The biggest night in music is right around the corner, and we’ve got you covered with what you need to know leading up to the event.
For a third consecutive year, Trevor Noah will take the helm as the award show’s host. A Grammy nominee himself, Noah brings his comedic flair and experience as the show’s frontman to this year’s festivities. Noah will also serve as one of the show’s producers.
The Crypto.com Arena, formerly the Staples Center, in Los Angeles will play home to the event. The venue houses 20,000 seats and will be the stage for an array of performances and presenters who bring out their best for the opportunity to elevate their exposure and showcase their craft.
The Big Four
Best New Artist, Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and what’s considered the most prestigious prize, Album of the Year, are the darlings of the ceremony. Of the 91 awards to be handed out that night, these are, well, the big ones.
Only 13 artists in the history of the award have gotten nomination nods for all four in the same year, and only three swept all four categories, one of them being Adele, who’s up for three of the four again this year.
These categories are most coveted because they are known as “general field” awards, open to music from all genres. They truly serve as an acknowledgment of the best of the best in the recording industry overall. They’re usually what all the buzz is about, and this year is no exception.
The Album Above All
Album of the Year honors everything about a musical production. This includes consideration for every track from beginning to end and all the technical and artistic elements of the work. Think of it as the equivalent of winning the Oscar for Best Motion Picture.
The most decorated woman in Grammy history, Beyonce’, who calls 28 gramophones her own, is a front-running favorite for Album of the Year for Renaissance. Adele seems to be high on many people’s lists with her album 30. Both of these ladies saw their albums debut at number 1 on the Billboard chart and enjoyed long stints at the top spot.
Other notables in the Album of the Year category include Harry Styles, Bad Bunny, and the storied musical supergroup ABBA, all enjoying their very first nomination for Album of the Year.
Lizzo, Mary J. Blige, Coldplay, Kendrick Lamar, and Brandi Carlile round out the list of those in the running to take home top honors.
Record and Song Superlatives
Record of the Year goes to the artists, producers, engineers, and mixers of a work, while Song of the Year is bestowed upon the songwriter(s).
After winning all 13 of her last nominations, Adele is the favorite to take home Record of the Year honors for “Easy On Me,” with Beyonce’ and Harry Styles presenting some tough competition with “Break My Soul” and “As It Was,” respectively. Don’t count Lizzo out, though, with her ubiquitous TikTok anthem “About Damn Time.”
Again, it looks like Adele, Beyonce’, and Harry Styles currently garner the most attention for their writing contributions in the Song of the Year category. However, with Taylor Swift earning her record 6th nomination as a songwriter, the odds are this could finally be her for a victory with the epic “All Too Well” (Taylor’s Version).
Making Waves
Best New Artist honors go to an individual who is considered a new breakthrough on the music scene and has notably impacted the industry.
Most are looking at Brazillian artist Anitta to take home the hardware in this category. She’s followed by Italian rock band Maneskin, British Indie rock duet Wet Leg, and American rapper Latto as the most likely favorites.
Get in on the Grammys
If you want to catch the action live, the 65th Grammy Awards will air on Sunday, February 5th, on CBS. Live and on-demand streaming are also happening on Paramount+.
Tune in for all the music and glamor this awards show has to offer!
