The present social and political climate will figure prominently in the 2021
Grammys. Anyone who says otherwise is delusional.
Just as
#MeToo and
#EnoughIsEnough powered the most recent iteration of Music’s Biggest Night, we can fairly expect that
#BlackLivesMatter and long-overdue conversations about systemic racism will influence the next round of nominations and awards.
We fully expect to see much more robust representation of black artists when noms are announced and envelopes opened. And since black music has been completely dominating the marketplace for several years, this is only fitting.
An early favorite for top-tier love is
The Weeknd, whose album
After Hours (
XO/Republic) enjoyed both critical acclaim and massive action in the marketplace.
Also in the mix as chatter about Grammy ramps up again are
Summer Walker,
Jhené Aiko,
Lil Baby,
DaBaby,
Doja Cat,
Roddy Ricch, 2020 Best New Artist nominees
Chloe x Halle and
Teyana Taylor, among others.
Due in part to the shifting priorities of the era, pop artists who might otherwise have sailed to top-level glory, meanwhile, are more likely to be in tight contests for the Big Four if nominated there. These include
Harry Styles,
Lady Gaga, BNA winner
Dua Lipa,
Halsey and
Camila Cabello. Meanwhile, where do pop juggernauts like
Post Malone and
BTS fit into the equation?
Among the critically acclaimed outliers, is there a spot for the hugely praised new
Bob Dylan record or
Fiona Apple’s adventurous comeback set? Dylan may face even more difficulty in this tumultuous year than the late
John Prine encountered with his brilliant final album last year. It didn’t feel like Prine’s time in the Year of the Woman; Dylan could be similarly passed over amid the #BLM wave, but his stature as a troubadour of great social movements may help his chances.
Phoebe Bridgers could be in the BNA mix, given the enormous buzz around her, but it’s too early to know if that will be sustained.
HAIM, who’ve long enjoyed support from critics and tastemakers, appear to be making noise again with their new album.
The country categories offer opportunities for a large crop of young breakouts. In addition to established young stars like
Thomas Rhett,
Dan + Shay,
Luke Combs,
Kane Brown and
Maren Morris, expect to see recognition of more recent arrivals like
Morgan Wallen,
Gabby Barrett and
Ingrid Andress.
All of the above, we should note, is based on the vibe of the moment and subject to substantial revision. Stay tuned for frequent updates.
