Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Music’s biggest night
They say music soothes the soul, and if there was ever a year when we all needed a little soul-soothing, it was 2020. Luckily, the recording industry has delivered and we are finally ready to celebrate the successes of recording artists of all sorts.
Emmy-winning comedian Trevor Noah (“The Daily Show”) hosts the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, airing Sunday, March 14, on CBS. While this year’s ceremony will honor outstanding work in the recording industry as it always has, it won’t be a typical awards show because of limitations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, producers have been contending with coronavirus challenges for months and even had to postpone the event from January to March due to safety concerns during an uptick in cases in Los Angeles.
However, as they say in show biz, “the show must go on,” and the March telecast will shine a spotlight on talented artists, producers, engineers and other professionals.
“This has been a tough year for our industry, but I have witnessed, day after day, the incredible resiliency of the music community,” Recording Academy Interim President/CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said in an official release announcing the nominees in November. “This year’s nominated recordings are proof that the creative spirit continues to be alive and well, and our nominees are a testament to the passion and perseverance that our community embodies.”
While there may be some unknowns about this year’s ceremony, viewers can expect to see some of the music industry’s biggest stars. As of press time, there was no confirmation as to which artists, if any, might perform during the March telecast, but there will be plenty of star power nonetheless. This year’s nominees include a wide range of artists to suit just about everyone’s tastes.
Beyoncé has once again come out on top as the artist with the most nominations. The star, who is among the most Grammy-nominated artists of all time, is up for nine Grammys this time around. She’ll vie for the coveted Record of the Year award for her album “Black Parade,” alongside fellow nominees Black Pumas (“Colors”), DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch (“Rockstar”), Doja Cat (“Say So”), Billie Eilish (“Everything I Wanted”), Dua Lipa (“Don’t Start Now”), Post Malone (“Circles”) and Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé (“Savage”). Other highlights for Beyoncé include nominations for Song of the Year and Best Music Film.
Not far behind Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa and Roddy Ricch clocked in with six Grammy nominations each. Swift’s highlights this year include nods for Song of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album. Lipa is also up for Best Vocal Pop Album and Album of the Year, while rapper Roddy Ricch
has earned Song of the Year and Best Rap Song nominations.
Other notable nominees include Brittany Howard, with five, and John Beasley, Justin Bieber, Phoebe Bridgers, DaBaby, Billie Eilish, David Frost and Megan Thee Stallion, with four each. A complete list of nominees is available at www.grammy.com.
Who knows how the nominees will receive their awards? Whether they are on stage or on Zoom, it’s sure to be an entertaining evening with Noah at the helm. He has been cracking jokes about the gig since it was announced back in November.
“Despite the fact that I am extremely disappointed that the Grammys have refused to have me sing or be nominated for Best Pop Album, I am thrilled to be hosting this auspicious event,” Noah said.
Given the current situation with COVID-19, the Grammys will, of course, look different this year. Originally, the producers were planning to use the Staples Center in Los Angeles, as in years past. Initial reports indicated that there would not be a live audience at the venue and, instead, only Noah, presenters and performers would be allowed on site. However, in a December interview with Billboard, executive producer Ben Winston talked about creating a show with multiple stages and somehow supporting independent venues, which have been hit hard by the pandemic.
Along with the changes imposed by coronavirus, there will be some category title changes for this year’s Grammys. The former Best Urban Contemporary Album category will now be called the Best Progressive R&B Album. The Best Rap/Sung Performance category has been renamed Best Melodic Rap Performance. The Latin music categories have also been shaken up this year as the Best Latin Pop Album category will become the Best Latin Pop or Urban Album, while the Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album category will become the Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album. In other renaming news, the Best World Music Album category has changed to the Best Global Music Album.
Some of the rules have also been tweaked. The Best New Artist category will no longer have a maximum number of releases. In the Best Musical Theater Album category, only up to four principal vocalists may receive an award along with the album’s producers, lyricists and composers.
While there are several music industry awards in the U.S., the Grammy Awards are considered to be the ultimate honor among popular artists, much as the Oscars are for film, the Emmys are for TV and the Tonys are for theater. Established in 1959, the peer-selected Grammy Awards celebrate achievements in a wide range of styles, not only pop, rock or country as some other ceremonies do. Grammy Awards are also given out for classical, jazz and even spoken-word albums.
Truly, the Grammys are for everyone. Don’t miss this celebration of the recording industry as people come together to honor the achievements of the past year at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, airing Sunday, March 14, on CBS.