Grammy Season Has Arrived!
by Nyah Lin | November 12th, 2024
The Grammy Awards are presented annually by the Recording Academy to recognize the year's achievements in the music industry. The awards were first held in 1959 and have since become one of the most prestigious events in music. The Grammys feature various categories, from genre-specific awards (like Best Rock Album, and Best Pop Solo Performance) to more general ones (like Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Album of the Year). There are awards for classical music, jazz, blues, and even video game soundtracks. Members of the Recording Academy, which consists of music industry professionals, select candidates in each category, and then vote for the winners from those nominations. The ceremony is a glamorous event with some of the biggest names of the time. It typically airs on CBS and attracts millions of viewers.
This year, popular nominations among the major categories include Beyonce, Kendric Lamar, Chappell Roan, Taylor Swift, Chalir XCX, Sabrina Carpenter, and Billie Eilish.
RECORD OF THE YEAR
The Record of the Year award recognizes the artist, producer, and engineer behind a single track, highlighting excellence in all aspects of the song. It considers the performance, production, and engineering of the song, highlighting excellence in all aspects of the song.
“Now and Then” by The Beatles
“Texas Hold ‘Em” by Beyoncé
“Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter
“360” by Charli XCX
“Birds of a Feather” by Billie Eilish
“Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar
“Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan
“Fortnight” by Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Album of the Year award recognizes the overall excellence of a full album. Similar to Record of the Year, it considers artistic and technical aspects like performance, production, and engineering. The winner is typically someone who has created an album that resonates both critically and commercially and is seen as a major career achievement.
“New Blue Sun” by André 3000
“Cowboy Carter” by Beyoncé
“Short n’ Sweet” by Sabrina Carpenter
“Brat” by Charli XCX
“Djesse Vol. 4” by Jacob Collier
“Hit Me Hard and Soft” by Billie Eilish
“The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” by Chappell Roan
“The Tortured Poets Department” by Taylor Swift
SONG OF THE YEAR
The Song of the Year award is given to the songwriters whose work is deemed to have the most outstanding qualities in terms of melody, lyrics, and overall composition, regardless of who performed the song.
“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey
Songwriters: Sean Cook, Jerrel Jones, Joe Kent, Chibueze Collins Obinna, Nevin Sastry & Mark Williams
“Birds of a Feather” by Billie Eilish
Songwriters: Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas
“Die With a Smile” by Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
Songwriters: Dernst Emile II, James Fauntleroy, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars & Andrew Watt
“Fortnight” by Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone
Songwriters: Jack Antonoff, Austin Post & Taylor Swift
“Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan
Songwriters: Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, Daniel Nigro & Justin Tranter
“Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar,
Songwriter: Kendrick Lamar
“Please Please Please” by Sabrina Carpenter
Songwriters: Amy Allen, Jack Antonoff & Sabrina Carpenter
“Texas Hold ‘Em” by Beyoncé
Songwriters: Brian Bates, Beyoncé, Elizabeth Lowell Boland, Megan Bülow, Nate Ferraro & Raphael Saadiq
BEST NEW ARTIST
The Grammy Award for Best New Artist is awarded to a performer or group that has made a significant impact on the music scene during the eligibility period. It honors an artist who has gained recognition for their talent, creativity, and commercial success, usually within a short period of time. The Best New Artist category is open to any artist who has not previously won a Grammy Award, and it recognizes those who have shown promise and achieved major recognition in their early career. Some past winners, such as Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Megan Thee Stallion, and Adele, have gone on to become major figures in the music industry after receiving this honor.
Sabrina Carpenter
Doechii
Khruangbin
Raye
Chappell Roan
Shaboozey
Teddy Swims
BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE
The Best Pop Solo Performance award honors a solo artist's performance of a song in the pop genre. This award recognizes the vocal performance and musical interpretation of a song. Unlike other pop categories that can include collaborations, this award highlights the strength and quality of an individual’s vocal delivery and overall performance in a standalone song.
“Bodyguard” by Beyoncé
“Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter
“Birds of a Feather” by Billie Eilish
“Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan
BEST POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE
The Best Pop Duo/Group Performance award is given to a collaboration between two or more artists (or groups) in the pop genre. This award critiques the performance, vocal delivery, and musical chemistry of artists working together on a pop song. It recognizes the creative and technical aspects of the collaboration, such as the balance between the performers, their vocal interplay, and the production of the track.
“Us” by Gracie Abrams Featuring Taylor Swift
“Levii’s Jeans” by Beyoncé Featuring Post Malone
“Guess” by Charli XCX & Billie Eilish
“The Boy Is Mine” by Ariana Grande, Brandy & Monica
“Die With a Smile” by Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars’
