NPR has responded after R&B singer Lyfe Jennings claimed he was turned down for their popular Tiny Desk concert series because he was not “a big enough celeb.” The Ohio native, known for his soulful voice and two decades of hits, went viral this week after making the statement.
In a statement to Loren Lorosa of Brown Girl Grinding, a rep from NPR emphasized that the Tiny Desk concert lineup is all about music discovery and inclusion.
They stated, “The NPR Music team curates the Tiny Desk concert lineup using their editorial discretion to ensure there is music discovery and inclusion; showcasing emerging talent as often as well-known artists. The team gets pitched by hundreds of artists big and small. Being a big celebrity is no guarantee to getting a Tiny Desk but it doesn’t disqualify you either. Often it is about timing in the artist’s career and our own schedules. Our team is small with limited capacity to film approximately 10 shows per month. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate every artist who’d like to perform.”
Further, a source clarified that NPR never used the words “not big enough,” and it’s not something they’d say to any artist.
Jennings, 46, has had a long and successful career in the R&B world. His 2004 debut album, Lyfe 268-192, went platinum, and his 2006 album, The Phoenix, reached #2 on the Billboard 200 chart and was one of the top-selling R&B/Hip-Hop albums of 2006 and 2007. Despite not landing the Tiny Desk spot this time around, with his longevity and continued presence in the industry, there’s always a chance fans will see him on that stage in the future.
