The 53rd Grammys: Furthering or Limiting the Music Industry

A total of 26 million people watched the controversial 53rd Grammy Awards this last Sunday. With Lady GaGa's entrance in a egg to Cee Lo Greens Muppet Show, to say the Grammys were abnormal seems to be an understatement. Not only were the fashions and the performances obscure but so were the recipients of the awards.
I may not exactly be Justin Bieber's "One Less Lonely Girl" but I certainly found him a prime candidate for the Best New Artist. Instead, Esperanza Spalding won the award leaving many shocked at Drake's, Justin Bieber's, and Mumford and Sons' loss.

"As for the awards" Bieber himself tweeted "...of course I wanted to win. Its been & still is a dream to win a grammy. Was I upset...yes. But I was happy for her also."

Eminem who was nominated for a total of 10 Grammys ended up taking home only two, instead of sweeping away the competition. With his album, Recovery, selling 4 million albums this year, Eminem once again did not win Album of the Year. Instead, Arcade Fire, a small indie-band beat out artists like Katy Perry and Lady Antebellum. With Eminems 4 millions albums sold, Arcade Fire's 484,000 did not even come close to reaching the mainstream media.
Though surprises are never rare at events such as these, Lady Antebellum's win for Song and Record of the year had many watchers stunned. Tweets were going off the hook as upset fans poured out their anger while others we're so excited for the underdogs win.

"Is this a f***ing joke? RT: @CNNshowbiz: Lady Antebellum wins the #Grammy for record of the year for "Need You Now."

As the controversies over this years Grammy's continue many are asking themselves what exactly is happening to the music industry.
So is this good new, or bed news? Is the music industry opening up to smaller, and dedicated bands while leaving the epic winners like Eminem, and other behind? MTV's article on the "Grammy Upset" states

"It made me happy, because they're (the current generation working the music industry) voting for moving the music industry forward, and that's healthy that they're ethically and aesthetically minded. This is what we want music to be like in the near future — independent, artistically motivated more than motivated by commercial desire. We don't want it to pander."

Personally, I was upset by this years Grammys wins and losses. I had my favorites set and many of them did not win! Though I may have been let down I agree with MTV's article, what is the fun in watching the same old artists win by sweeping the competition every year? Exactly, it isn't. This years Grammys may have been a little more... awkward then usual but that is exactly what has been getting so much attention. With the Grammys opening up to small indie bands, crazier outfits, and unknown artists the music industry is broadening their horizons. As unhappy as I may be with Justin BIeber's loss, many deserving artists won this year, making a name for themselves, and taking home a shiny little Grammy trophy.