Time to Rock and Roll Through Grammy Week
CO-EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Cynthia Littleton
California, it has been said, knows how to party — and party we will this week as the Grammy Awards caravan takes over Los Angeles and environs.
The 66th annual fete celebrating excellence across the musical landscape arrives at an interesting inflection point for the industry. The top nominees reflect a wide swath of performers, genres and traditions. And female artists are undeniably the dominant contenders this time around.
No one exemplifies the expanding world of opportunities for women than our multi-hyphenate cover subject, Victoria Monét. Steven J. Horowitz, Variety’s senior music writer, does a wonderful job of tracing Monét’s unusual career path and her triumph as one of the year’s most-nominated artists. The performer revealed herself to be candid, confident and a very proud mother in her sit-downs with Horowitz.
Chris Willman, our chief music critic, takes on the formidable task of forecasting winners in his analysis of key races, including the extremely competitive best new artist category where Monét is nommed. Thania Garcia, our associate music editor,
Ramin Setoodeh
did the heavy lift of compiling the bumper crop of Grammy Week parties.
Overseeing it all was Jem Aswad, executive editor of music, who is the definition of a music industry veteran, as evidenced by his remembrance of a certain 2014 post-grammys bash that was one for the ages (but not photographers). Aswad’s enthusiasm for the business never wanes.
“Grammy Week is one of the most exciting times of the year — what’s not to love about getting dressed up and working five stacked rooms every day,” Aswad says. “This issue always sets the table for what’s to come. We’re happy to be shining the light on the incredibly talented Victoria Monét. And we’re proud to point out that Variety’s Hitmakers issue and event last November did a solid job of predicting those who would have a big look at the Grammys: SZA, Billie Eilish, Boygenius, Olivia Rodrigo, Mark Ronson and others.”
In the hands of our skilled music team, there is no doubt that Variety will keep it rockin’ until the 2024 Grammy after-parties are consigned to history.