The Weeknd has stated that it will boycott the Grammys going forward, refusing to attend or continue its work for consideration. “Because of the secret committees, I will no longer allow my label to submit my music to the Grammys,” he said in a statement to The New York Times.
The Canadian singer’s most recent album Na-ure was one of the biggest albums of the year in 2020, with its debut at number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with its release in March. This is widely considered to be the biggest part of the year when the 2021 Grammy nominations will be announced in November. After the nominations were announced, the Weeknd tweeted: “The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans and transparency in the industry …. ”
Harvey Mason Jr., the chairman and interim president / CEO of the Recording Academy, said in November, “You know, it actually comes down to the voting body that decides.” In response to the Weeknd’s new statement, Mason said The times“We are all disappointed when someone is upset … But I will say that we are constantly evolving. And this year, as in recent years, we are going to take a good look at how we can improve our award process, including the nomination committees. ”
The Weeknd now joins the ranks of artists such as Drake and Frank Ocean, who have previously criticized and boycotted the awards. Ocean especially did not want to submit Blond and Endless in the year in which they are eligible.
Pitchfork contacted representatives from the Weeknd and the Recording Academy for comment and more information.
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