Now that award season has started, the Grammys are up next on March 14. Conversation about who should win always creates controversy as some people believe that the Grammys are rigged.

According to the Grammy award show website, “The [nominating] process begins with members and record companies submitting entries, which are then screened for eligibility and category placement. The Academy’s voting members, all involved in the creative and technical processes of recording, then participate in (1) the nominating process that determines the five finalists in each category; and (2) the final voting process which determines the Grammy winners. Recording Academy members and record companies enter recordings and music videos released during the eligibility year which they consider worthy of recognition in the Grammy Awards process.”

The assumption that Grammy nominations rigged are first started a few years ago when viewers were tuning into the show expecting the most popular artist and music to win or the album that most spoke to their categorized genre. When viewers saw that an artist who was nominated for an award lose to someone who did not quite fit the bill, people on social media started saying the Grammys were rigged.

For example, at the 2020 Grammy award, people believe that singer/songwriter Ariana Grande was snubbed when another artist, Billie Eilish, won over her. Viewers believed that Grande should have won because she more talented, however, people believe the same for Eilish.

Fans noticed that certain albums were nominated for awards that were not meant for that album, therefore causing the album to lose and not get proper recognition.

“I remember being extremely shocked and disappointed when Macklemore’s “The Heist” album won Best Rap Album over Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Good Kid Maad City’ album,” Nala Williams ’22 said. “That moment let me know that the Grammys was not really for the culture.”

Some view the Grammys as being about giving the artist the recognition for their art, but because of social media and the current climate of the world, it has become more about being seen and getting views.

“I believe the Grammys can be unfair and rigged at times,” Sophia Yubut ’21 said. “I believe all big award shows can be biased towards certain groups of people. I feel like some of the nominees are not always the most deserving ones for that category and are only there to boost their ratings and get more viewers.”

While some do think the Grammys are rigged, others believe that artists  get what they earned. Some may think that certain fandoms throw temper-tantrums just because their favorite artist did not win.

“Given our current social climate, I believe you will get people saying all kinds of things are rigged or unfair,” Michelle Wood, math teacher, said. “If I really wanted to know if it was fair, I would do some research, not just listen to someone’s opinion.”

If you are interested in watching the 2021 Grammys, the night of talent begins March 14 at 8 p.m. on CBS.