Marley Grammy dominance continues
Industry players urged to become voting members of Recording Academy to effect change
Controversy surrounding the Grammy Awards has reared its head once more following Sunday’s announcement that Bob Marley: One Love’s Music Inspired By The Film nabbed the win in the Best Reggae Album category.
The movie soundtrack beat out first-time solo nominees, Shenseea and Vybz Kartel, as well as Collie Budz and The Wailers, for the coveted gramophone, leaving many disappointed in the Recording Academy’s choice.
“The people who judge this category are crazy. They will always pick Marley no matter what, which is wrong,” one user posted to Instagram post-announcement. “They might as well retire that genre… It’s getting annoying,” another shared on the platform.
Still, even as the sting of another Marley win remains fresh in the minds of critics, some music industry insiders believe that, rather than complaining, local industry players must use this opportunity to become voting members of the academy.
“The truth is that the Grammys are an industry event. I do believe more Jamaicans should get involved and become voting members. Until then can we complain about who wins and loses every year,” said artiste manager and producer Gutty Bling.
Having work with the likes of Valiant and Skillibeng, he said that without doing their due diligence, Jamaicans, especially those in the industry with the ability to become members of the Recording Academy, do not have the grounds to be disappointed when the votes are tallied.
Gutty Bling believes industry insiders must use every opportunity to get into spaces for their collective voices to be heard.
“How can we complain and we don’t attempt to do anything about it,” he questioned. “Become members, earn your vote, and then do just that.”
Agreeing with his fellow producer, Grammy-nominated producer and engineer Richard “Breadback” Bramwell shared that, as a voting member of the Recording Academy, he knows there is room for more industry players. He shared that becoming members and earning a vote is not a difficult task, and urged his colleagues to quit complaining about the “Marley Grammy effect” and do something that establishes other names on the international circuit.
“Every year it’s the same thing, so instead of complaining, why don’t we fix the problem,” he questioned. “We know what the problem is. We need more people to find out what the Grammy process is about and how they can become voting members. When I was younger, I thought it was an American thing, but I found out that all you need to do is apply and pay your registration fees. I have been a member since 2014, and I have recommended people to join. Until we form a strong support system, the music isn’t going to get what it deserves.
“We the artistes, we the musicians, we the producers, need to come together and join the academy. Stop talking bout Marley this and Marley that, because the voting members a pick who they know,” he continued.