The Chief Executive Officer of the Recording Academy, Harvey Mason Jr., has shed fresh light on how Grammy Award winners are determined, stressing that artistic merit—not popularity, sales, or streaming numbers—remains the sole yardstick for victory.
Speaking during a recent interview, Mason Jr. addressed widespread misconceptions surrounding the Grammy voting process, noting that many fans wrongly assume commercial success plays a role. According to him, Grammy winners emerge strictly through the votes of the Recording Academy’s professional membership.
“The only way to win a Grammy is to have the membership of the Academy vote for you,” Mason Jr. explained. “To be a member of the Academy, you must be a professional actively working in music in the United States, for now.”
He revealed that once eligible works are submitted, Academy members listen critically and assess entries purely on artistic quality. Factors such as chart performance, streaming figures, fan hype, or the number of releases carry no weight in the final decision.
“You are valued on the quality of your art,” he said. “Not the sales, not the streams, not how many songs—but purely on the opinion of the members.”
Mason Jr. further described the process as rigorous and inherently subjective, emphasising that there is no external influence from record labels, journalists, or fans. Voting, he said, is exclusively conducted by music professionals who are active within the industry.
“It’s very hard because it’s subjective,” he added. “There is no label vote, there is no journalist vote. It’s purely music professionals.”
His remarks come on the heels of the 68th Grammy Awards, held on February 1 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The ceremony was hosted by comedian Trevor Noah, marking his final appearance as host after leading the prestigious event since 2021.
The 2026 edition of the Grammys was also historic for the Recording Academy, as it marked the final broadcast of the awards on CBS, which has aired the ceremony since 1973. From 2027, the Grammys will move to ABC under a new 10-year broadcast agreement with Disney, with streaming options available on Hulu and Disney+.
Musically, the night belonged to rapper Kendrick Lamar, who emerged as the biggest winner for the second consecutive year. Lamar secured five awards, including the coveted Record of the Year for Luther, his collaboration with singer SZA, and Best Rap Album for GNX, further cementing his legacy as one of the most decorated artists in Grammy history.
The ceremony also made a landmark statement for African music. Legendary Nigerian musician Fela Anikulapo-Kuti received a posthumous honour, becoming the first African artist to earn this specific recognition from the Recording Academy. The award celebrated Fela’s enduring global influence and his pioneering role in the creation and evolution of Afrobeat.
