The Grammy Award Goes To… (And Our Marketing Takeaways)

By Silvia, Social Media Assistant | February 12, 2019

Well, according to Drake everyone wins. This year’s award ceremony was a bit underwhelming, but had moments that caught many viewers’ attention.

The night ended with big winners, including first timers Cardi B, Ariana Grande and H.E.R.; and multiple category sweepers like Kacey Musgraves, Lady Gaga and Childish Gambino.

However, many artists -- Childish Gambino, for example – weren’t present at the award ceremony. Ariana Grande, who was set to perform, told her Twitter fans that she wouldn’t attend because her creative vision wasn’t being supported by the academy.

These artists received praise on social media for speaking up. When celebrities talk about the things they don’t agree with, their followers feel a closer, more honest relationship with them. They value transparency and authenticity.

Do those words sound familiar? They’re some of the key marketing trends in 2019.

Another one is storytelling. Lady Gaga, one of the biggest stars of the night, was praised her for her storytelling, particularly as expressed through her performance of “Shallow” from A Star is Born. She has always told her story through her music, performances, appearances and outfits – making her one of the best storytellers in the industry.

As marketers, what can we take away from the Grammys?

• Transparency and storytelling are important in any industry, because that is what followers and consumers are looking for.

• Storytelling is a part of a bigger picture. There are many components that bring it all together.

• You need to be transparent with your audience to create a trusting and long term relationship so that they keep coming back. Be prepared for negative feedback as well as positive.

• If you get criticism, learn from it and make changes that will let your audience know that you are listening to their concerns.

• Twitter is still relevant. Although it’s not the most popular sharing site, people enjoy sharing their real-time opinions there. If it’s trending, it’s on Twitter.