| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| kuulei88 |
Posted - 02/22/2011 : 12:06:50 PM
Aloha folks,
So many people have so many passionate thoughts on the Hawaiian category in the GRAMMY Awards. Here are is a concise statement from NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences) a.k.a. "The Recording Academy" webpages:
The GRAMMYs are the only peer-presented award to honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position. (www.grammy.org/recording-academy/
Source: www.grammy.org/recording-academy/
And here is the Category Description for "Best Hawaiian Album" published by NARAS:
For vocal or instrumental Hawaiian music albums containing at least 51% playing time of newly recorded material. This category is for recordings of a more traditional nature but allowing contemporary recordings containing substantial traditional elements. Hawaiian language must be used in a predominance of the vocal tracks. Source: www.grammy.org/files/pages/53CatDescGuide.pdf
Whatever anyone wants to think about what The Recording Academy should do with respect to Hawaiian music, or what voting members (who are industry professionals) should do in order to vote, the fact is that these criteria guide members.
In addition, there are explicit instructions on the ballots that voting members receive. I cannot quote those instructions exactly because I did not xerox my ballot before mailing it back in. But the instructions are that voters should vote on the basis of the music--including listening to it!!--without regard to personal affiliations with record labels or personal relationships. |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| sm80808 |
Posted - 04/07/2011 : 10:12:35 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Admin
Interesting. My initial reaction is that it is a negative for Hawaiian music overall but atleast there is still a place for Hawaiian music.
It is definitely a negative to musicians who felt that awards validated their music career. |
| Retro |
Posted - 04/06/2011 : 10:47:02 AM
quote:
Originally posted by markwitz
Thanks Greg. So it would seem that based on the number of entries this last year, there should still be a Hawaiian Grammy category????
It died in the consolidation of categories - none of the "regional" ones could have sustained themselves in a world of 40-per-year (that's why there's been no Polka award for a few years now). |
| markwitz |
Posted - 04/06/2011 : 09:28:01 AM
Thanks Greg. So it would seem that based on the number of entries this last year, there should still be a Hawaiian Grammy category???? |
| Retro |
Posted - 04/06/2011 : 09:22:22 AM
quote:
Originally posted by markwitz
This year there were 32 entries for the Hawaiian Grammy. I didn't keep a copy of my preliminary ballot for the Na Hoku's this year, but I think there were considerably more than that it some of the major categories. How many entries do you need for the Grammy's to bestow upon you your own separate category?
It used to be 25, now it will be 40. From the Grammy.com website:
Minimum entry thresholds per Category.
It is now expected that each Category shall have at least 40 artist entries. If a Category receives between 25 – 39 artist entries, only three recordings would receive nominations. If a Category receives fewer than 25 artist entries, the Category would not be presented that year (and entries would be moved to the next most logical Category). If a Category receives fewer than 25 entries for three consecutive years, the Category would be discontinued (and submissions would be entered in the next most appropriate Category).
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| markwitz |
Posted - 04/06/2011 : 09:15:42 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Retro
MAJOR CHANGES AFOOT
(quoted directly from the Grammy.com website):
There has been a great deal of concern over the consistently low entries in the Hawaiian, Native American and Cajun/Zydeco Categories.
This year there were 32 entries for the Hawaiian Grammy. I didn't keep a copy of my preliminary ballot for the Na Hoku's this year, but I think there were considerably more than that it some of the major categories. How many entries do you need for the Grammy's to bestow upon you your own separate category? |
| Retro |
Posted - 04/06/2011 : 08:00:38 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Admin
With all the talk of the Academy and its voters, can Hawaiian music compete with that?
Well, now it has to. Considering that so many people didn't seem comfortable with how Hawaiian music was competing with itself, this outcome shouldn't be all that surprising. |
| Admin |
Posted - 04/06/2011 : 07:42:48 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Retro
American Roots Music. The traditional and contemporary blues categories and the traditional and contemporary folk categories each were consolidated into one per genre, due to the number of entries and given the challenges in distinguishing between Contemporary Folk and Americana and Contemporary and Traditional Blues. There has been a great deal of concern over the consistently low entries in the Hawaiian, Native American and Cajun/Zydeco Categories. It was believed best to continue to honor such regional music, but to do it all together, recognizing the very cream of this crop, with one category: Regional Roots Music. This has a pattern/precedent in Regional Mexican Music and would incorporate Hawaiian, Cajun/Zydeco, Native American, and Polka music (which has a regional home in the Great Lakes states).
