CALIFORNIA: The organisers of the Grammys Friday announced ending ‘secret committees’ that select prestigious music awards following backlash amid allegations of rigging.
A statement issued by the Recording Academy stated nominations for the next Grammy Awards in January 2022 will be selected by all of its more than 11,000 voting members, instead of by committees of 15 to 30 industry experts that were running committees.
The Recording Academy also changed the number of categories in which the members can vote and also added two new awards to reflect its ongoing commitment to being transparent and equitable.
We made significant changes to our GRAMMY Awards process that reflect our ongoing commitment to evolve with the musical landscape and to ensure that the #GRAMMYs rules and guidelines are transparent and equitable.
More details. ⬇️https://t.co/I8xM2wbjNT
— Recording Academy / GRAMMYs (@RecordingAcad) April 30, 2021
Canadian singer, songwriter, The Weeknd, in a Twitter post last November, slammed Grammy as they did not get a single nomination although his critically acclaimed album “AFTER HOURS” was one of the best sellers in 2020, he said, “The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans, and the industry transparency.”
The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency…
— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) November 25, 2020
American pop star Halsey, also shut out of the 2021 Grammys, last year called the nominations process “elusive” and said she was “hoping for more transparency or reform.”
Former One Direction singer Zayn Malik also joined the bandwagon for an end to “secret committees.” “I’m keeping the pressure on & fighting for transparency & inclusion. We need to make sure we are honouring and celebrating ‘creative excellence’ of ALL,” Zayn Malik tweeted hours ahead of the 2021 Grammy Awards ceremony. He concluded the post with #fuckthegrammys
.@recordingacad are moving in inches and we need to move in miles. I’m keeping the pressure on & fighting for transparency & inclusion. We need to make sure we are honoring and celebrating “creative excellence” of ALL. End the secret committees. Until then … #fuckthegrammys
— zayn (@zaynmalik) March 14, 2021
At the time, the Academy dismissed as “categorically false, misleading and wrong” Dugan’s claims that its members pushed artists they have relationships with after he legally complains about a file in 2019. Dugan was later fired.