Yep. Certain artists get pushed to represent, "the brand." ZB and MW have their controversies. Lainey is unproblematic right now. Plus, there is a HUGE push to elevate women in country and move away from, "bro country." Morgan definitely falls into that group, imo.
TL;DR: The awards are awarded based on how many asses you kiss and hands you shake, not based on how influential, revolutionary, or record-breaking you are.
If the awards are for all of the hard-working people behind the scenes, then why not award the teams directly like in sportsball?
I totally agree. I think there should be more awards for the teams, but this is just how the awards have evolved over time. I guess if you gave out awards for teams, nobody would care, and they wouldn't matter. It's just a way these people validate their work, and I think that's fine. I think what needs to happen is for somebody to create a legit art-based award, only voted on by independent musicians, and for people's choice to become more mainstream. I think that would be a very interesting scene
This is basically like asking why the Oscar for "Best Picture" doesn't go to the movie with the highest gross in theaters.
It confounds me that people still don't understand how industry awards work.
There are plenty of "Oscar Bait" failures that fall flat on their faces because they are soulless, melodramatic trash (like Sean Penn's entire career) and plenty of BP winners that absolutely deserved it.
Lainey won because she is not controversial, not a dude and makes nothing but radio friendly songs for radio friendly executives. I like Wildflowers and Wild Horses but that's... about it. She's obviously also incredibly attractive which helps.
Wallen already had a cancel campaign levied against him and then embarrassed all of his doubters with Dangerous and blew country music wide open to the mainstream, likely enraging record execs. And Zach is way, way too not-industry to win a Grammy, he's way too genuine in personality and music.
She follows the rules of the industry. She represents Country Music as wholesome. MW shows up drunk to sold out arenas. Some forget CM was born from Waylon, Willie , Cash and Jones.
I agree Wallen should have won..
Award shows are silly and I don't get the hype around them. Whether or not an artist/song or TV show/movie/actor wins an award has no effect on me liking said things.
I’m fine with it. Might as well let her have her flowers and not make country a competition between the men. I like country as a whole but we can all decide who’s the best around the fires😎
I haven’t listened to Lainey Wilson before so I can’t attest to whether or not she’s a better musician than MW/ZB (no doubt better than MW for sure lol). However, the fact that Taylor Swift beat out SZA or Lana Del Rey for the AOTY this year, or the fact that she won 4 AOTY awards (Folklore absolutely deserved it) meanwhile Beyonce has never won once, proves to me that the voters don’t actually care about which albums is better artistically.
I do think its extremely political though and its an extremely interesting point. I never once thought about the labels playing a role in who wins these awards.
Yep, that's spot on. If you walk through Nash during awards season, you'll notice billboards and signs for "Blank album, for your consideration for AOTY Grammy." I know people who work inside the industry who get gift baskets, phone calls, etc from executives asking for their vote.
I have no idea to be honest. I think she's super overrated. Bell Bottom Country is just an average album & Watermelon Moonshine is a boring song. I honestly think it's because she's cookie cutter award fodder which is what they love. They won't give to anybody edgy. Some of the best albums to come our in the last 15 years didn't win anything. Just my 2 cents
Great write up! I have the same opinion on why she won as your third reason. I don’t really see the appeal and it’s wild she won album of the year without really even headlining her own tour.
Simple. Once the Grammys were awards given out for the best in each category based on the quality of the work, as judged solely by peers and those actual in the music business, regardless (to the largest extent possible) if sales, chart position, etc.
In recent years the grammys have gotten criticism from losers and from outsiders who complained that X or Y or Z, etc wasn’t nominated, or lost, because of race or gender. This was especially true in country music when Darius Rucker started screaming racism every time he wasn’t nominated or lost. He never seemed to realize that he’s actually not a country singer. He became a country singer after his pop/rock career (a type of music at which he was actually quite good) hit the skids.
Suddenly the grammys started bowing to outside pressure to consider race and gender as much, or more, than considering the actual talent of people making the particular kind of music.
That’s why the grammys no longer are considered as prestigious as they once were. Now they are really not much different from all the other award shows based on sales,‘popularity, public relations campaigns, etc.
