NPR Responds to Lyfe Jennings’ Claim of Tiny Desk Rejection, Explains Selection Process

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.

I SPOKE WITH A REP FOR @nprmusic (TINY DESK) ABOUT LYFE JENNINGS CLAIMING HE’D BEEN TURNED DOWN WHEN HE ASKED TO DO ONE BC HE ..”WASNT A BIG ENOUGH CELEB” and they told me …

“The NPR Music team curates the Tiny Desk concert lineup using their editorial discretion to ensure… pic.twitter.com/AWCGVCKC0i

— BROWN GIRL GRINDING⭐️ (@LorenLorosa) October 15, 2024

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.

To clarify further on Lyfe Jennings x Tiny Desk —
I spoke to someone in the know and they informed me that..

Tiny Desk NEVER used the words “NOT BIG ENOUGH” .. I’m told it’s just not something they’d say to ANY artist.

We’ll discuss this during #jesswiththemess tomorrow on… https://t.co/HPl1Q14Hgb

— BROWN GIRL GRINDING⭐️ (@LorenLorosa) October 16, 2024

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.