Music critics and journalists Ann Powers, Sidney Madden, and Stephen Thompson discuss their predictions for the Grammy Awards. They also recommend new albums like The Last Dinner Party and Jay Mascis' latest release. The hosts express excitement for Grammy performances and anticipate unexpected collaborations. They explore the Grammy Awards' role in anointing ambassadors for different genres and discuss controversies surrounding the event.
The Grammy Awards nominations showcase a lack of genre diversity but reflect a positive shift towards more gender diversity and representation of women artists.
The absence of a clear front-runner in top categories like Record of the Year and Album of the Year makes the outcomes uncertain and could result in unexpected wins.
Deep dives
Diversity and representation in the Grammy Awards
The nominees in the top categories of the Grammy Awards showcase a lack of genre diversity with a focus on pop and mainstream artists, leaving out genres like country and Mexican regional music. However, this year's nominations reflect a positive shift towards more gender diversity and representation of women artists. This is seen in the dominance of female artists in categories like Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best New Artist.
An unpredictable field of contenders
The top categories, including Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year, present diverse fields of contenders without a clear front-runner. Artists like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, and John Batiste are expected to have strong showings based on their previous successes and critical acclaim. However, with the absence of a standout nominee, the outcomes in these top categories are uncertain and could result in unexpected wins.
Challenges surrounding the 'Best New Artist' category
The 'Best New Artist' category raises questions about the definition of 'newness' in the music industry. Some nominees, like Victoria Monét and Noah Kahan, have been active in the industry for several years and have already achieved recognition and nominations. The category seems to lean more towards recognizing breakthrough artists rather than truly new artists. This raises discussions about the Grammy's approach to acknowledging emerging talent and creating a fair and inclusive landscape.
Hopes and controversies surrounding the Grammys
Hope for the Grammys includes exceptional performances that showcase artistic excellence and leave a lasting impact. However, cynicism and controversies persist with concerns about the Grammy's focus on record labels and industry politics, as well as questions surrounding representation, activism, and meaningful statements during the awards ceremony. The desire for authentic activism and addressing pressing social issues within the music industry remains a hope while acknowledging potential empty gestures.
Ann Powers, Sidney Madden and Stephen Thompson make predictions ahead of Sunday night's 66th annual Grammy Awards.
Notable albums out Feb. 2: • The Last Dinner Party, Prelude to Ecstasy • J Mascis, What Do We Do Now • Kirin J Callinan, If I Could Sing • Lee Scratch Perry, King Perry • Paul McCartney & Wings, Band on the Run (Underdubbed Mixes) • The Paranoid Style, The Interrogator • Liquid Mike, Paul Bunyan's Slingshot • Vijay Iyer, Linda May Han Oh, Tyshawn Sorey, Compassion • Jenny Sturgeon & Boo Hewerdine, Outliers