Beck Wins Album of the Year Over Beyoncé (2015)

Beck's Morning Phase winning Album of the Year over Beyoncé's self-titled visual album at the 2015 Grammys was a watershed moment for accusations of racial bias. Beyoncé's album debuted at No. 1, sold over 4 million units globally, and redefined the album format with its 14-song video component. In contrast, Beck's album received solid reviews but lacked cultural impact, with a Metacritic score of 81 to Beyoncé's 89. Kanye West's nearly staged interruption encapsulated public outrage. This decision is 50% more likely to be cited in bias studies than #4 Taylor Swift's win over Lemonade, as it directly preceded widespread industry calls for diversity reform.