Harvey Mason Jr., the Chief Executive Officer of the Recording Academy, has addressed the controversy surrounding the 2024 Grammy Awards, shedding light on the selection process for winners. This clarification follows the notable absence of Nigerian artists like Burna Boy, Davido, Asake, and Ayra Starr from the winners’ list.
In a viral video, Mason emphasized that Grammy winners are chosen based on votes from members of the Recording Academy, who are music professionals in the United States. Contrary to speculation, he clarified that the selection process is not influenced by committees, labels, or journalists.
Mason stated, “You have to understand that the only way to win is to have the member of the academy vote for you. To be a member of the academy, you have to be a professional working in music in the United States for now. Hopefully, we grow that.”
Explaining further, he said, “Once you are a member of the recording academy, all the music is submitted. The members listen to it and evaluate it on the quality of the art. Not the sales, not the streams, not how many fans, but purely on the opinion. It is very hard because it is subjective.”
He emphasized that winning a Grammy depends solely on the opinion of the membership for that particular year, with the voters being music professionals voting for their peers.
This clarification comes as Nigerian artists and their fans questioned the credibility of the awards, especially considering the global recognition and impact of Nigerian music.
In addition to the Nigerian artists’ absence from the winners’ list, global figures like Jay Z have expressed dissatisfaction with the Grammy Awards. During Jay Z’s acceptance speech for the Dr Dre Global Impact Award at the Grammys, he criticized the awards for not giving his wife, Beyonce, the ‘Album of the Year’ category.