Grammys - Tonight - Will You Be Watching?
Sunday February 10, 2008
Perhaps I should have mentioned something about this before, but in case it has escaped your notice, The Grammys are tonight. I'm usually in two minds about covering award shows on this site. Sure, many poeple who are in music careers or who want to get into music careers might someday like to scoop up a Grammy (or a Juno, or a Mobo, or a Brit, or (insert your music award of choice here)), but really, there's very little advice one can give about actually winning one of these, except maybe be very lucky, very rich, or at least have someone very rich spending a lot of money on your music. OK, that might not be entirely fair for all award ceremonies, but you get my drift. Having said that, when people start writing articles like Music Industry Relieved Grammys Will Go On and people start calling The Grammys "the Super Bowl for artists" (so says will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas), I feel obligated to mention it.
So, here's the drill, The Grammys nearly didn't happen, thanks to the Hollywood writers' strike. That had a lot of people upset - "falling music sales, jobs losses across the industry, and now NO GRAMMYS?!?!?" With The Grammys going ahead, these same people are glad to have a chance to celebrate "not the business but the music itself." That, at least, is the case according to Ken Elrich, producer of the Grammy broadcast, who may not be the most impartial source in the world. I, for one, can't help but see The Grammys as being a little bit tied up with all of the bad times in the industry. Sometimes The Grammys reward really great, innovative music, but too often that seems to be an accident. Instead, the typical Grammy ceremony seems to a chance for a lot of back slapping between the usual suspects. It rewards people who have had opportunities that most musicians will never have - and the worst part is that the reason most musicians will never have them is that the people behind your average Grammy artist have spent tons of money making sure the music by these artists is the only music that gets played on the radio, stocked in big music stores, played on MTV, etc, etc, etc.
However - that's just my take, and that's why I haven't mentioned the Grammys before now. But more importantly, what do YOU think? Are The Grammys relevant to you? Do they have a place on this site? Let me know your thoughts.
So, here's the drill, The Grammys nearly didn't happen, thanks to the Hollywood writers' strike. That had a lot of people upset - "falling music sales, jobs losses across the industry, and now NO GRAMMYS?!?!?" With The Grammys going ahead, these same people are glad to have a chance to celebrate "not the business but the music itself." That, at least, is the case according to Ken Elrich, producer of the Grammy broadcast, who may not be the most impartial source in the world. I, for one, can't help but see The Grammys as being a little bit tied up with all of the bad times in the industry. Sometimes The Grammys reward really great, innovative music, but too often that seems to be an accident. Instead, the typical Grammy ceremony seems to a chance for a lot of back slapping between the usual suspects. It rewards people who have had opportunities that most musicians will never have - and the worst part is that the reason most musicians will never have them is that the people behind your average Grammy artist have spent tons of money making sure the music by these artists is the only music that gets played on the radio, stocked in big music stores, played on MTV, etc, etc, etc.
However - that's just my take, and that's why I haven't mentioned the Grammys before now. But more importantly, what do YOU think? Are The Grammys relevant to you? Do they have a place on this site? Let me know your thoughts.
Hi Heather,
Happy Valentines.
I am quite excited as we have just received my CD from the manufacturer’s. It looks great. Time to get the buyers
I recently enetered a contest on uber.com in which I am currently in the Top 100.
One of the people that VOTED for me said that she had also nominated me for a Grammy. Now, I don’t know if this was a grammar issue or maybe this person knew what they were talking about.
I believe the Grammy’s are definitelly necessary for this page.
As artist’s and or industry insiders, it’s very relevant for us to know what is going on in the game in which we are all players in different levels.
I would definitelly love to be nominated for a Grammy. You might ask which category? Well, I would say; Best new Hip-Hop Producer, Artist or most original Hip-Hop song for “Bedrock (Oh Lord).”
The above is what I would love to see.
The Grammy’s also help artist’s realise that hard work eventually does pay off but, ofcourse this is only if no Payola (pay for play) has been used.
I think that this is a time when the industry should let the music do the talking. Afterall, this is why we listen to it right?
Thanks for the great articles Heather. Keep up the good work.
Over and Out.
C.R.I.$.I.$.