At first blush, it seemed like cutting categories was a smart path for the Grammy Awards. But instead of cutting the fat, a lot of important ethnic genres were eliminated—and that is stirring a growing consortium of concerned musicians. “The biggest and most irresponsible cut to us is that you have eliminated Latin Jazz," Carlos Santana wrote NARAS trustees earlier this month. “We strongly protest this decision and we ask you to represent all of the colors of the rainbow when it comes to music and give ethnic music a place in the heart of music lovers everywhere." The open letter was first presented at a meeting at Yoshi's in Oakland.
But the category cuts go far deeper than Latin Jazz, and into a largenumber of ethnic genres. “Eliminated categories include contemporary jazz, Native American, zydeco, cajun, classical, Hawaiian, Mexican and world music as well as contemporary blues, Haitian, polka and other ethnic music categories," the group—called 'Grammy Watch'—shared.
Since the Santana letter, an open meeting has been held on the Lower East Side, and the protest moved this week to a NARAS meeting in Beverly Hills (it was Thursday afternoon). Throughout, the group has been pointing to a “travesty" that is “culturally insensitive and non-supportive of musical diversity," perhaps a delicate way of putting things.
All of that offers a wildly different opinion from producer and entrepreneur Steve Stoute, who successfully raised a post-awards stink in defense of bigger pop stars like Kanye West. But who cares about another trophy on Kanye's shelf, when entire genres are getting wiped? “At various regional chapter meetings, NARAS has defended the cuts as being fair and well thought out, although they were made behind closed doors withno input from the membership nor the respective boards of governors of the regional chapters," Grammy Watch continued.
Unfortunately, this debate seems to be going towards an ugly place. NARAS chief Neil Portnow has been publicly urging a more conciliatory, cooperative resolution, though leading dissenters—including four-time Latin Jazz winner Bobby Sanabria—are crying foul. Part of problem is that Portnow is pushing the discussion for shifts in 2013—not next year. “He's being arrogant in saying that it's written in stone when we have a chance to get these categories reinstated," said Sanabria told the Associated Press, referring to Portnow.
But the category cuts go far deeper than Latin Jazz, and into a largenumber of ethnic genres. “Eliminated categories include contemporary jazz, Native American, zydeco, cajun, classical, Hawaiian, Mexican and world music as well as contemporary blues, Haitian, polka and other ethnic music categories," the group—called 'Grammy Watch'—shared.
Since the Santana letter, an open meeting has been held on the Lower East Side, and the protest moved this week to a NARAS meeting in Beverly Hills (it was Thursday afternoon). Throughout, the group has been pointing to a “travesty" that is “culturally insensitive and non-supportive of musical diversity," perhaps a delicate way of putting things.
All of that offers a wildly different opinion from producer and entrepreneur Steve Stoute, who successfully raised a post-awards stink in defense of bigger pop stars like Kanye West. But who cares about another trophy on Kanye's shelf, when entire genres are getting wiped? “At various regional chapter meetings, NARAS has defended the cuts as being fair and well thought out, although they were made behind closed doors withno input from the membership nor the respective boards of governors of the regional chapters," Grammy Watch continued.
Unfortunately, this debate seems to be going towards an ugly place. NARAS chief Neil Portnow has been publicly urging a more conciliatory, cooperative resolution, though leading dissenters—including four-time Latin Jazz winner Bobby Sanabria—are crying foul. Part of problem is that Portnow is pushing the discussion for shifts in 2013—not next year. “He's being arrogant in saying that it's written in stone when we have a chance to get these categories reinstated," said Sanabria told the Associated Press, referring to Portnow.
