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Nick Waterhouse, co-producer on Jon Batiste’s “BIG MONEY,” accepted the award for best Americana album on Batiste’s behalf. He took the stage to read a message from Batiste.

Nick Waterhouse accepting the award for best Americana album, on Sunday night. Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

“Jon says: Thank god real musicians and real people playing in the same room together is one of the oldest traditions in humanity and must be protected,” he said to audience applause.

In what appears to be a call to protect artists against artificial intelligence, Waterhouse continued with a call “on [digital service providers], the Academy, corporations, the big money, to protect our humanity in music right now.”

Waterhouse, still reading Batiste’s message, closed his speech with a message of support for immigrants.

“Americana comes in many different shades, and this is a country of immigrants, and we’d all like to remind you of that,” Waterhouse said.