In the wake of Nicki Minaj’s questioning of the Recording Academy’s placement of her song “Super Freaky Girl” in the Grammys’ music category, as opposed to rap, comes another case of artists protesting an application that was excluded from the chosen section…in this case, the children’s album category.
The album in question is “Arise Together,” a record featuring children’s artists, children’s choirs, other musicians, thought leaders, and children living in war-torn Ukraine. The Grammy Presentation Committee pushed it not into a different genre category, but for the All-Genre Album of the Year – which the producers of “Arise” could have chosen in addition, to present their project originally, but they didn’t.
When accessed for comment, Grammy representatives cited guidelines for selections for screening committees, which read in part: “Entries in most categories are screened by committees of genre experts to determine the appropriate category and field location. If the genre screening committee decides that the recording should be moved to another genre, it will Registration redirection and examination by the genre committee.
However, the Academy’s guidelines say nothing about converting the recording from a genre category to an unspecified category, as this category was, putting it in competition against several thousand other competing projects, including the best projects from superstars, rather than the small field for children’s albums.
Sources say that it sometimes happens that an album is judged unsuitable for any particular genre’s house by the appropriate screening committees, and when that happens, the recording in question is turned over to the album of the year. It is not clear what would happen if the project in question was already presented in this category as well.
“Arise Together” includes appearances by Julian Lennon, Dave Mason, and Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson, Arun Gandhi, and is produced by Rupham Sarma and Kevin Mackie. The themes on the album focus on promoting inclusion, peace and diversity.
The album was presented during the Grammy’s early online entry process. The producers confirmed that correspondence between the producers and the academy verified that the album was entered correctly. They then paid for a Billboard ad from the Grammy’s release, which they said was verified at the time by the Academy as a legitimate entry for a children’s music album. Two weeks later, after Billboard’s publication and one day before membership voting began on October 12, the producers received a notice to remove the album from the children’s category and place it in the highest general category, which they believe is unprecedented and out of context for a children’s album.
A single track from the album, “Children of the World,” featuring Lennon and Mason, was entered in the Best International Musical Performance category – and was accepted.
Musician Alex Otti explained that the record is designed to help children in Ukraine in several ways: The children of Ukraine performed – for example, a duet across the ocean about “Go, Me” with singer Kimberly Witkowski – recognizing their talents and recognizing their wartime statuses. Proceeds go to the One Little Finger Foundation (501c3), which currently helps families and children affected by violence. Arise Together proceeds go to help children globally and include financially helping children in Ukraine to get medical care for mental and physical trauma.
“I question the entry and the way albums are judged in their categories,” says Elci. diverse. “I’m wondering about this because under the Grammys’ guidelines, it will appear with our album that they violated their own guidelines. Something’s not right. So, I’m questioning this entry process. It doesn’t make sense to me. Secret Committee – who’s in it? What if there’s a problem? Should I? We have a right to know. There’s a lack of transparency in the process. The Grammys have been slowly trying to fix it, but they don’t quite go with it.”
According to Grammy Awards guidelines: “The screening committee is expected to consider artist intent as part of the decision-making process. In cases where the screening committee is unsure whether to transfer the recording to another genre, artist intent (as indicated in the category) should be considered. in which the registry was initially entered) the determining factor in the appropriate category position”.
“Is Nicki Minaj right? Are competing artists encouraged to take each other out of the competition by slandering each other and using force behind closed doors?” Mackie asked in a statement. “Arise Together calls for transparency. Who are the members of these committees and why is this kind of unethical behavior allowed to continue on the world’s most famous music awards program? In this case, the children lose.”
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