Grammy’s 60th: Conflict of Interest and Bias
The Marley’s have once again asserted their dominance in the reggae industry by securing the 2018 Grammy 60th Anniversary Reggae Album of the Year Award. For the Marley family, this has been since 1998 after the award was introduced in 1984. The Marley’s have taken home this award ever since, the exception of eight of those years where a few other individuals were able to get a slice of the pie. This means that the iconic family have taken home the golden trophy for total of twelve years.
Ziggy Marley and his wife Orly Agai Marley
In 2014 Orly Agai Marley, the wife of six-time Grammy-winner David “Ziggy” Marley was elected a governor of the Lost Angeles Chapter of The Recording Academy, 40-member voting group which is eligible for nomination and consideration for who to give the music honor to. Born in Israel, Orly Agai Marley is the mother of three children with Ziggy.
It is no doubt that the Marley’s have been providing us with sensational, breathtaking roots rocking reggae since the Legend Bob Marley came on the world stage in 1973. Bob Marley, with no reservation, belongs to the Reggae hall of fame – in fact, he created it, literally.
In this year’s 60th staging of the Grammy Awards, the best reggae album again went to Marley’s. The album; ‘Stony Hill’ by Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley was selected over that of other major artists like Chronixx, and Morgan Heritage. Once again, congratulations to Jr. Gong with this Award, you made your family and country proud.
However, for years the loyal Viewers of the Grammy’s have expressed their doubt in the selection process for the awards. Some persons have sighted instances of bias and sometimes racism in the choices. In 2017 the fans of ‘Queen Bee’ were all heartbroken when the best album of the year went to Adele’s ‘25’ instead of Beyoncé’s ‘Lemonade’. In addition, Adele subtly hinted that the award should have went to Beyoncé instead.The 60th Grammy awards again was charged Bias, this time with the best Reggae Album of the year.
Whether or not the album was the best of all the nominations, having a sister-in-law as the Governor of the Board in charge of selecting the winner of the Award that you are vying for is a clear conflict of interest. This will definitely add ‘fuel to the fire’ to those that think that the Grammy Awards are given to not the most talented or best act, but the friends of those who are in charge. Moreover, is it now clear that this bias is no longer being covertly expressed, but now right in our faces?
To the loyal viewers, skeptics and critical analysis of the Grammy Awards, what do you think about this?