Musical Notation
by George Rivera
The Dark Side of the Latin Grammy Awards
September
3, 2000 - Now that the summer is officially over, the countdown to the Latin
Grammy Awards begins. With just ten days to go I figured it was as good a time
as any to vent. I know, I've been painting a pretty negative picture of the
Latin music industry over the past few weeks. However, the truth is the truth
and it must be put out there in hopes of making positive changes.Positive changes? While we're on the subject we might as well get to the matter at hand, the first Latin Grammy Awards, which will be broadcast live over CBS on Wednesday, September 13th. Is it a good thing for the Latin music industry? Is it really something we need? Or is this just another capitalist venture to drain some money out of the Latino community? Let's take a really close look at just what this is all about.
In 1997 the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc. (NARAS) established the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc. (LARAS). The purpose for this was to improve the quality of life and the cultural condition for Latin music and those artists involved in the genre. By providing quality educational and cultural programs, networking opportunities, and advocacy on issues such as copyright protection, artists' rights, and legislation which affects the arts and culture the Latin Academy would help to preserve the identity and vitality of the hundreds of regional forms of Latin music found throughout the world – musical styles that serve as the foundation of Latin music. At least this is what they would like you to believe.
My question is simply, why LARAS? Couldn't this have been accomplished through NARAS? After all that is precisely the mission of NARAS. I mean, in this day and age is it really necessary to rebuild all those walls and barriers that have been brought down since the historic signing of The Emancipation Proclamation back in 1864. It is necessary if you believe in the notion of divide and conquer. It is necessary if your looking for new ways of making some money the old fashion way, by the exploitation of, in this case, the Latino community.
Damn, that is a pretty harsh statement to make. But think about it for a hard minute. Why is LARAS necessary when NARAS is there? When you take in the whole picture there is no other possible answer. So, why do we as Latino have to pay twice for what all the other members get for one membership fee? Like I said, there is simply no other reason.
Now if you consider the following you'll see how really ridiculous the whole premise is. The nominees for the 1st Latin Grammy in the same categories that were included in the 42nd Annual Grammy award are not the same. For instance, this time around Gilberto Santa Rosa and Son By Four are nominees for the Best Salsa Performance category, which was won by Los Van Van just this past February. So, if Son By Four should happen to win this time around does that negate the Los Van Van Grammy for Best Salsa Performance? Get the picture?
What is really needed is for NARAS to just get competent individuals to sit on the nominating committees of not only the Latin field, but every other music field involved in the Grammy process. Contrary to what Michael Greene may believe, Emilio Estefan is not the conscience of the Latin music community. There are many very competent individuals involved in the Latin music industry, in all the different styles, that would excel in bringing the very best the industry has to offer into the nomination process. Another thing that should be instituted is to keep the vote within the category, only those involved in the category should be allowed to vote in that specific category. Likewise the nominating committee should be comprised of individuals from within that specific category. These are just some examples of how to go about promoting and providing and improving, you know, LARAS's mission. This way we wouldn't need to go rebuilding those barriers.
Hasta la proxima, ciao…
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