The Grammys often disappoint. With frequent snubs and puzzling results, we’ve come to accept their flaws. It seems like the Grammys might be realizing this too. Since 2020, the Recording Academy has been attempting to make improvements, especially after the former President Neil Portnow stepped down in 2019 over some controversial remarks about female musicians.

The academy has announced several changes to demonstrate its commitment to adapting to the evolving music scene. Some name changes included renaming best urban contemporary album to best progressive R&B album, changing Latin pop album to best Latin pop or urban album, and renaming Latin rock, urban, or alternative album to best Latin rock or alternative album to better encompass Latin urban genres.

Harvey Mason Jr., the CEO of the Recording Academy, is dedicated to implementing more reforms to enhance the Grammys.

The 67th annual Grammy Awards will take place on Sunday night. While I lack control over the event or membership in the Recording Academy, my mixed feelings towards the Grammys inspire some suggestions for improvement.

Move Beyond the Status Quo

The Grammys consistently present themselves as the standard for quality music within the mainstream, yet they frequently demonstrate a commitment to maintaining the status quo. The academy, much like the wider music industry, is struggling to adapt to the streaming era and the digital landscape. As they currently stand, the Grammys appear desperate to cling to their former influence and respect.

To regain some of that relevance, the Grammys should broaden their scope to include artists beyond the mainstream. They should also reduce their reliance on outdated genre classifications that fail to capture the reality of today’s genre-blending music.

Increase Diversity in the Recording Academy

Traditionally, the Recording Academy has been viewed as a male-dominated institution. Since 2019, the academy has made strides to diversify its membership, reporting a 27% increase in women voters and a 65% increase in voters of color as per the 2024 Membership Report.

However, the majority of the Recording Academy’s members are still white and male, which is evident in the artists who receive awards – and perhaps more critically, those who do not.

Since Lauryn Hill’s victory in 1999 for “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” no Black woman has won the prestigious album of the year award. Genre categories remain racially segregated, resulting in many Black artists being overlooked in pop categories. Female rock artists, historically marginalized, are only just beginning to receive recognition.

Expanding diversity among the voting members of the Recording Academy could lead to significant positive changes in the artists who are recognized. Furthermore, incorporating greater age diversity could help the Grammys resonate more with what younger audiences appreciate today.

Consider a New Host for the Grammys

Trevor Noah is set to host the Grammys again, but perhaps it’s time for a change. While I have nothing personal against him, he doesn’t resonate with me as an entertaining host. Others may enjoy his style, but I find it lacking.

The Grammys seem to struggle with selecting the right host. They enjoyed success with LL Cool J from 2012 to 2016, whose smooth style kept the event flowing seamlessly. However, recent hosts have fallen flat. Remember the awkward years James Corden hosted? Those were tough to sit through. And Alicia Keys’ turn as host might have slipped your mind, too.

For hosting inspiration, the Grammys could take notes from Tina Fey and Amy Poehler’s Golden Globes hosting period. Imagine how much fun it would be to have two genuinely funny figures from the music world bouncing off each other.

Alternatively, they could follow the Oscars’ example and go host-less, which would encourage spontaneous interactions among musicians. They could also look for a host who brings genuine charisma and humor without the forced jokes … perhaps someone like LL Cool J could make a welcomed return!

Make the Grammys More Accessible and Shorter, Please

In today’s world, if you don’t have cable (which is pretty normal), watching the Grammys and most other award shows can be a real struggle. Why should you need a convoluted streaming package just to watch an event that will likely be on another service next year? It’s baffling! Someone needs to find a solution!

And why does the ceremony drag on for so long? It feels like it lasts three hours with endless commercial breaks. To top it off, many awards aren’t given out during the televised portion – they get handed out in a pre-show that hardly anyone tunes in to watch.

Revive Engaging Collaborative Performances

One of my favorite Grammy moments was in 2008 when Tina Turner and Beyoncé teamed up for a performance. It was incredible to see two icons from different generations create something special together.

The Grammys used to showcase many collaborative performances like this, where artists from various eras and genres would share the stage: iconic pairings like Beyoncé and Prince, Madonna and De La Soul, Taylor Swift and Stevie Nicks, or surprising combinations like Imagine Dragons and Kendrick Lamar.

Nowadays, it seems performers prefer to go solo, which isn’t inherently bad, but I miss witnessing those unexpected collaborations that bring magic to the stage.

Kofi Mframa is a columnist and digital producer at News Network. He’s preparing for the possibility of Beyoncé missing out on album of the year.