This podcast explores the business side of The Grammys, including its revenue streams and controversies over the years. It discusses the challenges in diversifying the awards and engaging younger audiences. The financial aspects and voting process are also explored, along with the impact of genre categorization and campaigning. The podcast delves into the voting process and the impact of vote splitting, as well as controversies and snubs at the Grammy Awards.
Controversies over Grammy awards have sparked debate and disappointment, such as when Esperanza Spalding beat Justin Bieber for Best New Artist in 2011.
The controversial decision for Macklemore to win Best New Artist over Kendrick Lamar in 2014 marked a turning point in his career and led to widespread discussion.
The subjective nature of award shows and the Grammy voting process create challenges in ensuring fair recognition and categorization for artists, sparking debates about artistic merit and genre biases.
Deep dives
Controversial Nominees for Best New Artist
One of the biggest travesties in Grammy history occurred in 2011 when Drake, Justin Bieber, and Esperanza Spalding were nominated for Best New Artist. Many expected Bieber to win, but it was Spalding who took home the award, as a relative unknown to the general public. This decision shocked and confused many, leading to significant controversy.
Macklemore Winning Best New Artist Over Kendrick Lamar
Another major controversy erupted when Macklemore won Best New Artist over Kendrick Lamar in 2014. While Macklemore publicly acknowledged that Kendrick deserved the award, the decision left many feeling that it was a snub of Kendrick's immense talent and impact in the music industry. This marked a turning point for Macklemore's career and was a source of debate and disappointment in the music community.
Beck Winning Album of the Year Over Beyonce in 2015
In 2015, Beck's 'Morning Phase' winning Album of the Year over Beyonce's self-titled album created a major stir. Many believed that Beyonce's album was groundbreaking and deserving of the award, but Beck's win was seen by some as unexpected and controversial. This sparked discussions about artistic merit, genre biases, and the subjective nature of award shows.
Challenges in the Grammy Voting Process
The Grammy voting process faces challenges in ensuring every voter listens to every entry and the inclusion of diverse and younger voters. With a minimum of 15 categories to vote on, it is assumed that voters have listened to all entries within their chosen genre, but this cannot be guaranteed. The issue is compounded by the annual dues voters have to pay, which may be burdensome for those in the music industry. Wealth disparities also play a role, as older white and male individuals are more likely to overlook the dues as a meaningful expense. The impact of money in the Grammy process is evident through annual fees, licensing fees, donations, and non-profit fundraising events. While the Recording Academy has made efforts to broaden the audience of voters and viewers, implementing change remains a slow process.
Challenges with Categorization and Voting Splitting
Categorization presents challenges in the Grammy Awards process, particularly with artists who span multiple genres. The decision-making process involves artists submitting entries, committees filtering entries into various categories based on genre percentages, and then a final selection by voters. However, disputes can arise when artists are placed in one category but not in another. Categories like 'Best Urban' have been criticized for perpetuating racial segregation in music, leading to discussions about how artists like Beyoncé and Rihanna were categorized based on their race rather than the type of music they made. Vote splitting is also a factor in determining winners, as different voting blocks can influence outcomes. These complexities and the lack of transparency regarding vote counts make it difficult to fully understand the Grammy results.
This episode is about music's biggest night. But we’re not interested in who should win. This is about the business behind the show and everything surrounding it.
We break down how the show makes money for CBS and the Recording Academy despite the viewership decline, the massive For Your Consideration business, the campaigning required to win an award, and major controversies over the years.
I'm joined by Zack O'Malley Greenburg, friend of the pod, who covered The Grammys several times while at Forbes.
This episode is brought to you by DICE. Want to learn more about how you and your artists can reach a packed room of your superfans? Learn more at dice.fm/partners
Make sure you listen in for our new Chartmetric stat of the week!
00:31 Why The Grammys were started
08:04 The Grammys cultural impact over time.
16:50 How The Grammy elevated the perception of musicians