Despite having the most Grammy wins in history, Beyonce has long been considered “snubbed” by the awards. But the larger issue is not limited to her.
“It’s been many, many years,” said American singer-songwriter Beyonce in her acceptance speech for winning the Album of the Year prize for the first time at the 67th Grammy Awards last week. She was not only invoking her long and celebrated career but also the somewhat ironic fact that despite having the most Grammy wins in history, she is frequently considered “snubbed” by the awards.
Beyonce has earlier missed out on prizes in the top Grammy categories, such as Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Album of the Year. For the average music listener, the distinction may not seem important, but it goes back to a larger complaint raised by Black American artists and their fans – that the Grammys have historically overlooked their artistry. Here is why.
First, why the Grammys matter
As the Oscars do for American movies, the Grammys claim to recognise the best in American music. Its nearly seven-decades-long history lends it further weight, as does its jury, which comprises industry insiders and artists. Therefore, for musicians, it is a sign of approval from their peers that adds to their heft as artists, alongside commercial acclaim.
But as is the case with the Oscars, recent years have seen criticism towards the Grammys for mostly recognising White artists, even as the American entertainment landscape has increasingly come to include people of diverse backgrounds.
The selection process of The Recording Academy, which awards the Grammys, has also come under the scanner for being opaque. Briefly, it begins with members and record companies submitting entries. These are screened for eligibility and category placement. Members then determine the five finalists in each category and winners through a final voting round. Some former members have alleged that the committees tasked with whittling down the list are undemocratic and corrupt.
What has Beyonce’s record been like?
Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter was recognised as Album of the Year last week, but her tryst with the award category began when she was nominated for her 2008 album, I Am… Sasha Fierce. It was followed by another loss in 2013 for her self-titled album Beyonce.
However, the one loss that caused a major uproar among fans and music enthusiasts alike was 2016’s Lemonade. Giving the album a five-star review, The Guardian described it as “a dazzling series of edgy, but tuneful collaborations with a diverse array of guests”. It missed the Album of the Year award, instead winning the Best Urban Contemporary Album accolade. This is another criticism – that Black artists are slotted into relatively minor award categories instead.
Her 2022 album Renaissance, hailed for its energetic dance songs and homages to the disco genre, also lost out on the top award. But it’s not just Beyonce. Renowned Black artists like Janelle Monae, whose songs blend soul, R&B and pop, are yet to receive Grammys in the top categories. Nicki Minaj, one of the most successful Black women rappers, is among the few who have boycotted attending the ceremony in response. The Trinidadian musician has been in the running to receive the award 12 times, making her one of the most nominated artists without a Grammy win.
The legendary rapper Tupac Shakur also never won a Grammy, despite being nominated six times, including once posthumously. His last album, Me Against the World (1995) was nominated for the Best Rap Album and Album of the Year categories but lost in both. The loss was seen as symbolic of the music industry’s neglect of the impact of Hip-Hop – a genre dominated by Black artists.
What’s the outlook for the Grammys?
At times, artists have opted out of submitting their music for consideration. Canadian singer-songwriter The Weeknd shunned the Grammys in 2021 after his high-concept album After Hours received no nominations, despite seeing critical and commercial success. “Because of the secret committees… I will no longer allow my label to submit my music to the Grammys,” he told The New York Times.
However, he returned to the ceremony this year. With his performance introduced by The Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr, who addressed concerns regarding diversity in his opening speech, a thaw may be on the cards.
Since taking charge in 2020, Mason has introduced a flurry of changes with a focus on diversifying the awards body, including new categories like Best African Music Performance, Best Alternative Jazz Album, Best Pop Dance Record, etc. In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine in 2023, Mason also spoke about diversifying the voter base for the Grammys. This year’s list of awardees saw some appreciation for acknowledging the music that audiences are listening to.
“Rather than waiting for people to ask to join, we’ve made a conscious effort to reach into different genres of music to say we need more of X or Y. We also wanted to increase our Black membership. Compared to the industry, we’re fairly underrepresented in the Black music genres,” he said.
