BTS, The Weeknd and J Balvin speak out against the Grammys: “They don’t value us, but they need us”
The Grammy Awards are once again facing criticism from major artists who question the transparency of the voting process and the level of recognition given to different cultures and musical genres.
The latest controversy came after BTS announced that they would not submit their music for consideration at this year’s ceremony. The K-pop group said they want their work to be judged without being defined by their nationality or language. BTS became the first K-pop group to receive a Grammy nomination, but they have never won the award.
The group’s decision comes amid debate over the creation of new categories, including those dedicated to Asian pop music. According to BTS, additional categories based on origin or language could further distance international artists from the main Grammy categories.
Previously, The Weeknd also criticized the awards after his highly successful album After Hours and global hit Blinding Lights received no nominations. The singer said he would no longer submit his music to the Grammys, questioning the transparency of the selection process.
Drake has also called for changes to the system, arguing that the Academy has repeatedly overlooked many Black artists. Meanwhile, Frank Ocean refused to submit his acclaimed album Blonde for consideration in 2017, citing what he saw as insufficient recognition of Black musicians.
The Latin Grammy Awards have faced similar criticism. In 2019, J Balvin, Daddy Yankee and other representatives of reggaeton launched the campaign #SinReggaetonNoHayLatinGrammy (“No Latin Grammy without reggaeton”), protesting what they considered a lack of recognition for urban Latin music.
“They don’t value us, but they need us, ” J Balvin said in 2021 while criticizing the Academy’s treatment of the genre.
Following these protests, the Recording Academy increased its collaboration with representatives of urban music. In recent years, artists such as Bad Bunny and Karol G have become some of the biggest winners at the Latin Grammys.
