The Recording Academy has provided clarity on why Moliy's international smash hit 'Shake It to the Max' failed to secure a nomination for the upcoming 2026 Grammy Awards, despite being one of the most commercially successful records during the eligibility period.
The Technicality That Cost a Nomination
According to an official statement shared with Billboard, the song's disqualification stemmed from how it was submitted for consideration. The February 21 version featuring Shenseea and Skillibeng was entered as a remix, and under Grammy regulations, remixes are not eligible for either the Best African Music Performance or Best Global Music Performance categories.
The Academy emphasized that this rule applies even when remixes contain substantial new compositions or significantly updated arrangements. While the updated version technically qualified as a new recording, it remained bound by the submission guidelines governing remix entries.
Recording Academy's Official Statement
"It really is unfortunate that 'Shake It to the Max' isn't eligible in the best African music performance and best global music performance categories this year," the Recording Academy stated. "We all acknowledge it is a massive song with significant cultural impact. Unfortunately, but quite simply, it was submitted as a remix, and as per our longstanding and published rules, remixes are just not eligible in these categories."
The Academy notified the record label about the ineligibility decision in late September. The team behind the hit song appealed the decision, arguing that more than half of the updated version contained newly composed material. However, the Recording Academy maintained its position, describing the decision as procedural rather than subjective.
Unstoppable Global Success Despite Grammy Snub
Even without Grammy recognition, Moliy's breakout hit remains one of 2025's defining global success stories. First released in December 2024, the track gained momentum before exploding in popularity throughout 2025, particularly after the successful remix featuring Shenseea and Skillibeng.
The song's journey continued with multiple additional remixes from artists including Sean Paul, Gladdest, and Major Lazer, helping it cross regional and genre boundaries while maintaining its distinctive identity.
When the viral dance challenge took over TikTok, the song became virtually unavoidable. More than 2.5 million user-created videos propelled it to mainstream dominance, securing top chart positions worldwide.
The track's impressive chart performance includes:
- Peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Global 200
- Reaching No. 1 on the U.S. Songs chart
- Landing in the Top 10 across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Turkey, and the UAE
- Topping multiple UK charts, including Afrobeats and Hip-Hop/R&B
The song has already achieved several certifications, including Gold status in the UK, France, and New Zealand. On YouTube alone, it has accumulated up to 200 million views, cementing its status as Moliy's most significant global breakthrough to date.
Despite the Grammy nomination disappointment, 'Shake It to the Max' continues to demonstrate that commercial success and cultural impact sometimes transcend award show recognition, maintaining its position as one of the year's most influential musical compositions.