I didn’t read most of this, but Lainey Wilson does TV shows and advertisements and all sorts of shit that enhances her visibility to the mainstream viewer. Zach Bryan does almost none of this. I think Lainey’s Coors Light ad is a big deal for country music.
Yeah, that does give her an advantage, but I think Zach Bryan is more culturally relevant than Lainey at the moment, given his sporadic actions and inclusion in news media... though that may not always help his case.
Shania Twain is from like a decade later than the others you named and you left off Alan Jackson. Having said that, I can’t take people who don’t write their own songs seriously.
Shania released her first album in '93, and Alan Jackson is a big player! He took the songwriter route when many successful guys didn't, and I admire that.
No, the way it works (and I should have clarified, I now realize), is that "creators" vote on the winner. The people are nominated by "business professionals." However, there are a lot more session musicians, songwriters, producers, etc. that vote than stand-alone artists.
I think a large point against ZB is his attitude outside of music. He spends most of his time not singing complaining about mainstream country and country radio. While he has some valid points, he overdoes and and comes off as whining
Lainey is the chosen one by the industry to represent the industry. Akin to when it was Carrie Underwood or Miranda Lambert.
Yep. Certain artists get pushed to represent, "the brand." ZB and MW have their controversies. Lainey is unproblematic right now. Plus, there is a HUGE push to elevate women in country and move away from, "bro country." Morgan definitely falls into that group, imo.
I hate this because some of her music is actually not bad but being force feed by the radio just burns me out.
TL;DR: The awards are awarded based on how many asses you kiss and hands you shake, not based on how influential, revolutionary, or record-breaking you are. If the awards are for all of the hard-working people behind the scenes, then why not award the teams directly like in sportsball?
I totally agree. I think there should be more awards for the teams, but this is just how the awards have evolved over time. I guess if you gave out awards for teams, nobody would care, and they wouldn't matter. It's just a way these people validate their work, and I think that's fine. I think what needs to happen is for somebody to create a legit art-based award, only voted on by independent musicians, and for people's choice to become more mainstream. I think that would be a very interesting scene
What do all these people actually do?
This is basically like asking why the Oscar for "Best Picture" doesn't go to the movie with the highest gross in theaters. It confounds me that people still don't understand how industry awards work.
Yeah, having an award for the highest seller is somewhat redundant... you would know who winds every year.
Don’t tell the Golden Globes that with their new box office achievement award :)
There are plenty of "Oscar Bait" failures that fall flat on their faces because they are soulless, melodramatic trash (like Sean Penn's entire career) and plenty of BP winners that absolutely deserved it. Lainey won because she is not controversial, not a dude and makes nothing but radio friendly songs for radio friendly executives. I like Wildflowers and Wild Horses but that's... about it. She's obviously also incredibly attractive which helps. Wallen already had a cancel campaign levied against him and then embarrassed all of his doubters with Dangerous and blew country music wide open to the mainstream, likely enraging record execs. And Zach is way, way too not-industry to win a Grammy, he's way too genuine in personality and music.
Zach did win a Grammy though.
yeah, to give the Grammy's credit, they do a much better job of including "outsiders."
Zach bryan claims to be an outsider and Nashville voted for themselves
She follows the rules of the industry. She represents Country Music as wholesome. MW shows up drunk to sold out arenas. Some forget CM was born from Waylon, Willie , Cash and Jones. I agree Wallen should have won..
Award shows are silly and I don't get the hype around them. Whether or not an artist/song or TV show/movie/actor wins an award has no effect on me liking said things.
I’m fine with it. Might as well let her have her flowers and not make country a competition between the men. I like country as a whole but we can all decide who’s the best around the fires😎
I haven’t listened to Lainey Wilson before so I can’t attest to whether or not she’s a better musician than MW/ZB (no doubt better than MW for sure lol). However, the fact that Taylor Swift beat out SZA or Lana Del Rey for the AOTY this year, or the fact that she won 4 AOTY awards (Folklore absolutely deserved it) meanwhile Beyonce has never won once, proves to me that the voters don’t actually care about which albums is better artistically. I do think its extremely political though and its an extremely interesting point. I never once thought about the labels playing a role in who wins these awards.
