The Crypto.com Arena in L.A. hosted the 67th Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 2, celebrating established and emerging recording artists for their finest works of the year. Among the nominees were Billie Eilish, Charlie XCX, and Sabrina Carpenter—all vying for multiple categories.
The night’s results surprised fans, with pop artist Beyonce winning Best Country Album and Taylor Swift losing all six of her nominations. Despite the wins and losses, one thing was clear: the Grammys have become a platform for advocacy.
As the winners were revealed, artists used their speech time to recognize various political and cultural issues.
Best New Artist winner Chappell Roan called for record labels to pay emerging artists like herself livable wages and provide decent health care.
“I told myself if I ever won a Grammy,” Roan said, “and I got to stand up here in front of the most powerful people in music, I would demand that labels in the industry profiting millions of dollars off of artists would offer livable wages and health care, especially to developing artists.”
Alicia Keys, who received the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, advocated for recognizing female producers and increasing diversity in the music industry.
“… this is for all the ladies that know the magic that they bring to the room,” Keys said. “We’ve seen on this stage talented, hard-working people from different backgrounds with different points of view, and it changes the game.”
Rapper Doechii, who won Best Rap Album, directed her speech to young girls of color, encouraging them not to conform to society’s stereotypes.
“You are exactly who you need to be to be right where you are,” Doechii said. “And I am a testimony, praise God.”
These artists highlighted the influence of the Grammys, transforming the award show into a culturally significant event.
Dr. Julie Goodman-Bowling, associate professor of anthropology, explained that prestige is why the Grammys platform exists. In anthropology, prestige is given to people or groups who hold power or honor in society.
“The thing about prestige is it’s only given to you by the power of the people,” Goodman-Bowling said. “So if we decided tomorrow that we don’t care about what Britney Spears says about politics, we would stop listening to Britney Spears about politics.”
In modern America, few authoritative voices hold widespread influence. Goodman-Bowling said people still crave direction, which has contributed to the creation of a celebrity culture.
Society looks to celebrities to reflect its values. For example, the ongoing movement for equality in America has enabled and even expected artists like Alicia Keys to speak on related issues.
Caroline Houck, sophomore philosophy and English double major, explained that singers and celebrities gain even more influence because of their relatability. Many fans “identify themselves with one of the artists” and elevate them, often overlooking their flaws.
Houck pointed to Taylor Swift as a notable example of this. Swift grew up with her fans by writing about heartbreak and love through the ages. When Swift does something “wrong,” her fans vehemently defend her; the prestige the fans give can blind them from mistakes their role models make; they want to see their idols succeed.
Sarah Jenkins, sophomore songwriting major, discussed how modern artists reach their peak of fame.
“I think [the Grammys] devalue music a lot,” Jenkins said. “People will start putting out what’s trendy instead of what actually means something.”
Jenkins, like Goodman-Bowling, believed the Grammys continued to thrive because people watched them. She noted that many modern artists rise to fame by aligning with cultural trends.
These dynamics keep the Grammys relevant each year, drawing larger audiences. This is why artists like Chappell Roan and Alicia Keys use the Grammy stage to share culturally relevant messages; people are eager to see their favorite idols discuss issues they care about.
The Grammys have evolved beyond celebrating music to becoming a platform where celebrities amplify cultural ideologies. Without the influence of cultural values, the Grammys might not hold the same significance.
