Nine takeaways from the 2025 Grammy Award nominations

As a seasoned music enthusiast with decades of experience under my belt, I must say that this year’s Grammy nominations have left me both impressed and perplexed. Being a connoisseur of various genres, from bluegrass to rock, it’s always fascinating to see the diverse talent that our industry nurtures.

Last week saw the unveiling of the Grammy nominations. It’s possible you may have overlooked it since, despite the fact that the Grammy telecast is currently the only award show people seem interested in, the Recording Academy has historically struggled to create compelling stories leading up to the event itself. This shortcoming can be partly attributed to the vast scale of the event.

Approximately 700,000 Grammy Awards exist in total, with new ones added, old ones removed, category names changed, and eligibility rules adjusted each year. Keeping track can sometimes be quite challenging.

This year, the Academy seems to have made only minor adjustments to their rules, as opposed to significant changes like in previous years. It could indicate a new level of caution, but it’s more likely due to some administrative oversight that might lead to new categories such as “Gospel Hip Hop” and “Sunshine Grindcore” next year, focusing on songs with an optimistic tone about Hell.

Nine takeaways from the nominations of the 2025 Grammy Awards

For now, there’s the 67th Grammy Awards to anticipate, taking place on February 2, 2025. Here’s a peek at the nominations and some insights into who might take home the awards this year.

The dominance of women continues unabated

Among the Big Three Awards – Album, Record, and Song of the Year, there are 24 nominations in total. Out of these, approximately 18.5 nominations went to women. This includes “Die With a Smile,” a joint nomination for Song of the Year between Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars.

It might appear surprising, but this year’s nominees present a more diverse balance compared to last year, where only John Batiste was recognized in a major award category. Historically, men have held a significant presence in the pop music scene. However, that era has passed, and today’s nominees reflect a broader representation.

The dominance of Jack Antonoff may be coming to an end

Antonoff has earned three straight Grammy Awards for Best Producer. While he’s collaborated with numerous A-list artists like Lana Del Rey, Lorde, and St. Vincent, he’s particularly recognized as Taylor Swift’s producer these days. This year, Swift is up for nominations in all major categories, but Antonoff isn’t included. This situation opens up possibilities for two outcomes to unfold.

Initially, it’s likely that a different individual will win the Grammy for Production this time around. I’m betting on Daniel Nigro, who I believe was deserving of the award last year. This year, he has Chappell Roan’s smash hit “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” and several releases by Olivia Rodrigo on his resume.

Is there any future for rock & roll producers?

Discuss the case of Andrew Watt, who was the last Producer of the Year (excluding Antonoff) to receive this accolade in 2021. Notably, his primary collaborations were with Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber. Similar to New York prodigy Rick Rubin, Watt has consistently demonstrated a diverse range of musical preferences.

In 2021, he led the creation of albums from iconic rock groups Pearl Jam and the Rolling Stones, which were all nominated in the Rock Album category. He also produced the contender for Song of the Year, “Die With a Smile.” Regrettably, Watt was not recognized on the Producer’s list. This is yet another indication that conventional rock ‘n’ roll has lost some of its luster in the public’s opinion.

War horses

Is it unfair for the public to question the Recording Academy’s choice of old artists as modern rock icons? I must be tactful when discussing the Rolling Stones’ album “Hackneyed Diamonds,” as some fans can become defensive when I suggest it is merely average, not excellent or exceptional. It isn’t a bad record, by any means; but it doesn’t reach greatness either. Despite this, the Rolling Stones received a Grammy nomination.

Remarkably, while “Now And Then” by the Beatles might be an enjoyable trinket and a marvel of engineering, it’s undeniably a rather uneventful tune. Proposing it for Record of the Year is undoubtedly a mind-boggling decision in a year when Andre 3000’s New Blue Sun was granted the Album of the Year award. Even Pearl Jam’s Rock Album of the Year nomination appears rather unremarkable next to it, though this is just typical Pearl Jam fare. There were numerous superior, innovative, and contemporary songs and albums that deserved the accolade more.

