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Grammys vs. Fan-Voted Awards: Which Is More Prestigious?

Grammy Awards winners 2013Steve Granitz, WireImage

While a Grammy is generally considered music's highest stamp of approval, some country artists would disagree. Competition comes in the form of the genre-centric CMA Awards, ACMs, CMT Awards and ACAs. The latter three all include some sort of fan voting, rather than industry. So which is more prestigious: an honor from music industry folks or from the fans? That's a heated debate that has been going on for years, with strong arguments on both sides of the fence.

The Zac Brown Band's Clay Cook, while grateful for his band's ongoing recognition at all of the country awards shows, is partial to the Grammy voters. He explained backstage at Sunday's show, just after ZBB's win for Country Album of the Year for Uncaged. "This is the pinnacle of our genre and honestly I don't think any of use thought we stood a chance against [Miranda Lambert]," he admitted. "Normally, in all of the country awards shows that we go to, we end up going zero. We were up for 60 awards and I think we won like four or something, because we're not really a part of the politics or the cliques in Nashville. There's a lot of vote trading and all sorts of stuff going on. That's what makes me think higher of the Recording Academy because I feel like people are voting with their real conscience."

Criticism of voting practices among the country shows is nothing new. While it has been long-rumored that music companies -- who receive a large number of votes due to their membership size -- manipulate the results, there has been disapproval of having fan-voted awards as well. In 2008, after being named Entertainer of the Year by the Academy of Country Music, Kenny Chesney voiced his objection to the organization's choice to make the category fan-voted.

"I think it's a complete disrespect of the artist -- what they've lowered us to, to get entertainer of the year," he said in the pressroom. "Because of that, it really diminishes the integrity of the music that we're making and how much work goes into it. That's what really matters. That's what Entertainer of the Year really is. It's not about flying somebody to some shows and giving free songs away -- and giving this and that -- and seeing how hard you can push people's buttons on the Internet. As much as I love the ACMs and what they've done for my life, that's how I really feel about it.. And I can say that because I won tonight."

The ACM Entertainer of the Year title is still fan-voted, as is the Academy's New Artist honors.

What do you think? Are the Grammys more prestigious because talent is awarded over popularity? Are fan-voted awards unfair? Take our poll below.

I prefer awards shows that are ...
Fan-voted60 (31.6%)
Industry-voted130 (68.4%)


Watch ZBB Backstage at the Grammys


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Music Nut

I don't know honestly which is worse. The vote trading among industry or rapid fans or find ways to vote more. Right now it seems that the Big Machine and the Reba/Nirval camp (Blake, Miranda) are getting the majority of votes now. Sony Nashville which has changed hands and is kinda floundering has been leaving it's stars in the dust lately. Look at the recent ACM' noms. Kenny and Tim had the biggest tour of the year and didn't get a ETOY nom. Carrie had the biggest female tour of the year and didn't get an ETOY nom. Carrie hasn't won a CMA or ACM in quite a while now. Brad is not nominated for anything this year. But how did Big Machines Martina McBride get a FVY nom when she didn't have a record out the entire year. So like I said...it's a toss up.

February 16 2013 at 7:47 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
schenkrj

I don't like the fan voted awards that you can vote as many times as you want. Of course Taylor Swift will win these because her fan base is young and they can sit for hours voting. She also begs her fans for votes on Facebook and Twitter and ever put cards on seats to vote for her for ACM EOTY a few years ago. She will win that award again this year just because of that. Even though you are only supposed to vote once since her fans are so young, they can figure out ways to vote more than once. Seems unfair to me. Why is she even nominated for anything at the ACM's? To me she has made it clear she is no longer a country artist and should not be recognized as one. I think the ACM nominations this year are a farce.

February 15 2013 at 11:24 AM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
riddler1

Thank you for telling it like it is Clay in Nashville. Other Industry pros in L.A. and NY vote for quality and not favorites or friends in the industry like Music Row. Hence, the recent ACM nominees, what a farce.

His comment: "Normally, in all of the country awards shows that we go to, we end up going zero. We were up for 60 awards and I think we won like four or something, because we're not really a part of the POLITICS or the CLIQUES in Nashville. There's a lot of vote trading and all sorts of stuff going on. That's what makes me think higher of the Recording Academy"

February 14 2013 at 7:22 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply

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