Mathew Knowles Suggests Label Politics Behind Beyoncé’s Grammy Snubs

Beyoncé's father, Mathew Knowles, has raised concerns about the role that her record label, Columbia, might play in her recurring snubs for the Album of the Year accolade at the Grammy Awards. Although Beyoncé has a remarkable record of Grammy nominations and victories, with 88 nominations and 32 wins, she has yet to secure the Album of the Year prize. Her albums such as 'I Am… Sasha Fierce', 'Beyoncé', 'Lemonade', and 'Renaissance' have all been in contention, yet none took home the coveted award.

Label Decisions and Grammy Considerations

In a recent conversation on TMZ Live, Mathew Knowles, who used to manage Beyoncé, expressed his suspicion that record label strategies may influence Grammy outcomes. According to Knowles, a record label has the power to push only one artist per category, which could explain why Beyoncé has repeatedly missed out on Album of the Year, even when her work was deserving.

Citing the 2017 Grammys as an example, Knowles posited that Columbia may have chosen to promote Adele over Beyoncé for financial considerations or to capitalize on an opportunity to highlight Adele's work. The speculation comes as Columbia Records artists, including Harry Styles and Adele, both managed to win over Beyoncé in the Album of the Year category in different years.

Family Support and Industry Observations

Jay-Z, Beyoncé's husband, also addressed the issue at the 2024 Grammy Awards, pointing out the disparity between Beyoncé's Grammy count and her absence of an Album of the Year win. As someone with a personal and professional insight, Knowles insists that he understands how the decisions are made behind the scenes and how they may not always align with what many consider to be the merits of the work.

Beyoncé's recent tour achievements contrast with the Grammy snubs, after her 'RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR' grossed over $579 million, making it the second highest-grossing tour ever by a female artist. The record for the highest-grossing tour is held by Taylor Swift with her 'Eras' tour. Despite competition and record-breaking tours, the Grammy Award for Album of the Year remains elusive for Beyoncé.

Amid speculation and questions posed by industry insiders and family alike, it remains to be seen how Columbia Records will approach future Grammy nominations and if Beyoncé will finally receive the Album of the Year honor that many believe she deserves.

Grammy, Beyoncé, Columbia