant soundtrack.  

Following various protocols, the show more or less went on, with the audience featuring only a small number of nominees wearing stylish masks while sitting outside of the Staples Center, where the performances were being recorded. Like the Golden Globes, held a month earlier, there was a major decline in viewership following controversy over nominee choices, causing the show to be labeled “The Scammys” by Twitter. 

While the Golden Globes criticism arose from critics, the Grammys heard noise from the artists themselves. The Weeknd, known for his hit, “Blinding Lights,” had turned to Twitter weeks before the show to voice his anger, stating, “The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency.” Following The Weeknd, many artists spoke their concerns, from Drake taking to Instagram to list the names of a few black artists who have been snubbed, to Zayn Malik sharing on Twitter: “Unless you shake hands and send gifts, there’s no nomination considerations.” 

To address this backlash, Harvey Mason Jr., president of the Recording Academy, dedicated time during the show to make a statement, saying, “We will stand up for what’s right and fight for greater diversity and more equal representation. This is not a vision for tomorrow, it’s a job for today.” 

Even though there was controversy, it was still a night full of excitement and anticipation, especially with the news that the K-Pop supergroup BTS was nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their hit song, “Dynamite.” It was the first time a Korean act had been nominated for the Grammys in a major category, adding to the numerous records the group had broken before. Unfortunately, the group lost to Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande’s hit song, “Rain On Me.” 

This year wasn’t the first time BTS was featured in the ceremony; they were the first Korean act to present an award in 2019 and their album, Love Yourself: Tear, was the first-ever Korean album to be nominated for Best Recording Package, only to lose to St. Vincent’s Masseducation. In 2020, they were the first Korean act to perform, featured in Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” special stage, singing their remix of the song, “Seoul Town Road.” 

This year, the group was able to perform their own hit song, “Dynamite,” stunning the audience and even the host Trevor Noah. But with the news of the loss, ARMY, BTS’ rabid fan group, took to Twitter to voice their claims of xenophobia within the Recording Academy due to how long it took for this group to be acknowledged by the west. 

With as many snubs as there were, twice as many exciting wins occurred throughout the night from Billie Eilish winning Record of the Year with her hit song, “Everything I Wanted,” a song she also got to perform during the night, to Taylor Swift winning Album of the Year for Folklore. A surprising win came from H.E.R., winning Song of the Year for her composition, “I Can’t Breathe,” released in wake and response to the Black Lives Matter protests of the past year.

Megan Thee Stallion, known for her hit song, “Savage”, won Best New Artist, leaving her fans happy to hear the news. Harry Styles won Best Pop Solo Performance for “Watermelon Sugar,” along with being able to perform his hit song at the beginning of the night. Dua Lipa was another big name who won, taking home Best Pop Vocal Album for Future Nostalgia. 

Award shows are not a perfect event in the entertainment industry, nor are the group of people who run and decide the winners of each award. There’s a long way to go to please all artists, yet there needs to be better treatment for all those who create in such a challenging industry. But as seen in life, there’s always going to be a winner and a loser, and there’s always going to be another year with new nominees and hopefully more change behind the scenes. 

By Ruby Pluchinsky

April 30, 2021

Oshkosh West Index Volume 117 Issue 7