Grammy Awards President Neil Portnow responded to public criticism that the 2018 Grammy Awards major category winners were 75% male. Portnow responded to the backlash that sparked a #GrammysSoMale hashtag on Twitter.com on Sunday.
Only one woman took home a trophy in a major category — Alessia Cara who won for best new artist.
Portnow said if female artists want to be better represented at the Grammys, they must “step up” and create more opportunities for themselves. It’s not enough to twerk and dress half naked in music videos and onstage.
“It has to begin with, women who have the creativity in their hearts and souls, who want to be musicians, who want to be engineers, producers, and want to be part of the industry on the executive level,” Portnow told Variety magazine.
He added: “[They need] to step up because I think they would be welcome… I think it’s upon us — us as an industry — to make the welcome mat very obvious, breeding opportunities for all people who want to be creative and paying it forward and creating that next generation of artists.”
Hawaiian native Bruno Mars swept the awards with 6 trophies, while rapper Kendrick Lamar walked away with 4 prizes.
Rapper JAY-Z, who received 8 nominations, was completely shut out.
Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images
