INSIDE THE GRAMMYS: Recording Academy CEO, Harvey Mason Jr. Reveals Why Talent, Not Sales or Streams Determines Winners as Kendrick Lamar Dominates, Fela Kuti Is Honoured, and Awards Prepare Historic Broadcast Shift

The Chief Executive Officer of the Recording Academy, Harvey Mason Jr., has shed light on the often-misunderstood process of how artists win Grammy Awards, stressing that victories are determined strictly by votes from music professionals and not by popularity, commercial success, or public hype.

Speaking in a recent interview, Mason Jr. addressed widespread misconceptions surrounding the world’s most prestigious music awards, noting that many fans wrongly believe chart performance and streaming numbers play a decisive role in determining winners.

According to him, the backbone of the Grammy selection process is the voting membership of the Recording Academy, which is made up entirely of qualified professionals working in the music industry.

“First, you have to understand that the only way to win is to have the membership of the Academy vote for you.

“To be a member of the Academy, you have to be a professional working in music in the United States, for now,” he said.

Mason Jr. explained that once an artist’s work is officially submitted for consideration, members of the Academy listen carefully to the music and assess it based solely on artistic merit. Factors such as sales volume, streaming figures, chart positions, social media popularity, and public buzz are completely excluded from the decision-making process.

“You are valued on the quality of your art. Not the sales, not the streams, not how many songs, but purely on the opinion of the members,” Mason Jr. said.

He further emphasized that the process is intentionally insulated from outside influence, making it both rigorous and highly subjective. There are no voting privileges for record labels, journalists, critics, or fans, ensuring that outcomes are shaped only by experienced professionals actively engaged in music creation.

“It’s very hard because it’s subjective. There is no label vote, there is no journalist vote. It’s purely music professionals,” he added.

Mason Jr.’s comments come on the heels of the 68th Grammy Awards, which took place on February 1 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The ceremony was hosted by comedian Trevor Noah, who marked his final appearance as host after leading the show since 2021.

Beyond the performances and trophies, the 2026 ceremony carried historic significance for the Recording Academy. It was the final Grammy Awards broadcast on CBS, ending a television partnership that began in 1973. Starting from 2027, the Grammys will move to ABC under a new 10-year broadcast agreement with Disney, with streaming options available on Hulu and Disney+.

Musically, the night belonged to rapper Kendrick Lamar, who emerged as the biggest winner for the second consecutive year.

Lamar secured five awards, further cementing his status as one of the most decorated and influential artists of his generation.

Among his standout victories was Record of the Year for Luther, his collaboration with singer SZA. He also claimed Best Rap Album for GNX, adding another major milestone to his already impressive Grammy legacy.

The ceremony also broke new ground in its recognition of African music. Legendary Nigerian icon Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was honoured with a posthumous award, becoming the first African artist to receive this particular recognition from the Recording Academy. The honour celebrated his enduring global influence and his pioneering role in creating and shaping the Afrobeat genre.

Together, Mason Jr.’s revelations and the night’s historic moments reinforce the Grammys’ core message: artistic excellence, as judged by peers within the industry, remains the ultimate path to music’s highest honour.