Grammy Awards Reform Voting Body to Improve Diversity in 2024

The Grammy Awards have long faced criticism over their lack of diversity, with artists of color and women often being overlooked in major categories. However, efforts to change this narrative are well underway, especially with a new voting body that has evolved in recent years. As of this year, the Recording Academy has made significant strides toward diversity, notably adding more than 3,000 female voting members ahead of a 2025 deadline.

This evolution follows a pledge made by the Academy in 2019, aiming to add 2,500 women to its electorate by 2025. Surpassing that goal early is a point of pride for the Academy, whose president, Harvey Mason Jr., remarked on the importance of better representation. “It tells me that we were severely underrepresented in that area,” Mason told reporters.

The reform was catalyzed by a push for inclusion following public comments made by a former CEO during the height of the #MeToo movement, which sparked widespread backlash. A diversity task force was formed shortly after, setting the foundation for a more inclusive Grammy voting process. As a result, more than 8,700 new members have joined the voting body, with over 13,000 of them eligible to vote in this year’s Grammy Awards. That number has grown from around 11,000 in 2023. The Recording Academy has been actively working to improve diversity within its ranks, a commitment outlined in detail on the official Grammy Awards website.

While the task of broadening the electorate has seen many successes, it’s clear that work remains. Today, 66% of the voting body is male, and 49% is white. Additionally, the majority of members are over the age of 40. Despite these figures, progress is visible across racial lines as well, with a 100% growth in Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) voters, 90% growth in Black voters, and 43% growth in Latino voters since 2019.

This transformation at the Grammys echoes the shift seen in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which faced its own reckoning after the #OscarsSoWhite controversy. Just like the film industry, the music world’s leading award show is addressing calls for broader representation and relevance.

Mason noted that the Academy has approached diversity with intention, listening to underrepresented groups within the music industry and actively inviting them to join. “We took the time to understand why these communities weren’t engaging with us,” he explained. This measured approach has not only resulted in more women and people of color among the voters but has also ensured that those involved in the process are active contributors to the industry.

There is still much room for growth, but Mason is optimistic. He emphasised that the Academy will continue its efforts without making lofty public commitments but aims to be the most representative and relevant it can be.

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