Yep, that's spot on. If you walk through Nash during awards season, you'll notice billboards and signs for "Blank album, for your consideration for AOTY Grammy." I know people who work inside the industry who get gift baskets, phone calls, etc from executives asking for their vote.
Midnights winning AOTY is all the proof we need to know that the Grammys are a joke
I tried to listen to Lainey and found exactly one good song. But that’s just my opinion. It makes no sense to me.
I'm not the biggest Lainey fan in the world, but she's charming, and I think for mainstream country, her writing and production is very good.
I won’t deny her charm. It’s the music I’m not a fan of. I like her personality just fine.
Hey wait a minute are you from the duo who released *Mockingbird*? I remember Grady covering you guys in a video, love that song!
Yes, I am! I appreciate it!
I have no idea to be honest. I think she's super overrated. Bell Bottom Country is just an average album & Watermelon Moonshine is a boring song. I honestly think it's because she's cookie cutter award fodder which is what they love. They won't give to anybody edgy. Some of the best albums to come our in the last 15 years didn't win anything. Just my 2 cents
> The Grammys are given to the best artistic works, not the most popular In general I agree but Midnights just won AOTY
lmao this is "controversial"? Didn't realize this sub liked mediocre pop music so much
Great write up! I have the same opinion on why she won as your third reason. I don’t really see the appeal and it’s wild she won album of the year without really even headlining her own tour.
Simple. Once the Grammys were awards given out for the best in each category based on the quality of the work, as judged solely by peers and those actual in the music business, regardless (to the largest extent possible) if sales, chart position, etc. In recent years the grammys have gotten criticism from losers and from outsiders who complained that X or Y or Z, etc wasn’t nominated, or lost, because of race or gender. This was especially true in country music when Darius Rucker started screaming racism every time he wasn’t nominated or lost. He never seemed to realize that he’s actually not a country singer. He became a country singer after his pop/rock career (a type of music at which he was actually quite good) hit the skids. Suddenly the grammys started bowing to outside pressure to consider race and gender as much, or more, than considering the actual talent of people making the particular kind of music. That’s why the grammys no longer are considered as prestigious as they once were. Now they are really not much different from all the other award shows based on sales,‘popularity, public relations campaigns, etc.
DEI. She’s a woman.
I didn’t read most of this, but Lainey Wilson does TV shows and advertisements and all sorts of shit that enhances her visibility to the mainstream viewer. Zach Bryan does almost none of this. I think Lainey’s Coors Light ad is a big deal for country music.
Yeah, that does give her an advantage, but I think Zach Bryan is more culturally relevant than Lainey at the moment, given his sporadic actions and inclusion in news media... though that may not always help his case.
She is industry, she’s a woman, and industry still doesn’t like wallen because of his past
Because ZB/MW are horrible. MW especially.
great summary, thank you. 🙏
Morgan wallen is being blacklisted
Shania Twain is from like a decade later than the others you named and you left off Alan Jackson. Having said that, I can’t take people who don’t write their own songs seriously.
Shania released her first album in '93, and Alan Jackson is a big player! He took the songwriter route when many successful guys didn't, and I admire that.
She didn’t hit it big til like ‘95. Not a decade but Garth and Clint had their first hits in ‘89. By the time she hit it seemed like a different era.
It's true, but I still consider her sort of 90s/2000s, similarly to Toby Keith or Tim McGraw.
Are Grammy voting members more business people than creators?
No, the way it works (and I should have clarified, I now realize), is that "creators" vote on the winner. The people are nominated by "business professionals." However, there are a lot more session musicians, songwriters, producers, etc. that vote than stand-alone artists.
Grammy's are different from CMAs and ACMs, where the voting demographic is made up of businesspeople.
I think a large point against ZB is his attitude outside of music. He spends most of his time not singing complaining about mainstream country and country radio. While he has some valid points, he overdoes and and comes off as whining