So I have just seen no fewer than four articles listing great music artists who have done some amazing work in their careers who have never won a Grammy. I would post some links to those blogs and articles, but I think it is a wasted argument.
Winning a Grammy has always been a matter of popularity for industry insiders, not to reward great art or seminal works. If an artist, album, single or recording doesn't at least break the top ten in the USA, if not in the world, then it is very likely not going to win anything. It is all about money and fame. Which artists and albums are generating the most revenue and garnering the most attention which in turn are helping keep the industry alive for another year? That's who's going to win.
For example, it doesn't matter that U2 was nominated for the worst single of their career, it was a huge hit so they got a Grammy for it. In fact, it was such a huge hit that the most powerful and iconic brands in the world paid insane figures for the privilege to use it in their advertising and other media content. It was a cash cow that deserved recognition from the industry for being a cash cow. It doesn't matter what other great songs were released that year which are still highly regarded and played on the radio to this day, at that moment nothing could touch the kind of money that single was bringing in. Even the band laughed at winning during their acceptance speech. They probably wrote that song ("Beautiful Day" released in 2002, by the way) on a lark and even debated putting it out as it was too simple, silly and pointless.
So, what's my point?
We need to ignore the Grammy's. Or, if we are going to pay attention, we need to accept those awards for what they are - what is the most popular thing right now?
Winning a Grammy has always been a matter of popularity for industry insiders, not to reward great art or seminal works. If an artist, album, single or recording doesn't at least break the top ten in the USA, if not in the world, then it is very likely not going to win anything. It is all about money and fame. Which artists and albums are generating the most revenue and garnering the most attention which in turn are helping keep the industry alive for another year? That's who's going to win.
For example, it doesn't matter that U2 was nominated for the worst single of their career, it was a huge hit so they got a Grammy for it. In fact, it was such a huge hit that the most powerful and iconic brands in the world paid insane figures for the privilege to use it in their advertising and other media content. It was a cash cow that deserved recognition from the industry for being a cash cow. It doesn't matter what other great songs were released that year which are still highly regarded and played on the radio to this day, at that moment nothing could touch the kind of money that single was bringing in. Even the band laughed at winning during their acceptance speech. They probably wrote that song ("Beautiful Day" released in 2002, by the way) on a lark and even debated putting it out as it was too simple, silly and pointless.
So, what's my point?
We need to ignore the Grammy's. Or, if we are going to pay attention, we need to accept those awards for what they are - what is the most popular thing right now?
