In July, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. despatched a daring and hanging letter to Grammy voters, reminding them that “there isn’t a place in our group for … bias, grudge-holding, or careless voting.”
Months later, because the 2025 Grammy nominations are revealed, he says he’s proud of the end result.
Beyoncé leads with 11 nominations — together with sweeping all 4 nation classes — whereas different girls dominate with nominations, together with Billie Eilish, Charli XCX, Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan. Alissia even makes historical past because the uncommon feminine nominated for non-classical producer of the yr (a lady has by no means gained the respect).
“The academy voters confirmed up, they did their factor. They produced an unbelievable record of nominees and I’m actually proud and happy with the way in which they turned out for this yr,” Mason jr. tells The Hollywood Reporter. “I recollect again to the occasions once we didn’t have the identical quantity of voter participation. We didn’t have the kind of voters we’ve now.”
In 2019, the academy launched a brand new, community-driven membership mannequin to assist diversify its voting physique — and now 66 p.c of that citizens are voters who’ve joined previously 5 years. The academy has seen a 65 p.c development in voting members who’re individuals of coloration and girls voting members have elevated by 27 p.c.
“These are the issues that make us all on the academy really feel that we’re headed in the suitable route. There’s extra steadiness round gender, range and even style range, so that you’re going to get some totally different outcomes,” he says.
In an interview, Mason jr. talks about Beyoncé, the controversial finest new artist class, how Quincy Jones influenced him as a producer and the Grammys switching from CBS to ABC in 2027.
What prompted the letter you despatched to Grammy voters in July?
This as we speak prompted that, after which February 2nd [2025 Grammys live show] prompted that. We all know that the outcomes of our nominations and the outcomes for our final winners are completely pushed by our voters. There’s a notion that possibly there’s the academy giving this award away or individuals within the again room making these selections or committees — it’s simply not how it’s anymore. We now have 13,000 voters, and we needed to ensure that the voters acknowledge the significance of them taking the time to pay attention, to be considerate and intentional in voting and get out and ensure they take part. As a result of with out them, we don’t get the suitable outcomes. With out the suitable membership, we don’t get the suitable outcomes.
So ensuring that we had been capable of have dialog as we speak as a substitute of a foul one, and ensuring that we get the suitable outcomes on February 2nd is de facto in the end what impressed all of us — from our membership division, our awards division, all all through the administration of the academy — to verify we’re encouraging, inspiring, motivating our members to return out and do the work and vote.
Beyoncé
Blair Caldwell/Parkwood Leisure LLC
Beyoncé was closely snubbed on the CMA Awards however swept the Grammys nation classes and even received an American Roots nomination. What’s it wish to see her get that recognition?
It says quite a bit about our voters. With our 10-3 system of voting, [a] supporter of Beyoncé isn’t capable of simply comply with her across the poll; they solely have three fields they’ll choose, so while you see anyone like Beyoncé or one other artist getting nominations throughout a number of fields, you’re realizing that it’s not the identical voters voting for her. It’s totally different voters in several fields. So to me, it’s actually spectacular. I’m happy and proud that Beyoncé is breaking new information and continues to be the icon and legend that she is.
Is that this the yr that Beyoncé will lastly win album of the yr?
Wow. You by no means know. I imagine she has a extremely good one-in-eight likelihood. That’s the most effective reply I can provide, solely as a result of the voters, you don’t know what they’re going to gravitate to. It’s robust. Beyoncé has positively been within the class earlier than, [and she has] another nice competitors there. However on the finish of the day, the albums in that class are flat out wonderful to me. I like all of them, and I’m so pleased about the place we’re. I do know anyone’s going to be mad. I do know seven individuals gained’t win, and I sit up for seeing the end result.
You’ve labored with Beyoncé as a producer — what do you keep in mind about these classes?
She is supremely proficient and a consummate skilled, has impeccable style and is aware of what she needs. Clearly the voice speaks for itself, however I cherished working together with her. I did some early work when she was, I believe 13 or 14 possibly, simply in the beginning, Future Youngster’s first file, after which once more on Dreamgirls; she was slightly additional into her profession, so I noticed a pair totally different sides of her. However each time, she was at all times wonderful, at all times a pleasure to work with,and anyone that from the very starting, you knew was going to do unbelievable issues.
