Start the music

What a surprise that Grammy Awards producer Ken Ehrlich had criticisms for Robert Hilburn’s accurate depiction of the ridiculously irrelevant Grammys (“Grammys ‘Irrelevant’? That’s a Minority Report,” Feb. 16). Just because the awards inched toward credibility this year with nominations for the White Stripes and OutKast doesn’t mean he’s off the hook for an otherwise boring celebration of mediocrity.

Barrett Porter

Los Angeles

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I have one simple question: If the Grammys are about the music, as Ehrlich attests, how on Earth did Justin Timberlake win against the likes of George Harrison, Sting and Warren Zevon? If that’s not enough to make you switch on your iPod, I don’t know what is.

I’m sure it’s difficult, irritating and annoying for Ehrlich to read a disparaging report of his work, and yes, sometimes I too wonder what performance Hilburn is reviewing, but not in this case.

Rather than get angry and spout insults in his attempt to feel absolved about his overrated, overwrought and interminable production, I would implore him to please go to the source and figure out how to return the music to the music industry so we have some actual music to listen to while we’re watching the Grammys.

Jill Smolin

Los Angeles