The past few years the Grammys have really lost their luster. I don’t think I am alone in thinking this, looking at you Kanye. In all seriousness I believe the Grammys need a bit of re-branding. When we think of the Oscars, we think of the highest honor a filmmaker or actor can win. Lately all we think of with the Grammys is a popularity contest full of snubs and let downs.
The Grammys are no stranger to this. Looking back to the 1991 Grammys, Public Enemy was one of the first and worst snubs in Grammy history. Going into the night it was known that they would walk away with every hip-hop Grammy, and that was not the case. Instead, the Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff walked away with the Best Rap Performance Duo or Group. Fans were outraged by this.
Of course I can’t talk about music today without the mention of Kanye. Yes, he may be one of the most pretentious people in the world, but his musical talent can’t be ignored. If the Grammys are to be the epitome of music award shows, then one of the biggest names in music should be there. Instead Kanye boycotted the Grammys this year. Sure we could chalk it up to Kanye being Kanye, but I think we need to think about more than just Kanye. He is boycotting them because time and time again deserving muscians are snubbed by Pop artists.
This year may have been the biggest snub yet. Kendrick Lamar’s, To Pimp a Butterfly, was considered to be hands down the greatest album of the year, and possibly the best rap album of all time. With a Metacritic score of 96/100, it is no secret of the critical acclaim the album has. However, this album lost on the fateful Sunday, and again musicians and fans of music alike are ticked off. Instead the winner was Taylor Swift, 1989, this album had a Metacritic rating of 76/100. I am in no way discounting Taylor’s talent for music, but I believe the only reason it won was because it was safe and popular for all. To Pimp a Butterfly, was a very politically driven album, but it was as the kids say, fire.
Examples like these are creating a stigma around the Grammys and it is one that needs to change or people will not care about the show. The ratings for the 2016 Grammys are the lowest since 2009, and I think the trend will continue. So please Grammy committee, change your ways, and re-brand yourselves. The awards should go to those people who deserve them, not to the people who had the most radio time or made the most money. That being said, the show is still worth the watch. This year the Grammys featured some fantastic performances. My two favorites being, Lady Gaga’s tribute to David Bowie, and Kendrick Lamar’s performance. I will link these two highlight below!
Sit back, relax, and enjoy.
Matinee Marketer 