Don't think there's a race problem at all: Grammys boss

Pic Courtesy: Image used for representational purpose only

Washington: Despite receiving major backlash following Beyonce`s awards snub for Album of the Year at the recently held Grammys, Recording Academy President Neil Portnow has shot down suggestions that the music awards suffer from `a race problem`.

"No, I don`t think there`s a race problem at all," Portnow told Pitchfork as reported by People Magazine."Remember, this is a peer-voted award. So when we say the Grammys, it`s not a corporate entity - it`s the 14,000 members of the Academy," he said.

Portnow, and the awards show at large, received considerable amount of criticism after Adele took home top prizes for Song, Record and Album of the year at the 2017 Grammys over Beyonce, a decision that even the `Hello` singer was shocked about.

Several critics pointed out that people of color have been shut out from the top prize since Herbie Hancock took home the award in 2008.

Grammy boss, however, dismissed concerns that the awards show is biased toward one ethnic group.

"We don`t, as musicians, in my humble opinion, listen to music based on gender or race or ethnicity. When you go to vote on a piece of music - at least the way that I approach it - is you almost put a blindfold on and you listen," he said.

On a related note, among those upset with Beyonce`s Album of the Year loss include Frank Ocean (who declined to submit his album `Blonde` for submission), Beyonce`s sister, Solange Knowles, and even Adele (who reportedly broke her award in half to share with the `Formation` singer).