Getting Behind in “Behind-the-Scenes”

So… the whatever you want to call it—  the Non-Performers Award or (since 2008) The Ahmet Ertegun Award— which once were two things and now seem to have merged, even retroactively (all those who won Non-Performers when it was called that are now considered Ertegun winners)…

You know, the award for contributing to rock history without being on stage? That one.

Well, since 2015, they have only given it out in two of those years— once in 2016 and twice in 2020.

Thing is, before that, it was annual. It was given to at least one person or (usually songwriting but sometimes producing) team from the inaugural year—1986— to 2003.

That’s a pretty solid run. Enough to encourage anyone who could reasonably be up for it to think, “OK, maybe this year.”

Then… they stopped giving it. For five years! Then they gave it in 2008.

Then in 2010, they gave it to six recipients! It seems like they suddenly remembered: “Oops! We forgot we give this award! Better make up for lost time. Just give a bunch out at once.”

OK! Whew! Back on track! They gave it every year again, from 2010-14.

Then… 2016. OK, skipped a year. That can happen.

But then, not again until this year, 2020. A four-year gap!

What the hey?

Here’s the thing. This category is HUGE and vague. It encompasses “songwriters, producers, disc jockeys, record executives, journalists and other industry professionals.”

And there is not even a 25-year built-in time lag between when you began in the music biz and when you become eligible, as with performers. Everyone in rock-industry history is a candidate right now! 

And they’re telling us that four or five years go by and you can’t think of anyone worthy? Year after year?

While most websites tracking snubs focus on performers, there are critics out there who have made lists of pros who should get an Ertegun. They can also see if the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, or Radio and Broadcast halls, have inducted anyone who also needs one.

I am not going to sit here and sift through all 50 current Ertegun awardees to determine what percentage are execs vs producers vs songwriters (and many are two of these things, or all three)… vs DJs or journalists. A quick glance reveals far more execs and producers. I see 9 or 10 I would consider songwriters.

But if someone wants to do a breakdown of who’s there based on what their actual contribution was, I’d love to see it (and comment on it). I predict there would be clear patterns that would suggest which kind of Ertegun awardee is missing.

And so maybe another 10 people who deserve one can, in 2021, stop waiting. That’s right, it’s time for another 2010-type clean-up sweep. Maybe consider doing a sweep in every year that ends in zero? Or is a multiple of 5?

Of course, then the Hall just has to go back to giving one or two out every year, making sure not to ignore the songwriters (again, take a peek at their Hall)… without whom we would have far less music to begin with.

But, if you're gonna bother having the award? Bother awarding it.

https://www.audiovisualrepository.com/blog/Producersrockhallsnubs

https://www.songhall.org/

Update: In 2021, there were two inductees as Early Influences, three for Musical Excellence, and one Ertegun. In 2022, two more Early Influences, two for Musical Excellence, and three Erteguns.

Good, good. Let's keep that up, shall we? 

There were two Early Influence, three Musical Excellence, and one Ertegun inducted.