Political Echoes at the Grammys: Mainstream vs. Grassroots Protest Music
The Grammy Awards ceremony recently sparked conversations about the presence of openly political music within mainstream entertainment. While host Trevor Noah interacted with Bad Bunny, the artist could not perform due to a non-compete agreement related to an upcoming Super Bowl appearance. Bad Bunny, who used his acceptance speeches to advocate for immigrants and speak against ICE, stood out as a notable exception to the general absence of explicit political music on the Grammy stage.
Mainstream Pop's Limited Protest Space
The ceremony largely featured mild interventions from pop stars on political issues, with limited enduring musical space for protest within mainstream pop. Past exceptions include Kendrick Lamar addressing black incarceration and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis staging a mass queer wedding.
Pop music's broad appeal often contrasts with the demands of protest, which requires taking a clear stand.
Bad Bunny's album, "DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS," notably includes songs like "LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii," which delves into American imperialism, gentrification, and displacement in Puerto Rico. This aligns with a robust tradition of political party music in global Latin pop, a tradition largely absent from the American Top 40.
Beyond the Mainstream Spotlight: Recognized Protest Voices
A lineage of protest songs endures within rock and soul music. Mavis Staples, renowned for her message songs from the 1960s, received awards in Americana and American roots categories. Terri Lyne Carrington and Christie Dashiell's album "We Insist 2025" garnered a nomination in vocal jazz. Jesse Welles, an indie roots-rocker, gained attention on social media for his topical songs and also received Grammy nominations.
Bruce Springsteen's song "Streets of Minneapolis," which addresses violence in the city, represents a mainstream example of a protest song. This type of arena-ready polemic by established rock stars, rooted in folk and rock traditions, often defines the mainstream perception of protest music.
A Growing Wave of Grassroots Protest Music
However, protest music extends far beyond these prominent figures and mainstream recognition. A significant wave of protest songs has been building over the past decade across various genres, including Latin and indigenous hip hop, ambient music on climate change, jazz, and folk.
The Folk Alliance International (FAI) awards highlight this broader scope, recognizing grassroots and independent artists who integrate activism into their work.
Honorees included Crys Matthews, a traditional folk singer with a queer perspective; Yasmin Williams, who used a Kennedy Center appearance as a form of protest; Kyshona, a singer-songwriter and music therapist; and Carsie Blanton, a topical songwriter and activist.
Gender Disparity in Protest Music Recognition
The article notes that women's contributions to protest music, despite their historical roles in social movements, are often overlooked in mainstream media and awards compared to male voices. This disparity is attributed to societal sexism and lingering ideas about what constitutes a "rebellious" creative voice.
Women's songs are sometimes judged as too personal or too communal for definitive protest statements.
Artists like Crys Matthews and Carsie Blanton, who utilize both conventional albums and social media platforms, demonstrate how grassroots music and activism thrive in fluid, interactive spaces. These spaces foster communities where the lines between artist and audience blur.
The Enduring Power of Grassroots Protest
The most vital liberatory gestures often occur at the grassroots level, in local communities and on the streets, rather than at high-profile galas.
Groups like Brass Solidarity and Singing Resistance create music that documents and fuels activist actions locally.
Bruce Springsteen's "Streets of Minneapolis" also demonstrates an understanding of this spirit by giving over its arrangement to communal voices, leaning into a more collective expression. This approach allows for the real spirit of protest and survival to resonate.