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Grammys: Controversy Reigns Again As Music’s Biggest Night Comes To An End
NEW YORK (AP) — A music night filled with shocking surprises, historic wins, tributes to artists like the late rapper Takeoff and hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, the 65th Grammys, was back in full swing on Sunday. Once again, Beyoncé was in the running for top honors.
Once again, the show ended with someone else winning album of the year.
This year was widely viewed as a chance for the Grammys to honor the superstar with a marquee award, especially on a night she could have (and did) become its most decorated artist.
Instead, Harry Styles won, and a line from his acceptance speech hit those who thought Beyoncé should have won.
Here’s what happened, how it was perceived, and who picks the Grammys’ top honors.
WHAT IS CONTROVERSIAL ABOUT STYLES’ WIN?
Styles won for his third album, Harry’s House, and even he seemed surprised when his name was mentioned.
The British pop star once again competed with other industry giants: acts such as ABBA, Adele, Bad Bunny, Brandi Carlile, Coldplay, Lizzo, Kendrick Lamar and Beyoncé.
Upon accepting the award, he said, “It’s really, really nice. I’m so, so grateful… I’m just like that – It doesn’t happen very often to people like me. And that’s so, so nice. Thanks alot.”
The phrase “It doesn’t happen often to people like me” drew criticism in the hours after his victory.
Born and raised in a small working-class town called Cheshire in northern England, Styles rose to fame in 2010 when he auditioned for the Simon Cowell-directed talent competition show The X Factor. He placed third with boy band One Direction. His solo career has garnered him multiple albums and singles with Grammys and Billboard charts.
Styles did not say what he meant by his words. Some have interpreted it as trying to express how far he had come from a young age. Others, however, see the remark as an example of white privilege.
WHY ARE PEOPLE CRAZY ABOUT STYLES’ WORDS?
Many of Beyoncé’s fans are fiercely protective of the singer. After all, their name is Beyhive.
Despite Beyoncé’s 32 Grammy wins — the most of any artist in history — many are concerned that she has yet to win Album of the Year and that she has lost to white musicians every time she’s been nominated.
Pop music critic Chris Richards of The Washington Post wrote in an article entitled “Beyoncé just made Grammy history. Why does it feel like she still lost?” wrote that her historic accomplishment feels hollow.
“Why doesn’t that feel like enough?” Richards asked. “Because for the past 20 years, the Recording Academy has routinely failed to recognize black artists at their creative peaks — and to its credit, Beyoncé updates that peak with each new album.”
Similar criticism has been voiced in other stories and by online commentators, some of whom noted that a black woman hadn’t won Album of the Year since Lauryn Hill in the late ’90s.
Ashley Smalls, a graduate student in black feminism and pop culture at Penn State University, criticized Styles’ speech in a tweet: “‘It doesn’t happen very often to people like me’ when a black woman hasn’t won that award since 1999 is crazy lol.”
WHAT IS BEYONCÉ’S GRAMMYS STORY?
The artist is tied with her husband Jay-Z for the most nominations of all time with 88, but she has only won 32 times. Most importantly, Beyoncé has lost album of the year four times to Taylor Swift, Beck, Adele and now Styles.
Beyoncé has been nominated in each of the most prestigious categories in her decades-long career, but she’s only won once in those categories for “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It).”
No black woman has won Album of the Year since Lauryn Hill received the award for her breakout album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill in 1999. The last black person to win the award was Jon Batiste, last year for his album We Sind.
WHO DECIDES THE ALBUM OF THE YEAR?
According to Billboard, the Recording Academy has more than 12,000 voting members. The entire membership gets to vote in the four broad categories – Best New Artist, Record, Song and Album of the Year. Members are also responsible for nominating in their area of expertise as well as voting for the winners in those categories.
Numerous artists have criticized the way the Grammys nominates artists. The Recording Academy is conducting a campaign to diversify its membership and aims to have 2,500 female members by 2025.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR BEYONCÉ AND STYLES?
Both are on international tours.
Style’s next show is in Thailand next week and he will be playing shows in Asia and Europe through the summer.
Beyoncé kicks off her “Renaissance” tour in Sweden in May and plays dates in Europe and the USA.
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For more information on this year’s Grammy Awards, visit: www.apnews.com/GrammyAwards
Nardos Haile, The Associated Press
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