Thank You for the Music: the 2025 Grammy Awards

Streaming platforms such as Spotify and YouTube alongside social media apps like TikTok have become vital to artists’ popularity and reach, changing the way listeners consume music, however this has also changed how award shows have to function. Beatrix Vassilev ’27 comments on the abundance of new artists in this year's awards: “It’s harder to cover all genres or up-and-coming artists because it’s so easy to make music independently now,” she explains. Furthermore, Max Blechinger ’26 suggested that while 16.9 million people watch the Grammys each year, he believes “only 10% would listen to something from the awards.”

This has complicated the Grammys’ task of adequately representing all genres and trends as songs can go viral in a day. The most common debate surrounding the Grammys regards the tension between commercial success and artistic merit. Many critics, whether they be people online or within the industry, argue that the awards tend to favor popular artists, sometimes overlooking those pushing the boundaries of music. For example, Kelsey Reichart ’27 believes that usually the ceremony will “pick whichever artists will gain the most traction at the time based on trends” meaning that oftentimes, “those [artists] don’t to be jazz or soul artists.”
Vassilev acknowledges this dynamic but provides a different perspective, stating, "More popular artists do get a leg up, but also there’s a reason they are the popular artists...and that’s because people like them, which to me seems deserving of a Grammy." It can be difficult to define "artistic merit" in a world where commercial success often overlaps with artistic innovation.

As the diversity of the industry increases, the Grammys’ ability to stay mainstream is also at stake. Rosie Liu ’25 also mentioned that in this new era of music, she believes that the Grammys are losing
relevance because “a lot of achievements in the industry feel artificial now.” This may be due to the voting system, which goes through several rounds of voting by the Grammy’s membership. Blechinger adds that this “voting system for these nominations could be improved” and that the awards could more adequately recognize genres such as alternative music through a popularity vote. Reichart thinks that the Grammys should “overlook trends and showcase certain artists of those genres.” While the Grammys face criticism for not fully representing the diversity of today’s music scene, they remain a beloved institution in the industry. Despite their flaws, the event continues to serve as a benchmark for artistic achievement. The Grammy Awards remain a highly anticipated event, for a multitude of different reasons. Lee believes the Grammys hold a special place because of the recognition they provide. “The Grammys are more important for artists because they are getting the honor of receiving this award and have been working towards it all their music
career I would imagine," she said. When Molly Calderone ’27 has watched the Grammys in previous years, she notes that “there were some I didn’t recognize at all, but others were people with huge careers.” This means the effect of the Grammys are variable, in her opinion: “I think it could jumpstart someone’s career, but they’d
have to already be a part of the industry.” At the Grammys, an artist’s live performance can attract many viewers because they offer a rare chance to see this big- name artist perform in an elaborate setting.

"I love the live performances," stated Liu, “since there are increasingly less events where we get to see the biggest names in music perform outside of concerts.” Aerin O’Brien ’26 reflects on the creativity of
live performances: “I love the creativity that goes into live performances, it gives something special for both artists and fans.” However, the problem of the Grammys overlooking certain genres remains present in the live performances. Calderone mentions the ceremony’s focus on some genres over others, adding that “There was so much pop last year during the live performances, but not a lot of anything else.” For example, she lists that “there was genuinely no rock music [showcased] at all.”

Ultimately, the Grammy Awards are more than just a red-carpet celebration of a celebrity’s popular songs that

people heard on the radio. They are a representation of the music industry and showcase the unique voices of artists across the globe. Whether it’s mainstream pop, underground indie, soul, rap, or jazz, the Grammys continue to be an influential platform for recognizing the artists who shape the world of music.