February 14, 2024 by Elias Prodger (‘26)
Oh, Grammys season. The Grammys seem to mean everything, yet simultaneously nothing at all to the average music fan. No matter who the Grammys decide to nominate, it seems like every decision made is a misstep, every action plagued by controversy and scandal. But does it all even matter in the first place? Do the Grammys truly count for anything? Let’s talk about that today as well as talk about the 2024 winners and snubs.
The Grammys awards were first awarded in 1959 and headed by the top executives of several major music companies. The early mission statements of the academy included such promises as “We Shall judge a record on the basis of sheer artistry and artistry alone” and “Sales and mass popularity are the yardsticks of the record business. They are not the yardsticks of this academy.”
But since its inception, the academy has demonstrated intense hesitancy to accept the change and evolution of mainstream music. The original voters and executives were slow to accept Rock n Roll’s explosion in popularity in the ‘60s and rise of Rap and Hip Hop into the mainstream in the ‘90s and 2000s. A largely white male academy took years to accept new music, musical trends, and ideas that were largely pioneered by black artists. This over the years has led to strange and out of touch choices to various awards that go perpendicular to the current new musical trends.
But as the years have passed, the Grammys have attempted to evolve with the times and rid themselves of a problematic past. The academy has initiated inclusive programs to add more women and people of color into their voting body. But the question is, has this done any work to improve the awards and really push music forward?
Kind Of?
Now is officially time to talk about the 2024 nominations and winners. And I will say, the results could have been far worse. For starters, it was great to see the nomination of several prominent female artists. Lana Del Ray, SZA, and Boy Genius made up some of my favorite releases in the past few years and it was great to see them recognized for their work by the music industry. Jack Antonoff continues his reign over the producer of the year award, and for good reason.
Over the major rock and metal categories, wins from Metallica and Boy Genius were well chosen among the major fields. But scanning these winners and nominees, I can’t help but notice how familiar all these names are. All established names with major record deals and larger than life careers. Is this a new observation? Not even close, but this just further exemplifies the Grammy’s major problem. A lack of artistic progress and an emphasis on career names.
Is Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” the best record of the year? You can like the song, you can be a huge Miley Cyrus fan, but I don’t think a single person, even Miley herself, could categorize this song as the best song anyone released this year. But who is Miley Cyrus? An established pop star with years and years of gaining the music industry millions of dollars and countless hits. That’s why she was selected, she was patted on the back by the industry because she continued to bring them revenue even if it was one of the blandest and creatively bankrupt songs in her discography.
I can say the same thing about the album of the year winner, Taylor Swift’s “Midnights” (Swifties please don’t kill me please hear me out.) I think the most hardcore of obsessed Taylor Swift fans can agree that “Midnights” was not her most interesting or heartfelt record in the discography. Aside from some hits and a few captivating deep cuts, the album mostly felt like an exploration of various B sides that could have been tossed onto some of her re-records of her earlier and more significant albums. But who is Taylor Swift now? The most popular artist in the world, with a massive diehard fan base who rakes in mountains of revenue for the industry. And as a result, she was awarded a Grammy.
The Grammys have never focused on “sheer artistry alone” like they once pledged to do, they focus on the safest, most tried and true way that they can grow their revenue. This is by no means a groundbreaking revelation or far away idea, but as we further ourselves into an internet age with massive amounts of collision of ideas and influences, it’s going to be even more important that we recognize the new and interesting artists that are breaking out.
Playing it safe by only celebrating well established artists serves to slow evolution and gate-keep underground artists. So, do the Grammys matter? Are you in the top 1% of the music industry? Then yes, they do. But for anyone not part of the highly exclusive establishment, the Grammys have no purpose to you.