Two weeks ago ad exec and record producer Steve Stoute faulted the Grammy Awards for being out of touch with their market. In a full-page ad in the New York Times he blasted the kudos. Chief among his criticisms was awarding lesser-known talents (he means you Esperanza Spalding) instead of marquee players: “”How is it that Justin Bieber, an artist that defines what it means to be a modern artist, did not win Best New Artist?”
The recording academy thought enough of his concerns that they have asked him for help in improving the awards process. In a joint statement with academy exec Neil Portnow, they say: “The voices of artists and our creative community are at the heart of the missions of the Recording Academy and indeed the music industry itself. Expanding constructive and positive ways to continue to actively incorporate generational and artistic diversity in the Academy’s development and good work serves those important missions. The participation of new and culturally diverse voices has and continues to be a goal which benefits our members, the creative community, and music fans everywhere.”
