Steve Stoute, a 20-year veteran of the music industry has challenged the Grammy’s for being out of touch with pop and I seriously agree. Read his article here. I actually watched the Grammy’s this year for the first time. I found them pretty good, a lot more performances than I expected which was nice. I also enjoyed that there was no host taking up a bunch of time, cracking bad jokes. Just get to the awards and introduce the performers.
But I think the Grammy organizers invite the most popular acts in music at the time to attract audiences, as this years Grammy’s received 26 million viewers (CBC News). I really didn’t see Justin Bieber winning Best New Artist but then don’t nominate the guy. But I think Justin Bieber was only nominated for the award to avoid the controversy the Grammy's would have to deal with if he wasn’t nominated, and so the Grammy’s could justify inviting him to perform. Had he not be nominated, he might not have gone, and thus wouldn’t have performed, knocking out probably a nice chuck of the viewership, the belibers (believe+bieber).
Also, Katy Perry. HUGE commercial success, you can’t deny it. I’m not such a fan anymore. Do I think her music has substance enough to get her nominated for a Grammy? No. But had she not been nominated, her performance would have been non-existent, knocking out the viewers tuning in to support their girl Katy.
The Grammy’s nominate popular and successful acts to bring in the viewers, and then they give the awards out to musicians. If you want it to be about actual good music, then take a hit in your ratings and nominate people who produce quality music, write great songs, play instruments and put on solid performances. Don’t fool people into thinking the Biebs is taking home a Grammy when that was never the intention. He is a success story but has he produced quality work worthy of a Grammy? I don't think so but that doesn't take away from the talent he has and the future he has in this business which may include Grammies. Don’t nominate a great performer/musician like Eminem for 10 awards to simply give him two. Though he does fall under the great musician category, he checks 3 out of the 4 requirements (I don’t believe he plays an instrument but I can be wrong).
Drake, someone who made such an impact in the last year, walks home empty handed. Had he not performed with Rihanna he would have left after Eminem took home Best Rap Album. Eminem, an amazing talent, I feel should have walked away with more. However, I know Eminem's previous amazing work, but know little about this current album so I may be out of touch there.
If your not going to recognize pop acts then don’t invite them. Give them their own category if you do. Katy Perry should not be nominated for anything, unless it were in a pop category and there isn’t one. She went to the Grammys to give her music some credible because she is solely a popular act. Her tunes aren’t deep, she doesn’t play instruments, and she doesn’t sound all that great live half the time. But she looks great and makes catchy beats that stay on the charts for weeks on end and sells CDs.
Rihanna won a ridiculous award but her music career has taken a nose dive so she had to be there. She used to make some great music, SOS and Umbrella being smash hits. But her last album tanked. Her last concert tanked. Now this album is definitely more mainstream but nothing to the potential Rihanna has. She’s trying hard to make popular music, as opposed to good music I think and that’s her problem. I doubt this concert is going to do much better. Having Cee Lo Green make surprise appearances isn’t the greatest way to draw in audiences. If I went to hopefully catch Cee Lo and he didn’t appear, I’d be pissed.
Anyway I just wanted to say that I totally agree with Steve Stoute. Grammy’s wants the viewers so it brings in the hottest acts, with no intention of putting a Grammy in their hands. 10 of the 21 performances contained a current POP aka. popular acts who received few awards. The only group I’ve included who cleaned house is Lady Antebellum. Take them out and from what I’ve counted was nominated for a total of 36 awards (give or take a few) and they won 9 from what I counted. I don’t think that’s a great ratio. Also Lady Gaga who I’ve included because she is a popular act but I believe her to be a true Grammy worthy musician won 3 of those 9. Sound worse now I think, when I included acts such as Drake, Justin Bieber, Eminem, Rihanna, Katy Perry, B.o.B., Bruno Mars, Cee Lo Green and Florence And The Machine and together they took 6 awards home if my counting was right. I’m in a rush, I need to get to work. However, that’s not even an award per person.
This is long. I’m done.
Till tomorrow.
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