The Weeknd joins top black artists hitting out at Grammys over snub

The Canadian pop star, whose single Blinding Lights was the biggest-seller in the world last year, was not shortlisted for a single award.  

Credit: Will Heath/NBC/NBCU 

The pop singer with the biggest selling single in the world last year has said he will boycott the Grammy Awards on Saturday in response to being snubbed in the nominations, amid a growing row over the perceived bias against black artists.

Canadian star The Weeknd, whose single Blinding Lights smashed records, was not shortlisted for a single award.

As the music industry geared up for the ceremony, The Weeknd made he wanted no part of Music’s Biggest Night again unless organisers got rid of the "secret committees" that decide the shortlist.

The Grammys’ voting procedures are notoriously opaque, with review committees having the final say in 72 of the 83 categories.

After the nominations were revealed, the Weeknd tweeted, “The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency….”

“Because of the secret committees,” he added this week. “I will no longer allow my label to submit my music to the Grammys.”

Zayn Malik, Anna Wintour, Gigi Hadid CFDA and Vogue Fashion Fund 'Americans in Paris' event, Paris, France

Credit: Abrams/BFA/REX/Shutterstock 

The 31-year-old singer, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, joins a growing list of black stars, including Drake, Kanye West and Frank Ocean, who have publicly rebuked the awards for what they say is a lack of transparency with voting and diversity among nominees.

Zayn Malik, British songwriter and former One Direction star, posted an expletive-filled tweet earlier this week slamming the ceremony.

"F— the grammys and everyone associated. Unless you shake hands and send gifts, there’s no nomination considerations. Next year I’ll send you a basket of confectionary," wrote Malik, who has never been nominated for a Grammy.

Harvey Mason Jr., interim president of the Recording Academy which oversees the Grammys, told the New York Times: "We’re all disappointed when anyone is upset."

“But I will say that we are constantly evolving," he added. "And this year, as in past years, we are going to take a hard look at how to improve our awards process, including the nomination review committees."

The 63rd Grammys will take place in Los Angeles, with performances from Harry Styles, Dua Lipa, Taylor Swift, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion.