Music Matters: Top 10 Artists with Zero GRAMMYs

Tonight is the biggest night in music and for music lovers. Film nerds have the Oscars, theater geeks have the TONYS, television lovers have the EMMYs, watchers of adult content have their own award shows and even streamers have the STREAMYs. So it is only fair that music enthusiasts have their own award show to curse, debate and celebrate. This award show for myself and the avid readers of this blog is the GRAMMYs.

The GRAMMYs like all award show has a long history of industry politics leading to excellent wins, shocking snubs and downright horrendous decisions about who takes home the coveted replica of a gilded gramophone. This complex history of celebration and befuddlement has even lead to some music lovers dubbing the awards the SCAMMYs. Even with this history, it would a complete work of fiction to deny that the award as tainted as it may be is still the goal and dream of the different shareholders in the music industry from artist, songwriters, producers etc. That is why it hurt to discover that many artist that I adore have not won a competitive GRAMMY throughout their careers. Imagine how movie lovers feel when they are reminded that Glenn Close and Peter O'Toole have never won an Oscar. That is how I feel making this lists.

So let us bear the brunt of the pain and recognize my top 10 artist who have never won a GRAMMY.

10. Tamia

The Canadian singer has been a staple in R&B for over thirty (30) years since she debut in the 90s. With songs such as "You Put a Move on My Heart", "Stranger In My House" "Officially Missing You", "So Into You" in her catalog you would expect for her to at least have a GRAMMY or two in her trophy cabinet. Yet, she does not although she has been nominated six times with her latest nomination being in 2013. 

Looking at her nominations, she should have won in 1997 for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "You Put a Move on My Heart". Granted her competition that year was formidable as she was competing against "You're Makin' Me High" by Toni Braxton (winner), "Sittin' Up in My Room" by Bradny, "Not Gon' Cry" by Mary J Blige and "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" by Whitney Houston. However, I believe she should have taken home the trophy that night.

9. Jennifer Lopez

Latina superstars who have crossed over into the English market mainly the US are very rare. Besides Shakira who is deemed the Queen of Latin music, Jennifer Lopez commonly referred to as J Lo is the only other Latin star that comes to mind in sharing that distinction. However unlike Shakira who has won four (4) GRAMMYs, Lopez has not joined her in the winners circle as yet.

In her over twenty-six (26) years music career, she has only been nominated twice in 2000 and 2001 for Best Dance Recording for "Waiting For Tonight" and "Let's Get Loud" respectively. There was no way she was winning in 2000 competing against Cher's mega comeback hit "Believe" in 2000 and many would consider "Who Let the Dogs Out?" by Baha Men a worthy winner at that time. However, I would have given Lopez the win in 2001 as in hindsight "Let's Get Loud" has aged better than the winner because it has taken on a whole new meaning as J Lo has used the song to be a battle cry to politically fight for her community.

8. Tupac

Granted, I do not know that much about Tupac's artistry due to the fact that I just a toddler when he was unalived, Hip-Hop/Rap is one of the genres of music I listen to the least and I am only now starting to revisit older music due to this blog. However, based on conversations I hear and read in real life and on social media, Tupac is well regarded as one the best rappers of all time with great lyricism and music to support his claim among the greats. 

So it is baffling that he has never won a GRAMMY especially given that most of his nominations were received after his untimely death and that awards body is infamous for awarding artist who have passed on from this physical realm (see Ray Charles winning Album of The Year in 2005 after passing in 2004). 

7. Björk

Just like Tupac, I know nearly nothing about Björk's artistry. I have never listened to a song much less an album from this artist. The most I have seen about her is her infamous swan dress at the Oscars and her confronting the paparazzi which has nothing to do with her as an artist. However, based on conversations I hear and read in real life and on social media, Björk seems to be well respected artist who has paved the way for unconventional artist such as FKA twigs (who was suppose to be a part of this list but won her first Grammy tonight in the Best Dance/Electronic Album category for Eusexua).

Björk has earned sixteen (16) Grammy Award nominations throughout her career. Despite these numerous nods, which include nine nominations in the Best Alternative Music Album category—the most for any artist—she has never won a Grammy Award. Her nominations span several decades, with her most recent nomination being for Best Alternative Music Album for Fossora at the 65th Annual Grammys. 

