(Credits: Far Out / Recording Academy)
Due to the subjectivity of music as an art form, award shows such as the Grammys, which pit musicians against each other in a competition, are always breeding grounds for controversy. On one level, they represent the antithesis of what music should be about, but also provide some of the proudest days an artist could dream of having.
The Grammys is an annual celebration of the biggest success stories from the world of music over the last 12 months. It typically takes place in Los Angeles, and the room is filled with the industry’s most famous faces, showcasing the most lavishly decadent portion of the music business.
However, most artists who step up on the stage to collect their deserved awards have climbed their way up the ladder from playing dingy clubs, and the ceremony allows them to reflect upon their unique journey.
Although the notion of turning music into a fierce competition makes some feel uncomfortable, for the most part, artists revel in the glitz and the glamour. While they may disagree with elements of award shows, such as the Grammys, their disillusionment typically dissipates once their name is read out as victorious.
Despite running for over 60 years, only one artist in the ceremony’s history has had the courage to reject the honour.
In 1991, Sinêad O’Connor was nominated for ‘Best Alternative Music Performance’, ‘Song of the Year’, ‘Best Pop Vocal Performance (Female)’ and ‘Best Music Video – Short Form’. She was also scheduled to perform, and the night contained all the ingredients to further cement her status as a superstar.
However, just days before the ceremony was scheduled to take place, the Irish singer shared an open letter explaining why she would no longer be in attendance. Furthermore, O’Connor laid out her reasoning for rejecting any of the four awards she was in contention for receiving.
She told fans: “As artists, I believe our function is to express the feelings of the human race–to always speak the truth and never keep it hidden even though we are operating in a world which does not like the sound of the truth. I believe that our purpose is to inspire and, in some way, guide and heal the human race, of which we are all equal members.”
O’Connor added: “They acknowledge mostly the commercial side of art. They respect mostly material gain since that is the main reason for their existence. And they have created a great respect among artists for material gain — by honouring us and exalting us when we achieve it, ignoring, for the most part, those of us who have not.”
Despite her refusal to accept the award, O’Connor was still victorious, and her album I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got was named ‘Best Alternative Music Performance’ by the Recording Academy.
Have any artists refused to be considered by the Grammys?
In 2021, three of the five artists nominated for ‘Best Children’s Album’ asked the Recording Academy to remove them from the shortlist. In light of the Black Lives Matter movement, Alastair Moock & Friends, the Okee Dokee Brothers, and Dog on Fleas felt uncomfortable being part of an all-white nominations list, leading to their withdrawal.
In a joint letter, the three acts said: “In the past 10 years, only about 6% of nominated acts have been Black-led or co-led, another 8% or so have been non-Black-POC-led, and around 30% have been female led. These numbers would be disappointing in any category, but—in a genre whose performers are unique tasked with modeling fairness, kindness, and inclusion; in a country where more than half of all children are non-white; and after a year of national reckoning around race and gender—the numbers are unacceptable.”
