Grammys CEO Harvey Mason jr. is making one thing clear to Recording Academy voters: “There is no place in our organization for such bias, grudge-holding, or careless voting.”
The songwriter-producer and executive sent a letter to Academy voters on Friday, reminding them to cast their votes for the 2025 show with a purpose.
“Last GRAMMY season, I heard a GRAMMY voter say they hadn’t taken a specific artist seriously since a performance they saw more than ten years ago. I was shocked and disturbed by that. There is no place in our organization for such bias, grudge-holding, or careless voting. It’s about the current year and the quality of the work, period!,” he wrote.
Mason jr. adds, “There should be no other rationale for voting. If you are taking into account an artist’s older work, or their reputation, or race, or gender, what label they are on, who their manager is, how many friends participated in the project, or anything else like that, you’re not doing your job. I know most of you already do but please, just listen to the music, and evaluate it!”
The 67th annual Grammy Awards will take place Feb. 2, 2025, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, and nominees for the show will be announced on Nov. 8. First-round voting will run from Oct. 4 to Oct. 15 and final voting will run from Dec. 12 through Jan. 3, 2025.
Beyoncé and Taylor Swift are among those expected to earn nominations at the upcoming show, which will broadcast live on CBS and stream live and on-demand on Paramount+.
Read Mason jr.’s full letter below.
Dear GRAMMY voters,
Normally you don’t hear from me about GRAMMY voting until our ballot is live but this year is different. I want to make sure you understand how critically important it is for you to vote, and to vote with intention and integrity.
We all know the GRAMMY is music’s most coveted award because it is an honor that comes from one’s peers. It’s not a popularity contest. The nominees and winners are not chosen by the critics, fans, or the staff of the Academy. They are chosen by you—the 12,000+ music creators who are the voting members of the Recording Academy.
You are the GRAMMY electorate. Your votes are tallied by Deloitte, and then announced publicly, celebrated, and recorded by history as the very best in music for that year. The trajectory of people’s careers and lives are altered by your choices. As such, you owe it to your peers to vote intentionally, deliberately, with pride and with purpose.
Last GRAMMY season, I heard a GRAMMY voter say they hadn’t taken a specific artist seriously since a performance they saw more than ten years ago. I was shocked and disturbed by that. There is no place in our organization for such bias, grudge-holding, or careless voting. It’s about the current year and the quality of the work, period!
There should be no other rationale for voting. If you are taking into account an artist’s older work, or their reputation, or race, or gender, what label they are on, who their manager is, how many friends participated in the project, or anything else like that, you’re not doing your job. I know most of you already do but please, just listen to the music, and evaluate it! You are the reason the GRAMMY Award is so special.
Music is a force for good in the world. It changes moods, opens hearts and minds and unites the world. It moves us to act. And the GRAMMY is the way to honor the people who work so hard to make it. Next February, all across the globe, the people who make music and all the people who love music will be watching to see who the GRAMMY voters have chosen to honor. All eyes will be on you, on us. I hope you view your vote as important. I hope that you begin prioritizing your responsibility now, and not wait until GRAMMY season is here. I hope that you evaluate the music carefully, and prepare yourself to vote with care and purpose, and that you encourage your fellow voting members to do the same. Your peers in music are counting on you.
Respectfully yours,
Harvey
