The views represented in this article are the author’s own and do not represent the views of Her Campus FSU.
The Grammy Awards and their nomination process underwent a significant remodel this year, most noticeably with diversity being a priority. Many were quick to applaud the Recording Academy for representing artists of many backgrounds as nominees, but a much different story was told upon looking at the actual winners. The majority of the televised awards went to men, leaving the female artists empty-handed.
Historically, the Grammy Awards have honored white artists in big categories like Album and Record of the Year. In fact, the last nine Album of the Year awards have gone to white artists despite most of the critically acclaimed albums of the time, such as Lemonade and Channel Orange have been snubbed. That is why this year was so momentous for the move for diversity: it was the first time since 1999 that there none of the Album of the Year nominees were white males. Bruno Mars became the first non-white man to win AOTY in almost 20 years as well as a sweeping win for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best R&B Song, Best R&B Album and Best R&B Performance.
Courtesy: Chicago Tribune
Many black artists have spoken and acted against the seemingly racially biased system of divvying out nominations and their categories. Drake and Frank Ocean have made protests against the show by refusing to submit their respective albums (Views, Blonde) for consideration over the years. Kanye West has called the Grammys “way off” and “completely out of touch” in reference to how the winners are always meant to appeal to a white male audience instead of the more powerful music from minorities. Further, in an era of innovative, influential rap music, there has yet to be a single rapper nominated for Record of the Year. The mounting evidence of partiality by the Recording Academy thus brought about some change in this year’s show.
While the emphasis on diversity was at the forefront last night, the starkest aspect of the event was the overt lack of female artists being recognized. Every major award winner to take the stage, with the exception of Alessia Cara for Best New Artist, was male. This comes shockingly at a time where the media attention is so focused on the #TimesUp movement and empowering women to lift their voices. Many attendees even bore white roses to show support for the many movements fighting to bring awareness to sexual abuse against women in the industry. So while the female artists made statements on the red carpet and gave moving performances throughout the night, it was not enough for them to be represented as Grammy recipients.
Courtesy: Junkee
According to the New York Times, of the 899 people nominated for Grammy Awards in the last six years, a mere 9% of them were women. This incredible discrepancy between men and women was no stranger to last night either. Only 11 of the 84 winners from 2018 were women despite the Recording Academy’s use of female performances and nominees to garner attention for the show. Vocal powerhouses like SZA, Patti Lupone, Miley Cyrus, and more took the stage for beautiful performances (SZA being snubbed for all 5 awards she was nominated for). Kesha and Lady Gaga, both victims of sexual abuse, performed emotional ballads in the wake of the #MeToo movement and were both snubbed in their all-female category for Best Pop Solo Performance to Ed Sheeran (who was a no-show). Lorde, the only female nominee for Album of the Year, made her own protest against the Grammys by refusing to walk the red carpet after not being allowed to give a live performance like her fellow male nominees.
In response to the backlash against the lack of female representation, president of the Recording Academy, Neil Portnow had this to say: “It has to begin with… women who have the creativity in their hearts and souls… [They need] to step up because I think they would be welcome.” In a time where the dangers of being a woman in the music industry have become so explicitly clear, it is unfathomable to suggest that the burden of female representation should be on the women. The use of the Grammy Awards using female performances, movements, and images to promote the event only for them to be snubbed and disrespected by being told to “step up” is a testament to the state of affairs within the music industry and calls into question what prestige the Academy still maintains if they refuse to address the issues of inequality, on all levels, in a responsible way. Until next year’s show, it is up to listeners to show the women and people of color music the support that the Grammy Awards refuses to give them.