Why is extreme metal music not recognised in American music awards?

Answer 1

because even though its awesome America doesnt recognize it for being as popular as it is. also that music is not "IN" right now. rap and pop is. (I hate rap and pop) rap and pop are the only good kinds of music!

It's really an issue of scope. The Grammys had a hard rock/metal category in 1989 for one year, but they changed it to just metal when Jethro Tull won (Jethro Tull, while certainly not metal, has some songs that could be considered hard rock. Crest of a Knave, the winning album, however, doesn't contain them). Since then, it's gone mostly to bands like Metallica (6 wins), Slayer, Tool, Nine Inch Nails (2 wins each), comeback artists like Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Ozzy, plus the occasional "fusion metal" band, like Soundgarden or Rage Against the Machine. The thing all of these bands have in common is that your grandmother probably recognizes the name, and if she doesn't, one of her friends will. Awards Shows are for popular music. If there was an extreme metal category, Killswitch engage would probably win the first one. Extreme metal, though a vibrant scene, doesn't generate enough sales in the US. Look at the list of Country Grammy winners. You won't find bands like Old Crow Medicine Show, or the Mountain Goats, or even Whiskey Town, because they don't play Pop Music. Instead you'll find exactly the crap you expected to find (going out on a limb and assuming you hate any country artists you've heard of). It's mostly bands even non-fans have a vague awareness of, and that sell lots or records (excluding the time a few years ago that The Dixie Chicks won for Best hated-by-fans political views). Now, If metal had its own award show the way country does, that might change, but I don't see that happening anytime soon. Metal is too insular a community to want to broadcast its affairs to the world like that, preferring to show commitment personally, with each fan supporting bands as they choose.