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But this one was particularly painful to swallow.
All that matters is that the Recording Academy clearly thought he did.
Harrys Houseis right in the Academys sweet spot.
Additionally, Styless creative approach lined up with one of the more conservative nights in Grammys history.
At this point, backward-looking wins arent exceptions from the Grammys but the rule.
The Academy doesnt understand Black genius.
Renaissancemay have been the AOTY nominee most interested in music history with asyllabussworth of homage to dance music.
It just came in a form the Grammys have never valued: sampling.
Dance voters saw right through that misguided discourse, giving Beyonce both of their awards.
Styles had an inescapable year.
1 debut in April through September.
There was also Styless turn at the box office and in the tabloids.
Beyonce couldnt match the media frenzy.
Yes,Renaissancewas a long-awaited comeback, even netting her first solo No.
1 in over a decade for Break My Soul.
But while fans and critics vocally supported the album, she kept a relatively low profile.
Below-the-line voters love Styles.
If the Oscar for Best Picture is won branch by branch, maybe Album of the Year is too.
In the end, Beyonces voting bloc was just smaller.
Beyonce breaking the win record was enough.
Beyonces potential to pass conductor Georg Solti for most Grammys ever won was well-publicized before the show.
Theres a more speculative, even more disappointing possibility here, too.
The Academy showed yet again this year that its not beholden to mainstream impulses and discourse.
It may have just been too little too late.
This story has been updated.