Clearly everybody can’t be nominated, so what do you say to these artists who really feel snubbed?
I might say I’m disillusioned for them as a creator and somebody who I believe has been snubbed myself (Mason jr has 5 profession nominations and 0 wins). I do know that it may be a tough capsule to swallow, however there are such a lot of darn good information being made and extra now than ever, so it’s getting an increasing number of aggressive. We solely have a certain quantity of nominees in every class. I want we had extra. I want all the good creators may very well be nominated for all their work, however our voting membership of creators actually, actually does come from all of the totally different genres and all of the totally different disciplines, and so they have quite a lot of experience and expertise. So I believe we go away it of their palms and it’s by no means straightforward. We by no means get every little thing proper. We by no means get all of the wonderful proficient individuals nominated that need to be nominated, but it surely’s subjective. It’s troublesome, and we go away it within the voters palms.
Quincy Jones
Does The Biggest Evening in Pop’s nomination for finest music movie really feel like a candy tribute to Quincy Jones, who handed away this week?
It feels actually vital. It’s an unbelievable movie. I’ve watched it a number of occasions, and it takes me again to a fantastic place, and seeing legends and icons within the studio working collectively is one thing that I’ll by no means get bored with seeing. However I do imagine it’s a becoming tribute to one of the influential and impactful figures music has ever identified, and completely anyone who impacted me greater than virtually anyone apart from my very own dad and mom, who had been musicians. If it weren’t for Quincy, I positively wouldn’t be speaking to you proper now. If it weren’t for the work — just like the work he did on “We Are the World” and different nice iconic information and recordings — I wouldn’t have made any music. I wouldn’t have had the audacity to assume possibly I might produce movies or make movie music or soundtracks or scores, and I positively wouldn’t have thought I may very well be an govt. So I’m actually pleased and proud that it’s being acknowledged this yr with a nomination.
The Beatles’ last track has two nominations, together with file of the yr. What’s it wish to see that track get this response?
It’s thrilling. Clearly, one of many all-time nice bands within the historical past of music, and I’m not as assured this will probably be their final track — I really feel like they may have some extra stuff within the vault someplace that makes a run in some unspecified time in the future. However it’s completely thrilling to have them concerned within the course of. I like seeing their identify together with all the opposite cool nominees in that class. And within the common fields, for me, I actually love the place we’re going and what the voters did as a result of there’s a lot breadth and depth of genres in these fields. You’ve received the Beatles in rock, you bought nation, you bought various jazz, you bought some hip-hop stuff, you bought dance-electronic. That is the cool half about music proper now.
Sabrina Carpenter
There are at all times debates about the most effective new artist class and who qualifies and who doesn’t. As an illustration, some individuals had been stunned that Sabrina Carpenter was eligible together with her sixth album. What’s your response to that?
It’s troublesome, I’ll say that. I used to be going to say it’s fairly easy, but it surely’s truly not that easy. It’s troublesome, and it’s difficult as a result of it’s slightly bit amorphous how you’d consider finest new artist. However for me, what it comes all the way down to is when an artist rises to nationwide or worldwide prominence. It may very well be their first file, it may very well be their sixth file. To me, this looks like a time when our greatest new artists have damaged by means of and turn into nationally distinguished and are doing wonderful work. So it’s not a straightforward calculus to resolve which artist matches that standards and which doesn’t, however I belief our committees that do this work, and I belief the voters to vote for the suitable individuals and I’m actually happy with the end result.
In 2027 the Grammys will transfer to ABC after airing on CBS since 1973. Is {that a} choice you had been concerned in and what can we anticipate?
Sure. I used to be a part of that and been engaged on that for concerning the final, I don’t know, six months or so. It’s an thrilling transfer. CBS has been a tremendous associate, and we’re excited to do two extra with them, however for us, Disney actually aligned with our future imaginative and prescient and the place we’re going.
