Bieber acquired four nominations this week, 3 of which were under Pop categorization: Best Pop Vocal Album- Changes, Best Pop Solo Performance, and Best Pop Group/Duo Performance. His other categories for the nomination was for Best Country Group/Duo Performance. His other categories for the nomination was for Best Country Group/Duo Performance. Justin described the categorization of his music as “strange” and “weird” in an Instagram post.
But on a day when such prominent R&B singers as The Weeknd, Alicia Keys, Summer Walker and Kehlani were ostracized of the Grammy nominations totally, Bieber took to Instagram to protest about being a nominee in Pop categories instead of R&B.
“To the Grammys,” he wrote. “I am blessed to be recognized and appreciated for my work. I am very conscientious and purposeful about my artistry. With that being said, I embarked on making an R&B album. i.e.- ‘Changes’ is an R&B music album. It is not known as an R&B album, which is very weird to me. I grew up praising R&B music and desired to make an album that would personify that music. For this album not to be put into that categorization feels absurd, taking in view the chords, the melodies and the vocal style, all the way down to the hip-hop drums that were selected, it is undoubtedly an R&B album.
In his justification, The Recording Academy Chair and Interim President says ‘We try hard to make sure people’s art is respected and appraised in the correct category.’
‘We always want to respect their wishes. Art is a funny thing because it’s so subjective, and at the Academy, our goal is to honour brilliance,
He further says: ‘At some point, decisions have to be made as to how to juxtapose different things, and it is a very stout process and one I don’t think we get right every time.’
The chief concluded: ‘We use our utmost efforts to get people where they wanna be and where they should be and try to estimate them as best as we can. If he felt that was that type of a record, then, you know. I’ll just leave it at that.
Another artist, The Weeknd, whose songs dominated 2020, accused the Recording Academy of corruption and a lack of transparency.