{"id":446619,"date":"2025-12-02T07:22:27","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T07:22:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2025\/12\/02\/moliys-grammy-snub-all-you-need-to-know\/"},"modified":"2025-12-02T07:22:27","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T07:22:27","slug":"moliys-grammy-snub-all-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2025\/12\/02\/moliys-grammy-snub-all-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Moliy\u2019s Grammy Snub: All you need to know"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

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On November 7, 2025, the Recording Academy released the full nominee list for the 2026 Grammy Awards. One song Ghanaians, across Africa and around the world, expected to see on the list was Moliy\u2019s \u201cShake It to The Max,\u201d which features Shensea, Skillibeng, and Silent Addy. <\/p>\n

But despite its popularity, the track did not appear in any category.<\/p>\n

Moliy\u2019s hit dominated TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms, sparking a global challenge across the Caribbean, Europe, America, Asia, and Africa. <\/p>\n

Its absence from the Grammy nominations raised questions from fans, industry players, and forecasters who believed the song had strong chances of securing recognition.<\/p>\n

Billboard\u2019s report and Moliy\u2019s label concerns<\/b><\/p>\n

On November 19, 2025, Billboard published an article titled: \u201cHere\u2019s why \u2018Shake It to the Max\u2019 was deemed ineligible at the 2026 Grammys, and why its label calls the decision \u2018devoid of any common sense\u2019.\u201d <\/p>\n

The story captured the confusion from Moliy\u2019s label, Gamma, which argued that the song\u2019s success and eligibility period should have secured it a spot.<\/p>\n

Part of the Billboard article noted that many industry analysts believed the song could have been a strong contender in either Best African Music Performance or Best Global Music Performance had it been nominated. Its absence left many puzzled, including Gamma\u2019s CEO, Larry Jackson.<\/p>\n

\u201cGiven its blockbuster success, \u2018Shake It to the Max\u2019 was widely expected to be a frontrunner in several categories at the 2026 Grammys. In fact, had the song earned a nomination for either best African music performance or best global music performance, many forecasters anticipated a victory. So, when \u2018Shake It to the Max\u2019 failed to appear on the final list of 2026 Grammy nominees in any category earlier this month (Nov. 7), listeners across the world were left scratching their heads, none more than gamma. CEO Larry Jackso,\u201d Billboard quoted.<\/p>\n

Moliy\u2019s label, Gamma, insisted the song met all the requirements for the 2026 Grammy Awards.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe \u2018Shake It to the Max\u2019 remix arrived within the 2026 Grammys eligibility period on Feb. 21, with new verses from Shenseea and Skillibeng, and a revised intro from Moliy, which satisfies the Recording Academy\u2019s definition of a \u2018new recording.\u2019 As per the 68th Grammy Awards Rules & Guidelines, \u2018new recordings\u2019 are defined as material that has been recorded within five years of the release date,\u201d the article continued.<\/p>\n

The Recording Academy\u2019s explanation<\/b><\/p>\n

The Recording Academy maintained that while the song was undeniably impactful, it did not meet the eligibility rules for the categories in question.<\/p>\n

In a statement to Billboard, the Academy said:
\u201cIt really is unfortunate that \u2018Shake It to the Max\u2019 isn\u2019t eligible in the best African music performance and best global music performance categories this year. We all acknowledge it is a massive song with significant cultural impact. Unfortunately, but quite simply, it was submitted as a remix, and as per our longstanding and published rules, remixes are just not eligible in these categories. Regardless, our goal is always to honor, respect and fairly represent creators and the music they make \u2014 so we will keep working to improve our entry processes and eligibility guidelines.\u201d<\/p>\n

48 Hours After Billboard\u2019s article: A Genre Manager said he was fired<\/b><\/p>\n

On November 21, 2025, just two days after Billboard\u2019s article was published, the former Recording Academy\u2019s Genre Manager, Shawn Thwaites, claimed he was fired from his job.<\/p>\n

Shawn Thwaites, who oversaw five categories, Global Music Performance, Best African Music Performance, Contemporary Instrumental, New Age Ambient and Chant, and Global Music Album, posted a video on social media explaining that he enforced the rules as written, the reason \u2018Shake it to the Max\u2019 did not make the list.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn November 21st, I was terminated just 48 hours after Billboard published a story about an eligibility ruling involving the song \u2018Shake It To The Max.\u2019 My committee followed Grammy rules exactly as written, and the Vice President of Awards confirmed in writing that my decision was correct. On August 8th, I received a positive performance review and a pay increase, with no warnings, no concerns, and no indication that my job was at risk,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Shawn Thwaites’ defense of his work with African music<\/b><\/p>\n

Thwaites stressed that he has always supported African music and would never intentionally undermine it.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I want to be clear: I would never snub African music. I am the person who wrote the proposal that created the Best African Music Performance category. I\u2019ve spent years uplifting African artists and building the Academy\u2019s bridge to the continent,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n

He added that he suspects foul play in his termination and suggested a troubling pattern regarding the treatment of \u2018Black\u2019 employees at the Academy.<\/p>\n

Claims of a disturbing pattern and a call for transparency<\/b><\/p>\n

According to Thwaites, he was one of several Black employees removed from the awards department during his time there.<\/p>\n

Thwaites says he will seek legal support to address the situation, insisting that no one should be penalized for following established rules.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I started at the Recording Academy, there were six Black employees in the awards department. One Black colleague was terminated in August, just three months before me, making me the fourth Black employee terminated during my time there. That pattern is deeply concerning. I\u2019m speaking today because transparency matters, fairness matters, and no one should lose their job for following the rules. I am seeking the proper legal support, and I\u2019m standing firmly in my truth,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

#TrendingGH: Extension of IGP’s contract draws praise and criticism<\/b><\/p>\n

AK\/EB<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On November 7, 2025, the Recording Academy released the full nominee list for the 2026 Grammy Awards. One song Ghanaians, across Africa and around the world, expected to see on the list was Moliy\u2019s \u201cShake It to The Max,\u201d which features Shensea, Skillibeng, and Silent Addy. But despite its popularity, the track did not appear […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":446620,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-446619","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entertainment"},"yoast_head":"\nMoliy\u2019s Grammy Snub: All you need to know - Ghanamma.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2025\/12\/02\/moliys-grammy-snub-all-you-need-to-know\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Moliy\u2019s Grammy Snub: All you need to know - Ghanamma.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"On November 7, 2025, the Recording Academy released the full nominee list for the 2026 Grammy Awards. 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