Following The Weeknd’s boycott of the Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy announced last Friday an end to the “secret committees” that determined the nominees. The Latin Recording Academy behind the Latin Grammy Awards said that it will keep the review committees in place for now.

The Weeknd spoke out against the “secret committees” this year.

The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency…

— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) November 25, 2020

After The Weeknd’s globally successful After Hours album was snubbed at this year’s Grammy Awards, the Canadian superstar said that he was boycotting the awards by withholding his music. In March, he told the New York Times, “Because of the secret committees, I will no longer allow my label to submit my music to the Grammys.” Ex-One Direction singer Zayn Malik echoed The Weeknd’s demands.

The Recording Academy voted to disband the nominations review committees on Friday.

We made significant changes to our GRAMMY Awards process that reflect our ongoing commitment to evolve with the musical landscape and to ensure that the #GRAMMYs rules and guidelines are transparent and equitable.

More details. ⬇️https://t.co/I8xM2wbjNT

— Recording Academy / GRAMMYs (@RecordingAcad) April 30, 2021

By “secret committees,” The Weeknd was referring to the committees that were appointed by the Recording Academy to review the nominations. According to Billboard, the Recording Academy trustees voted to disband the nominations review committees, letting the Grammy voting body have more of a say in the nominations. The changes are effective immediately for the next Grammy Awards on Jan. 31, 2022.

“As we continue to build a more active and vibrant membership community, we are confident in the expertise of our voting members to recognize excellence in music each year,” Ruby Marchand, the Academy’s chief industry officer, said in a statement.

The Música Urbana category should finally break up the Latin genres into individual categories.

In a major move for Latin music, the Recording Academy trustees also voted to create a Best Música Urbana Album category. In past years, the Latin genres at the Grammys were clumped together in one category.

In 2012, the category was called Best Latin Pop, Rock, or Urban Album. Latin rock was liberated this year with its own category. The creation of the Best Música Urbana Album category should break up the Latin pop and Latin urban genres into two separate categories next year.

The Latin Grammy Awards will keep the nominations review committees in place for now.

To see if the Latin Recording Academy would also put an end to the “secret committees,” Billboard‘s Leila Cobo reached out to them. So far, the answer is no. In a statement, the folks behind the Latin Grammy Awards wrote they “did not anticipate” doing so.

“While the awards process for Latin Grammys mirrors the essence of the Grammy process, the Latin Recording Academy’s members have the ability to modify procedures respective to the needs and evolution of Latin music,” the Latin Recording Academy said in the statement. “Since we are mainly an international organization, our systems and procedures have some differences.”

As for a more direct reason why the nominations review committees will remain in place at the Latin Grammys, the Latin Recording Academy added, “Given the richness of Latin music and its diverse fields, we depend on the expertise of our members in order to best respect and honor excellence in the difference genres that compose our culture.”

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Read: Bad Bunny and Kali Uchis Win Their First Grammy Awards, Jhay Cortez Performs “Dákiti” with Benito

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Most of us know the Latin artists that have been inspired by La Reina del Tex-Mex, Selena Quintanilla, like Becky G, Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez, etc. However, perhaps you didn’t know that Mother Monster aka Lady Gaga was inspired by Selena or that fellow Texan, Beyoncé, not only met Selena but also grew up listening to her on the radio. Here’s a list of 8 artists you probably didn’t know that also loved Selena.

Lady Gaga

For The Daily Telegraph, the Rain on Me singer was quoted saying that she was inspired by Selena’s bustiers for her concert outfits, as well as her career. Lady Gaga also tweeted back in the day that a Selena shirt was one of her favorites.

Leaving for Korea in less than a week!!!! Wearing my favorite t shirt today. It might be the raddest ever. pic.twitter.com/qSLvnqoq

— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) April 12, 2012

Whitney Houston

During a 1999 New York Daily News interview, the late singer Whitney Houston mentioned that she was inspired by Selena Quintanilla: “What she did in the English market was brilliant”.

Beyoncé

Queen Bey loved her fellow Texan, Selena. On one occasion during an MTV Tr3s interview, Beyoncé talked about meeting Selena at the Galleria Mall in Houston. She also mentioned how she would listen to Selena on the radio and even though she didn’t speak Spanish, listening to Selena helped her with her pronunciation.

Meghan Trainor

The All About That Bass singer told Entertainment Tonight that when she met Jennifer Lopez, she said: “Selena the movie was the reason I wanted to become a singer”.

Ashlee Simpson

American singer-songwriter Ashlee Simpson told MTV TR3s during an interview that she had always been a fan of Selena and that “Dreaming of You” was her favorite song.

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Solange Knowles

Texas native, Solange Knowles covered “I Could Fall In Love With You” during her 2013-2014 World Tour. Solange has called Selena “one of her favorite artists growing up”.

HAIM

Pop-rock sister band HAIM told Glide Magazine that Selena the movie was their collective favorite movie.

Kacey Musgraves

Texans just love La Reina. Kacey Musgraves covered “Como La Flor” at the Houston Rodeo, and before performing told the crowd: “I love the queen Selena just as much as you do. This is our chance to honor her, by singing as loud as we can together.”

Siempre Selena 💜 @RODEOHOUSTON pic.twitter.com/6rOFBHx3Qs

— K A C E Y (@KaceyMusgraves) February 25, 2021

Kacey joins a list of artists that have covered Selena songs at the Houston Rodeo like Camila Cabello, Cardi B and Prince Royce.

READ: Rare Selena Grammys Photos Surface, Fans Are Upset With Her Lifetime Achievement Tribute

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