If you’re in search of fresh takes on classic rock and roll, give Caligula’s Horse’s album “Charcoal Grace” or Alkaline Trio’s “Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs” a listen. These bands may be categorized as progressive metal or pop punk, but they truly embody quality rock & roll. It’s a shame that their music is sometimes overshadowed, making it harder to find than it should be in the mainstream recording industry.

iHeartRadio rules the alt universe

Approximately six out of the ten nominees for the Alternative Performance category – namely Cage the Elephant, Fontaines D.C., and St. Vincent – will be performing on the iHeartRadio Alter Ego Tour in the upcoming year. While my personal feelings towards these bands might vary, they all seem like valid contenders. However, I can’t help but feel a sense of unease when observing such a high concentration of a single genre stemming from a common corporate origin.

I’m not implying any shady activities are happening, nor do I think these bands should reject profitable tours. Instead, I plan to stay vigilant about this situation and possibly support some bands that didn’t get selected by iHeartRadio.

The conflicted state of country music

I’m quite satisfied with the nominations in the main Country categories. I wished that Charley Crockett’s album “$10 Cowboy” had been nominated for Country Album rather than being diverted to the Americana category. The same goes for Sierra Ferrell, but it seems this is the result of having so many intersecting categories. It does, however, expand the scope for honoring a wider range of music within the broader genre.

Despite differences in personal preferences, I strongly believe a unique event is on the horizon this year. I previously expressed my conviction that Beyonce will take home the Album of the Year award for “Cowboy Carter.” Given its nomination in the Best Country Album category, this should come as no shock. However, I don’t anticipate it winning in that specific category.

I think Kacey Musgraves is getting that for Deeper Well. I think the Recording Academy desperately wants Beyonce to win for Cowboy Carter as a huge middle finger to the Country Music Awards, but country music has such a split personality that they will recognize Musgraves’s beautifully subdued work when it comes to the genre award.

My favorite nomination

Each of us has unique preferences. My selection of nominees would vary significantly from yours, and neither would likely resemble the official list. As adults, we learn to appreciate this diversity and privately question the taste and intellect of those who differ from us in our thoughts. It’s moments like when one of our unconventional favorites is acknowledged that make it all the more extraordinary.

2021 marked a significant point in my year when they unveiled the nominees for the Best Bluegrass Album. Legendary figure Del McCoury secured a nod, as did emerging legend Billy Strings. Tony Trischka, a banjo virtuoso with a five-decade discography, made the cut, along with Sister Sadie, an exceptional all-female band that’s only been active for less than ten years. Each one deserves recognition. However, I am particularly thrilled for Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, a Berklee-educated violinist who debuted her solo album this year and managed to secure the fifth nomination.

If you’ve noticed Bronwyn joining Molly Tuttle’s well-regarded Golden Highway quintet from the sidelines, you’re familiar with her exceptional fiddle abilities. However, what might surprise you is that she can also sing! Although she may not win this time, given that she’s the sole nominee without a linked Wiki page, she has a promising future ahead. This nomination will undoubtedly help broaden her fanbase.

Snubs

I hate to write about snubs unless you are willing to pick out a nominee that should have been dropped. I have already hinted at some of these in the Rock category. The biggest snub I can see is how the Beatles got a Record of the Year nom over Shamboozey’s “A Bar Song.” Personally, I would have chosen LISA over Teddy Swims for Best New Artist. But I suppose K-pop will need to wait a little longer for recognition while B+ level pop/soul keeps on trucking.

Predictions

Let’s conclude by sharing some initial thoughts. These forecasts are based on early impressions, so they might evolve significantly as we approach the real awards in February. I may alter these predictions multiple times before finalizing any concrete statements.

Cowboy Carter’s “Espresso” Album

Obscure trivia for the day: if you type “Rise and fall” into a Google search, the first suggestion you get is Chappell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. It comes in just ahead of William L. Shirer’s epic history, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. This is culturally significant in ways that I can’t even begin to fathom.

2024-11-11 14:01