‘Blinding Lights’ star The Weeknd was among many of the year’s top acts unseen on the 2021 GRAMMY nominations list revealed early Tuesday (November 24) – a predicament that’s led a number of artists to demand transparency about the protocol of the Recording Academy’s voting process.
While stars like Justin Bieber complained about their musical genres being misrepresented by the committee, others wondered how their critically acclaimed pieces went unmentioned all together (as we reported here).
Moments after GRAMMY chief Harvey Mason Jr. took to press to hit back at the criticism, The Weeknd (born Abel Tesfaye) broke his silence about the surprising snub of his blockbuster album – ‘After Hours.’
More inside:
As fans – including fellow artists – bombarded the GRAMMY social media handles seeking an explanation about why ‘After Hours’ (and its hit content such as ‘Lights,’ ‘Heartless,’ ‘In Your Eyes,‘ and more) failed to garner mention on the 2021 GRAMMY nods list, Tesfaye echoed their sentiment.
Ahead of his post, however, Mason Jr. attempted to provide some of that “transparency” by taking to the press.
There, once quizzed on why Abel was omitted from the GRAMMY nods, he said:
“It really just comes down to the voting body that decides,” he said. “We have eight nomination slots to fill in [the ‘Big Four’ categories: Best Album, Song, Record and New Artist], five in others, and the voters vote for their favorites. It’s really interesting, though.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Harvey assured readers the voting committee’s process is unbiased.
“All the records get the fairest of fair shakes. We listen to all the music — even an album, you’re listening to almost the whole album, it takes I don’t know how many hours,” he said. “It’s a long, arduous process and people take pride in it. The people in that room care: there’s no agendas in there, there’s no ‘let’s snub this person’ or that person. It’s about, ‘Let’s try and find excellence.’”
However, when asked if ‘After Hours’ was even short-listed, the Recording Academy chief refused to offer details.
“We never talk about what’s on the shortlist, so I’ll leave it at that,” he said.
[source]
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The WACKEND music is garbage AF and his AWFUL singing is even worse. After the world hears his TERRIBLE live vocals at the super bowl he’ll get clowned for days.
Did you know you can give opinion without being a c u n t ?
Look at your name lmao
Every year it’s a bunch of artist crying over the same thing…being snub. Everyone can not be nominated. The same way you think your project was all of that, other artist feel the same about their project.
With that being, I can’t understand why blinding light could be nominated for something. Not only was it commercially successful but also critically acclaimed.
He’s a studio singer. Same as Brittney Spears and Jennifer Lopez, the Grammy’s have never awarded Pop artist who can’t actually sing. Don’t see the WACKEND winning an award for best vocals anytime soon. Record of the year and Song of the year maybe but there’s been plenty of huge #1 songs that didn’t get nominated.
Stop. Britney Spears won a Grammy for toxic.
Those award shows are meaningless.
I’ll give a pass to the ones voted by the fans.
The rest can go to the trash.
The Grammys have snubbed Mariah forever and ever. Look at her career : she didn’t need you losers !
The Grammys are NOT meaningless to artists. It’s the highest award they can receive. It boosts their reputation and value overnight.
Weekend girl the Grammys are corrupt but they got it right wit yo wack ass🤷🏾♂️ Don’t like it move back to Canada
😩😂
Y’all fail to see the point here. His song has been in the top 10 for over a year now, broke several record and nothing. Something does scream foul here. I personally didn’t like the album however Blinding Lights really should have gotten nominated for something given its longevity
Because of payola allegedly.
The Grammys have always been corrupt.
The Grammys have always been corrupt.
The Grammys have always been corrupt.
Wake up sheeple!!!!
One yest MC had 6 noms got nothing. Sheryl Crow has more Granmys than Diana LEGEND Ross of The Supremes.
PLENTY of icons have been screwed over the years by a secretive voting committee who make side deals w/ artist camps and publicists.
It’s called QUID PRO QUO and payola. It is not a conspiracy.
The Scammys have ALWAYS been corrupt just like the Oscar’s and Emmys.
It’s a farce.
You call it corruption, they call it politics. Musicians KNOW this. You have to pay to play. If you don’t campaign for a Grammy prepare to be ignored, or worse – Blackballed. Look at what happened to Mo’Nique after the Oscars.
I’m wondering who are these voters. At two occasions they stole AOTY from Beyonce