A former project manager for awards at the Recording Academy has disclosed that he was dismissed after ruling Ghanaian singer Moliy’s viral hit Shake It To The Max ineligible for the 2026 Grammy Awards.
The revelation, confirmed in a report by Billboard, outlines how the manager, Thwaites, determined that the track could not be considered for categories such as Best African Music Performance or Best Global Music Performance due to Grammy rules relating to remixes.
According to the report, the song was submitted as a remix, meaning it did not fit the Academy’s long-standing eligibility guidelines. Thwaites said his committee “followed the Grammy guidelines precisely as written,” adding that a vice-president at the Recording Academy had even confirmed the accuracy of his ruling in writing. Before his dismissal, he had been praised internally and assigned additional duties, including interviewing Nigerian artist Davido.
Thwaites also clarified that his decision had nothing to do with personal preference or bias, pointing to his longstanding role championing African music within the Academy. He said the Academy initially accepted his ruling without any objections, only for the outcome to change abruptly days later, leading to what he described as an unexpected and unfair termination.
Photo – Ghanaian Musician Moliy
Industry observers and social media commentators, however, believe Thwaites was fired not for misconduct, but because his decision inadvertently affected one of the world’s fastest-rising African hits. Many argue that the Recording Academy feared backlash from global Afrobeats stakeholders and fans, suggesting the institution wanted to avoid appearing unsupportive of African artists during a period when global attention on Afrobeats is at an all-time high. The debate has since fueled criticism that the Academy may be more sensitive to public pressure than it admits.
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Moliy’s Shake It to the Max (Fly), originally released in December 2024, became one of 2025’s most recognisable global anthems. With its blend of Afropop and Jamaican dancehall created by Silent Addy and Disco Neil, the song peaked at No. 6 on the Global 200 chart and later received a remix featuring Shenseea and Skillibeng. Yet, when the 2026 Grammy nominations were announced on November 7, the hit was missing from every category, leaving fans and Moliy’s team puzzled and further fuelling speculation about what really happened inside the Academy.
Former Grammy Awards Manager Fired After Ruling Moliy’s Global Hit Ineligible; Explains Why.
According to the Billboard report, “‘Shake It to the Max’ isn’t eligible for Best African Music Performance or Best Global Music Performance this year… it was submitted as a remix, and under our longstanding published guidelines, remixes simply do not qualify for these categories.
My committee followed the Grammy guidelines precisely as written, and the vice-president of awards confirmed in writing that my ruling was correct.
On 8 August, I received a positive performance review and a pay rise, no warnings, no issues, nothing to suggest my role was in jeopardy. And on 17 November, only days before I was dismissed, RCA Records specifically requested that I be the one to interview Davido at the Grammy Museum.
I want to be absolutely clear: I would never sideline African music. I drafted the proposal that led to the creation of the Best African Music Performance category. I’ve spent years elevating African artists and strengthening the Academy’s relationship with the continent. African music is central to my work and, frankly, to my identity.
When I joined the Recording Academy, there were six Black staff members in the awards department. One colleague was dismissed in August, just three months before my own termination, making me the fourth Black employee to be let go during my time there. That pattern is deeply troubling. I’m speaking out because transparency matters. Fairness matters, and no one should lose their job for following the rules. I’m seeking proper legal support, and I’m standing firmly in my truth, he explained.
Former Grammy Awards Manager Fired After Ruling Moliy’s Global Hit Ineligible [VIDEO]
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Why the Recording Academy (Grammy Awards) Disqualified Moliy
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