Every year, there is excitement, nerves and anger surrounding the Grammy Awards. This year was no different, with an explosion of new artists, more tenured artists coming back into the spotlight and categories being full of songs that all deserved to win. 

Social media exploded Feb. 2 as Kendrick Lamar and Beyoncé added more trophies to their collections, while artists like Billie Eilish left empty-handed. While fans fumed over snubs, the real issue isn’t who won — it’s the Grammys’ deeply flawed system, (though many may claim otherwise, including those who point to The Weeknd’s return to the Grammys after previously boycotting the awards in 2021 when he received no nominations).  

This backlash directed toward the Grammys’ system isn’t new. The Grammys are subjective, yet fans treat it as an objective measure of an artist’s success. When artists like Lamar and Beyoncé win, it isn’t necessarily because of favoritism or their number of streams — it’s the voters’ tastes and the industry’s politics. 

The bigger problem? The Grammys continue to struggle with transparency. Who gets nominated and who wins is still a mystery to the general public, leading to endless speculation and frustration. 

However, while change should be enacted, tearing down winners isn’t going to fix the system. Just because you didn’t listen to “Cowboy Carter” doesn’t mean it wasn’t worthy of album of the year according to the Academy. 

Fans should demand an accountable process and focus on celebrating the music industry’s success of the year. After all, artistry and winning isn’t defined by the golden gramophone; it’s the impact, the longevity and the fans who keep listening.