Former Recording Academy CEO Deborah Dugan confirmed long-standing suspicions that the Grammy Awards voting process is “rigged,” dominated by label executives and artists who influence outcomes, often at the expense of deserving nominees. The admission, made during a segment on NBC Nightly News, has reignited deep-seated distrust within hip-hop circles, where artists and fans have long questioned the integrity of the prestigious awards.
This revelation validates past criticisms from hip-hop artists like Kanye West, who called out biases in 2015, and Nicki Minaj, who, in 2012, accused the process of favoring commercial over artistic merit.
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Grammys CEO claims #GRAMMYs are rigged pic.twitter.com/2ZtmNLS6ab
— MadoTrak (@Stashme) November 12, 2025
