One of America’s biggest award shows, the Grammys, took place on February 10th, 2019. The Grammys is the most anticipated event for artists as they come together to celebrate their achievements in music. However, it tends to always end up in controversy, and this year’s show is not immune to that statement.  

One of the more positive outcomes of the night was the amount of representation presented in music. It was heavily dominated by women, with Alicia Keys as the host and celebrity performances from Lady Gaga and Dolly Parton. New milestones were also created, as Cardi B became the first female rapper to win a Grammy for best rap album, and Childish Gambino’s “This is America” became the first hip-hop song to take home the award for record of the year and song of the year. More lesser known genres of music had the opportunity to shine as well, with Kpop rising to more relevance in the past year. BTS has contributed to many accomplishments in the Kpop wave, and although they didn’t win any Grammys, they still remain an icon to the ever-growing music industry.  

Nevertheless, the Grammys are still far from a goal of well executed representation in music. The ceremony has a habit of praising an overwhelming amount of pop and rap music. They should not forget the importance of showcasing all varieties of music, such as acapella, country, and even broadway. This turns many viewers away from watching the show, and many students either forgot or expressed little interest in observing the Grammys, as Bob Jones senior Casey Kula stated, “I’m not a huge fan of most of the nominees that are chosen,” and that these types of award shows are never truly about being rewarded, saying that “They cloud the awards with things like politics that do not even exemplify the artistry of the winning pieces.”

Most of these jabs were pointed at The Academy, with multiple celebrities blaming them for not choosing appropriate winners and commenting on statements they made at last year’s Grammys. As this happened, the Academy seemed to rival these artists with their efforts to cut off people’s speeches. Some, such as Ariana Grande, did not make the effort to show up to the awards as a reaction to their past snubs.

With music being one of the most creative forms of expression, some have seen it as a waste to see artists’ talents being overtaken by controversial orchestras. The Grammys are a night of coming together to support and honor the groundbreaking feats they make and the messages they produce in their efforts to promote music.