6. Busta Rhymes

Busta Rhymes is a well respected veteran of the rap game who brought new life into the genre with his other worldly visuals, funky sense of fashion and his unique rap flow. Imagine my surprise to realize this titan has never won a GRAMMY after giving us innovative music for over thirty five (35) years.

Busta Rhymes has earned twelve (12) Grammy Award nominations throughout his career, making him one of the most-nominated artists in history without a win. 

The fact he was not nominated for Best Music Video in 2000 for "What's It Gonna Be?!" which he should have won by the way is criminal.

5. Sia

The Australian singer-songwriter has been writing your favourite songs from your favourite artists for years. Then she took center stage, came from behind the curtain  and became a pop star in her own right. You would think that would lead to some much deserved awards from her peers. No!

Sia has been nominated nine (9) times but has yet to go home with any hardware. This may be controversial to say but she would have two Grammys if i had my way. Her first Grammy would have been for Best Pop Vocal Album for "This Is Acting" in 2017. As I just recently review this album on the blog click here, I can confidently saw it is a better vocal album than "25" by Adele. Also, she would have won for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for "Cheap Thrills" featuring Sean Paul over "Stressed Out" by Twenty One Pilots.

4. Katy Perry

Her career skyrocketed with just one kiss (see what I did there) and pop was never the same. Katy is now the butt of every music lover joke and has been scorned due to some of her political moves which is justly deserved in most instances. Yet, we cannot forget that she was running the pop scene for a moment back in the late 2000s and early 2010s with massive pop hits that were quality, distinct visuals and a refreshing pop persona. However, her peers did not see it fit to reward for her efforts.

Perry has been nominated thirteen (13) times with her latest nomination being in 2015. Another controversial take coming at the expense of Adele (who I love by the way) is that "Wide Awake" which is arguably her best song to date should have won in 2013 for Best Pop Solo Performance over Adele's "Set Fire to the Rain (Live)".

3. Nicki Minaj

The most commercially successful female rapper of all time (these are just the facts) has always been in the hot seat. However since 2018 she has become the villain of the female rap game due to both her professional and personal choices. Putting that aside, there cannot be any denial that Nicki not only saved female rap which was on life support by the time she debuted with Young Money but took it too a whole other level with her colorful fashion, boisterous personality, clever bars and unpredictable flows. Yet she has never been awarded for what she contributed to the game and with her latest antics I don't think she ever will to be quite honest.

It's clear that her lack of GRAMMYs in her trophy cabinet even after twelve (12) nominations is partially due to industry politics but also her nominations occurred during the time when other heavyweights especially male rappers where releasing some of if not their best work so she was always at a disadvantage. However, in the vein of Minaj, I am going to be controversial and say she should have won Best New Artist over Bon Iver in 2012.

2. Diana Ross

The Boss is a legend! She is the blue print! She is your favourite artist favourite artist! She is the foundation that all of your favourite female artist especially black female artists build on and these are just the facts. Yet, she has never received a competitive GRAMMY award but has bestowed two Lifetime Achievement Awards for both her solo work and her work in The Supremes. However, can we be honest and acknowledge those Lifetime Achievement Award is basically pity award although deserved to make amends for not honouring her work.

Ross has received 13 Grammy nominations throughout her career. Her nominations span from 1964 to 2023. She should have won for any one of her nominations to be honest.

1. Bob Marley

We go from one legend to another legend. Bob Marley is a pioneer who put Jamaica, reggae music and The Caribbean on the map. Many artist in today's musical landscape are called icons and legends after one hit and/or successful era but Marley is the true definition of the word. I was not even born when he died and I know his catalog like the back of my hand. As a matter of fact, I have seen little children and teenagers blasting his music and singing the lyrics of his songs all over the world. So it unfathomable that he has never received a GRAMMY nomination. 

However, there is a somewhat reasonable explanation for this as the Best Reggae Album category was introduced in 1985, four years after his death in 1981. Why did it take so long for the genre to be recognized by the academy given that it was gaining in worldwide popularity year after year at that point? He was posthumously honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001. 

Do you agree with my ranking of artist with no GRAMMYs?

What artist(s) with no GRAMMYs do you believe deserve to win at least one or more?

Let me know in the comments below!