“You can’t win without…” – Grammy CEO shares ‘secrets’ on how to win the Award
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Recording Academy, Harvey Mason, has sparked widespread reactions online after opening up on the secrets to winning a Grammy.
His interview has gone viral, especially following the surprising outcome where Nigerian music stars, including Burna Boy and Davido, failed to secure any wins at the 68th Grammy Awards.
Nigerian Artists’ Grammy Loss Sparks Debate
The 68th edition of the Grammy Awards left fans stunned, particularly after Burna Boy lost his nominations, while Davido also missed out on 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 numbers, or social media fanbase.
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.”
See below;
Grammy Awards CEO shared how you can win a Grammy Award 🤔 pic.twitter.com/iVVjcLN5I4
— OLAMIDE 🌸💖 (@Olamide0fficial) February 2, 2026
