The unveiling of the 2024 Grammy nominees has ignited both excitement and contemplation within the realm of musical enthusiasts. Recognizing the deserving nominees is essential, as their artistic contributions have undeniably shaped the contemporary music industry. However, the absence of certain noteworthy talents raises questions about the nature of the nominations. In this exploration, we acknowledge worthy achievements. But simultaneously, we question the choices that overlooked the industry’s most compelling voices. Here’s everything you need to know:
Album Of The Year
While there are many, many different categories to explain, I will only be covering the most anticipated categories. With that said, we begin with Album of the Year. As a popular music enthusiast, of course I was expecting to see “Midnights” by Taylor Swift. After taking the industry by storm these past years, how could anyone overlook her accomplishments? Additionally, I was not surprised when seeing “GUTS” by Olivia Rodrigo (despite its underwhelming comparison to her first album), “Endless Summer Vacation” by Miley Cirus, and “SOS” by SZA, and
However, Lana Del Rey’s Album of the Year nomination pleasantly surprised me. Lana’s accomplishments have gone unnoticed and underappreciated for much too long now, and seeing that she finally is getting the recognition she deserves is heartwarming.
Personally, I have heard of boygenius, Janelle Monáe, and Jon Batiste, but I am unfamiliar with their albums that are eligible for the nomination. Either way, according to Rolling Stone Magazine/Official Instagram, the previously mentioned albums seem to be getting much more love anyway—so, while I would love to see the underdog take home the win, the outlook is grim.
Record and Song Of The Year
Moving into Record of the Year, the audience begins to see the repetitiveness in nominations. The same artists who were nominated for Album of the Year were also nominated for Record of the Year, with the exception of Billie Eilish with “What Was I Made For?” and “On My Mama” by Victoria Monét. Other than this, we have “Worship” by Jon Batiste, “Not Strong Enough” by boygenius, “Flowers” by Miley Cirus, “Vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo, “Anti-Hero” by Taylor Swift, and “Kill Bill” by SZA. The Song of the Year also follows the same repetitiveness, the exact same tunes being nominated for this category, excluding the addition of “Dance The Night” by Dua Lipa and “A&W” by Lana Del Rey.
Nominee Repetition
With this repetitive narrative, it’s clear who is favored to win. In years past, Grammy categories were a toss-up between many great albums. And yet, this year, I see a common theme: A few megastars in with some newbies. You almost already know who will be taking the trophy. It takes away the excitement of guessing the winner, but it also makes me wonder. Who else could have been put on the lineup to balance out this scale?
Artists Overlooked by the Recording Academy (…again)
Sabrina Carpenter
If there’s anything I’ve noticed, it’s the general public once again asking where certain artists are, and why they were not taken into consideration. Sabrina Carpenter, a singer/songwriter who released her 2022 album “emails i can’t send,” has gotten just as much praise and recognition, if not more, than the listed artists. She toured with Taylor Swift, received incredible amounts of airtime and stream-time, and had her album debut at No. 23 out of a 200 album chart by Billboard. So why did she receive a grand total of zero nominations?
Jungkook
Grammy’s critiques also raise the question: why Jungkook was not in the lineup for Best Pop Collaboration for “Seven” with Latto? This song was not only a massive global hit, but was even No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. This is not the first time the recording academy has failed to recognize Jungkook and his success. So, what’s the deal?
Other artists, such as Zach Bryan, Tate McRae, and Ava Max were left out of the mix. These facts left fans wondering about the true credibility of the Recording Academy. And why every year, artists get snubbed out of deserved recognition.
Best New Artist
Nevertheless, a category that I was truly impressed to see the diversity of was the Best New Artist category. This category nominated fresh, unique, and insanely talented artists such as Fred Again.., Ice Spice, Jelly Roll, Coco Jones, Victoria Monét, and The War and Treaty.
Noah vs. Gracie
However, the nominees I’m most excited for are Gracie Abrams and Noah Kahan. These two artists really grew to stardom within the past year. They are both lyrically gifted and beautifully musically inclined. When it comes right down to it, the prediction for this category is dramatically split. I have seen equal love for both on all social media platforms. However, crowds currently seem to be leaning more towards Abrams, the better-known artist of the two. I myself am a Noah Kahan girl, so I know who I will be rooting for!
In conclusion, the unveiling of the 2024 Grammy nominees reveals both the celebration of deserving talents and the contemplation of notable exclusions. The nominees, both celebrated and bypassed, reflect the evolving dynamics of the music industry. As we eagerly anticipate the awards ceremony, it remains a reminder that the acknowledgment of artistic brilliance is a subjective tapestry, painted with both applause and the muted echoes of those yet to find their spotlight.