Interesting. My initial reaction is that it is a negative for Hawaiian music overall but atleast there is still a place for Hawaiian music.
Will a specific style of American Roots Music, say Polka, consistently dominate the category? I mean, Jimmy Sturr has won 18 out of the 24 Grammy Awards given for Best Polka Album. With all the talk of the Academy and its voters, can Hawaiian music compete with that? |
| Retro |
Posted - 04/06/2011 : 06:29:58 AM
MAJOR CHANGES AFOOT
The Recording Academy this morning announced a restructuring of the Awards overall (including the way members are allowed to vote) - press release at http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/announcement/press-release
Main thing you'll all be curious about, of course, is the Hawaiian Album category. Well, here's what is happening with that (quoted directly from the Grammy.com website):
American Roots Music. The traditional and contemporary blues categories and the traditional and contemporary folk categories each were consolidated into one per genre, due to the number of entries and given the challenges in distinguishing between Contemporary Folk and Americana and Contemporary and Traditional Blues. There has been a great deal of concern over the consistently low entries in the Hawaiian, Native American and Cajun/Zydeco Categories. It was believed best to continue to honor such regional music, but to do it all together, recognizing the very cream of this crop, with one category: Regional Roots Music. This has a pattern/precedent in Regional Mexican Music and would incorporate Hawaiian, Cajun/Zydeco, Native American, and Polka music (which has a regional home in the Great Lakes states).
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| slipry1 |
Posted - 03/01/2011 : 11:54:42 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Retro
quote:
Originally posted by slipry1
The Grammys are meaningless to a musician.
I hope my passionate post earlier in this thread shows that I respectfully do not share that opinion, Uncle Keaka. (Then again, as you know, I am uncomfortable with calling myself "a musician" - I'm on the path, but there's more of it ahead of me than there is behind.) 
(And if anyone thinks that a mild difference of opinion in this case would steer me away from the joy of making music alongside this man, you would be sorely mistaken.)
I should have said "unimportant", unless you are playing the kind of music that the Grammy folks deem important. As for you being a musician, braddah, it's too late! You dere, imho! it doesn't matter what time in one's life the music godess comes down and puts the spark in your head, you're hooked. It was probably latent in you all the while. |
| noeau |
Posted - 03/01/2011 : 07:58:37 AM
Well Iʻll take hamburger steak with kim chee on the side. |
| thumbstruck |
Posted - 02/24/2011 : 10:18:42 AM
Eh, Retro, if everybody played bass, who would play steel? It is the differences of opinion that make for good jamming.
BTW, having a bass in the group is like having a plate for the plate lunch. |
| Retro |
Posted - 02/23/2011 : 09:15:34 AM
quote:
Originally posted by slipry1
The Grammys are meaningless to a musician.
I hope my passionate post earlier in this thread shows that I respectfully do not share that opinion, Uncle Keaka. (Then again, as you know, I am uncomfortable with calling myself "a musician" - I'm on the path, but there's more of it ahead of me than there is behind.)
(And if anyone thinks that a mild difference of opinion in this case would steer me away from the joy of making music alongside this man, you would be sorely mistaken.) |
| slipry1 |
Posted - 02/23/2011 : 08:52:03 AM
quote:
Originally posted by slipry1
See my last post on "2011 Grammy Awards" topic. Lest get on having fun playing the music. The Grammys are meaningless to a musician. Let's get on with playing, hoping we have what my Hawaiian freinds call "heart" and "jes' press"!
That's "Lets" not "Lest". Spell checker doesn't always work for us dyslexic types. |
| slipry1 |
Posted - 02/23/2011 : 08:50:56 AM
See my last post on "2011 Grammy Awards" topic. Lest get on having fun playing the music. The Grammys are meaningless to a musician. Let's get on with playing, hoping we have what my Hawaiian freinds call "heart" and "jes' press"! |
| Retro |
Posted - 02/23/2011 : 06:32:39 AM
Hi, Norman.
My post in this thread is not about the voting process - it is about the fact that attacks on what "the Academy" does or does not know are ignorant attacks on those of us who are Academy members educated in Hawaiian music, and who play by the rules.
As has been stated elsewhere, by myself and others, the process can be changed by more involvement. There are likely hundreds of people involved in the Hawaiian music industry who have the necessary credentials to be NARAS members (they are probably HARA members as well, but HARA won't discuss membership numbers), but have not joined.
If they really want to use their knowledge and experience to change the process, they need to join NARAS first. It can't be done from the outside. If they can affect change but decline to do so ... |
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