India Arie Calls Out the Grammy Awards
Just as Kendrick Lamar walked into the Grammy Awards with seven nominations and left without a win, India Arie experienced a similar moment years earlier. The soul artist took to her website to address what she saw as deeper issues inside the Recording Academy, including how Black artists and Black music are positioned on music’s biggest televised stage. Below is her full statement.
On Kendrick Lamar and the Night’s Performances
@Kendricklamar WAS robbed. But he was not the only one. Personally, I was pleased he was able to perform, and they KILLED IT. One of the few truly moving moments of the night for me.
“Music’s Biggest Night” — Or a Popularity Contest?
Though it’s called “music’s biggest night,” the #Grammys are not about the music alone. It often feels like a popularity contest. The voting process allows people to vote on name recognition. Industry politics is another conversation entirely — too much to unpack here.
The American Music Awards openly reward sales and popularity. The #Grammys are said to be about the music itself.
Who Votes for the Music?
If the hip hop community voted strictly on hip hop music, if the R&B community voted strictly within its own category, and the same applied across genres, we would likely see winners that reflect the music itself. We all know that’s not how it works.
The Bigger Conversation: Black Music’s Visibility
The bigger issue is the loss for Black music as a whole. Where was the Black music community represented in last night’s #Grammy show? Performers. Winners. Nominees. Where were the Black artists?
This is not the first time the #Grammys have produced a show that largely excluded young Black America and Black artists in general, even though Black music continues to shape global musical trends. Why were the Isley Brothers’ Lifetime Achievement honors not televised? They deserved to stand on that stage. Meanwhile, other artists appeared more than once.
Ratings vs. Representation
In a perfect world, diversity would be standard and respect would be visible. The reality is that the #Grammys are a television show. In that world, ratings matter. Bigger names get the stage. And often, those “bigger” names are shaped by marketing dollars, exposure, and longstanding industry structures that influence who becomes visible in the first place. It is unfortunate, but it is part of the system.
Showing Up Anyway
I don’t get surprised anymore. But it still challenges my sense of fairness because I know many of the artists who are overlooked. I live in that world. We keep showing up. We keep participating in the process, hoping maybe this time the outcome will be different. Seeing @Kendricklamar take that stage mattered. Being seen is, in itself, a form of winning.
Celebrating the Music That Won
Congratulations to some of my personal favorite albums of the year — @I_GregoryPorter for #LiquidSpirit, @Realsnarkypuppy, and @lalahhathaway on your win. And thank you, @pharrell, for honoring the greatness of @Nilerodgers and #StevieWonder.
Final Thoughts
Love to all #SoulBirdsWorldWide.
@IndiaArie
P.S. No mention of Nelson Mandela at all? And that is why we need the Image Awards and the BET Awards.