The Weeknd will still boycott Grammys, despite rule change after his award snub

[GeneralZod]

Pop star the Weeknd said he still won't submit his music for Grammy consideration, citing an ongoing lack of trust in the award show's process despite a recent change to rules that inspired his boycott.

The chart-topping singer was responding to the rule changes for the Grammy Awards announced by the Recording Academy on Friday — primarily a change that eliminates the "secret" nomination-review committees.

That secretive committee process likely played a key role in his being shut out of all nominations for the 2021 awards, despite having one of the biggest albums and the most-streamed single of the year with "After Hours" and "Blinding Lights," respectively.

"The trust has been broken for so long between the Grammy organization and artists that it would be unwise to raise a victory flag," the Weeknd, real name Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, told Variety. He added that he will continue to withhold his music from consideration for the awards.

However, he does say that the move is "an important start."

"I think the industry and public alike need to see the transparent system truly at play for the win to be celebrated, but it's an important start," he continues. "I remain uninterested in being a part of the Grammys, especially with their own admission of corruption for all these decades. I will not be submitting in the future."

His manager, Wassim "Sal" Slaiby, added, "No change comes without a voice heard. I'm just proud of Abel for standing up for what he believes in. I was in a shock when all this happened but now I see it clearly, and I'm glad we stood for our beliefs."