Harvey Mason, the CEO of the Recording Academy, has sparked online reactions after revealing the secrets to winning a Grammy.

His interview has gone viral, particularly in light of the surprising outcome at the 68th Grammy Awards, where Nigerian music stars such as Burna Boy and Davido did not win any awards.

Nigerian Artists’ Grammy Loss Sparks Debate

The 68th Grammy Awards left fans stunned, particularly after Burna Boy lost his nominations and Davido missed his categories.

Their loss has raised questions about the criteria used to select winners, especially for artists from outside the US.

Quality Over Popularity

Mason emphasized that Grammy winners are not chosen based on record sales, streaming statistics, or social media following.

Instead, the Recording Academy evaluates the quality of the music, with artistic excellence being the top priority.

According to Mason, the awards are decided purely by the opinions of Recording Academy board members, which can sometimes be subjective.

In his words:

“The first thing you have to understand is that the only way to win is to have membership in the Academy. To become a member, you need to be a professional working in music in the United States—for now, it’s limited to the US, though hopefully it will grow in the future.
Once you are a member, all submitted music is listened to and evaluated based on the quality of the art—not on sales, streams, number of fans, or followers. It’s purely based on the opinion of the members, and it can be very subjective. There’s no ‘best’ song or record—winning a Grammy depends on the judgment of the Academy members, not on popularity. That’s how you win a Grammy.”