The biggest mistake the Grammys made
In treating the biggest pop star in the world with contempt, the Grammys discovered that they need Ariana Grande a lot more than she needs them, writes Cameron Adams.
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The fastest way for an award show like the Grammys to continue to make it look like an institution run by and for dinosaurs?
Alienate the biggest pop star in the world right now. And her entire fanbase.
Because, quite frankly, in 2019 the Grammys need Ariana Grande way more than she needs them.
In case you missed it, Grande was due to perform at the Grammy Awards today.
She has the No. 1 song in America right now, 7 Rings. Her previous single, Thank U, Next, is still No. 6 in the US. She released a brand new album on Friday also titled Thank U, Next, which is No. 1 all over the world on most streaming platforms.
Yet Grammys producer Ken Ehrlich reportedly told Grande she couldn’t perform 7 Rings (ie, the No. 1 song in America right now) in full and would have to perform a medley instead.
His spin to media was “it was too late for her to pull something together” and “it’s too bad, she’s a great artist.”
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Rather than buckle, Grande did what any fearless millennial with 60 million Twitter followers would — she told the truth.
“I’ve kept my mouth shut, but now you’re lying about me,” Grande tweeted. “I can pull together a performance overnight and you know that, Ken. It was when my creativity and self expression was stifled by you, that I decided not to attend.”
Quite why you wouldn’t let Ariana Grande do what the heck she likes is baffling. Even if she wanted to play a brand new song, you promote it as the world premiere of a song from her new album. You know, the one breaking streaming records right now. If you want the Grammys to find a young audience, you need Ariana Grande fans watching.
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Let’s be honest, she could post a video on her social media and it’ll get more eyes the Grammys. She was their ticket to bringing in the next generation, who now see them as that award show for old people who lied about Ariana.
Too late for her to pull something together? She went on stage in Manchester to do a huge charity concert a few months after a bomb went off at her show, killing some of her fans. An award show is a piece of piss by comparison.
The Grammys have form for this, and coincidentally it has form for being with young female artists. The year Lorde’s album Melodrama was nominated for Album of the Year, she was the only nominee not invited to perform a song at the Grammys.
And let’s remember, the Grammys runs for up to three hours. It’s a bum-number of an awards show with multiple performance slots.
Lorde was told she could perform — but it would only be a Tom Petty song as part of a tribute to the late rocker. She’d already done a Bowie tribute the previous year and felt she was being typecast. If you can’t sing your own song the year your second album is up for Album of the Year, then do the Grammys really support artistic creativity and the next generation?
MORE FROM CAMERON ADAMS: Sit or stand? The big concert dilemma
And don’t ask Beyonce fans about Bey missing out on Album of the Year twice with her last two records, the game-changing Beyonce and Lemonade.
This year’s Album of the Year category is at least the least beige in years. Take aside the shock inclusion of rapper Post Malone, there’s Kendrick Lamar, H. E. R, Cardi B, Janelle Monae, Drake as well as country/pop singer Kacey Musgraves and folk singer Brandi Carlile.
If rapper Cardi B wins, we could finally have someone who might call the Grammys out live on stage. Whatever she says, it won’t be boring.
Cardi B is one of the performers due to take the stage, as well as Miley Cyrus, Shawn Mendes, Post Malone and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Diana Ross is also taking the stage to mark her 75th birthday.
But there’s going to be an Ariana shaped-hole and now we all know why and Grande has shone a welcome light on some of the ridiculous old school politics going on behind the scenes at award shows that the new generation aren’t willing to put up with.
Thank U, next.
Cameron Adams is a News Corp music writer.
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