The future of the Grammys

On Sunday, I stood on the red carpet in my black dress and asked musician after musician rapid-fire questions. I asked one question of just about everyone: With the industry in turmoil and new promotional methods on the rise, how do you think the Grammys will change in the next few years? Here are the answers, some personally motivated, some a little apathetic, but definitely all over the map.

Mika:

I think the Grammys are already changing. They are only going to have to change to keep up with what's going on. I'm halfway through my third sellout tour in the U.S. We've played 10,000-seat venues to 2,000 in Salt Lake City last night. We've done the gamut, but my sales, my radio support, really doesn't reflect that. But it shows that you can have quite a thriving live career and only get bigger and bigger even if the traditional radio chart isn't really on your side all the time. And I think that's purely a sign of optimism and something you really have to relish, because I certainly intend on building my career.... I'm going to build on it live, and that's really the crux for me in the U.S.

Amy Lee of Evanescence:

It's a really tough question. The whole industry is in a place where it has to be adjusted.... One really cool thing that's happening with all this is that artists get to have these direct connections with the fans. You don't have to have a press release, you can just go online and say what you want to say, answer a question or squelch a rumor. Whatever it is, you have that opportunity. There's negatives to that, of course, but it's basically a good thing.

Hayley Williams of Paramore:

There's already categories in some award shows for best ring tone, most downloaded song.... That will force stuff to change at the Grammys, and it's not all bad. It forces people to be more creative in the way they distribute their music.

Colbie Caillat:

I think it takes time for people to start noticing music on the Internet, but it'll happen.

Jeff Tweedy of Wilco:

I have no idea what will change. They'll maybe add some categories, but they'll definitely have to take some away. Maybe soon it'll be Grammy Week ... but it's already discombobulating as it is.

Corinne Bailey Rae:

With the industry changing, music will diversify ... the distribution model for album of the year will be totally different.... It'll be the end of the supergroup.

Maynard James Keenan of Tool:

I think the Grammys is getting more of a handle on the catagories, and the voting process seems to be a little bit better. The industry is scrambling for cover, trying to figure out where it might go.... The people who really deserve it are starting to win. There is going to have to be more smaller labels involved.

Bun B of UGK:
Luckily, the Grammys are not just about the recorded project, it's about the people involved who are recording that project. So not only does it honor the artist who performs that song, but also the writers, producers, engineers, everyone involved in the process and as long as those people are going to continue to be involved in that process, we're going to have to honor them in some way. I think they've done a good job for the last 50 years and there's no reason to think they won't for the next 50. At the end of the day, everyone likes to get dressed up.

-- Margaret Wappler