Here is some interesting information about the Pulitzer Jury Process gathered from the Frequently Asked Questions section of the website http://www.pulitzer.org/: [The boldface emphasis is mine.]

The music jury, usually made up of four composers and one newspaper critic, meet in New York to listen to recordings and study the scores of pieces, which in 2004 numbered 82. The category definition states: For distinguished musical composition by an American that has had its first performance or recording in the United States during the year.

The jurors in letters, music, and drama, in appreciation of their year-long work, receive honoraria, raised to $2,000, effective in 1999.

Beginning with letters and music, the board, in turn, reviews the nominations of each jury for two days. Each jury is required to offer three nominations but in no order of preference, although the jury chair in a letter accompanying the submission can broadly reflect the views of the members. Board discussions are animated and often hotly debated…

[The following sentences may apply primarily to journalism categories, but not necessarily.] Awards are usually made by majority vote, but the board is also empowered to vote 'no award,' or by three-fourths vote to select an entry that has not been nominated or to switch nominations among the categories. If the board is dissatisfied with the nominations of any jury, it can ask the Administrator to consult with the chair by telephone to ascertain if there are other worthy entries.

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Steve Reich's music has been nominated every year for the past three years. I think it's rather evident that the board does not care for Steve Reich's music.

Even if the jury members change from year to year, the board members probably will not. If a jury was comprised of progressive people who made progressive nominations, the board would probably just shoot them down.