Singer The Weeknd said he will ban publishers from submitting his music products to compete for the Grammy Awards.

The Canadian singer told Variety on March 11: “Because of that secret council, I will not allow the record label to submit my music for the Grammy Awards.” When the nomination list was announced in November 2020, many people were surprised when The Weeknd did not appear in any category after a successful year with the album After Hours. His single Blinding Lights also recently set a record of staying in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 53 weeks.

The Weeknd announced his boycott of the Grammys after not being on this year’s nomination list. Photo: GQ.

American media rated The Weeknd as “the most unfortunate absence” at this year’s Grammys. Variety believes that it is difficult to have a thorough explanation for this. NY Times writer Jon Pareles affirmed that this year’s nominees are all talented, but The Weeknd is not inferior to them in singing, composing or performing.

At the end of November 2020, The Weeknd criticized the Grammy organizers on social networks: “They still maintain their corruption. You owe me, my fans and the whole music industry transparency.” The Canadian singer said that the organizers wanted revenge because he agreed to perform at the Super Bowl while hesitating to sign an agreement to sing at their awards ceremony.

MV “Blinding Lights”. Video: The Weeknd Youtube.

Harvey Mason, jr. – interim director of the US National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences – denied that eliminating The Weeknd was an act of revenge. However, he affirmed that he was surprised when the male singer did not appear on this year’s list. “We understand that The Weeknd is disappointed not to be nominated. His music this year is excellent. The Weekend’s contributions to the music industry are admirable… It’s a shame, just like every year , the number of nominations is always limited and smaller than the number of artists who deserve to receive it,” Mason told Variety .

The Weeknd, real name Abel Tesfaye, entered the music industry in 2010 and has sold more than 100 million records. The singer has won three Grammy awards, eight Billboard awards and received an Oscar nomination. His outstanding songs are Starboy, The Hills, Can’t Feel My Face…