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Grammys 2019: What to Watch For Grammys 2019: What to Watch For
(35 minutes later)
• The Grammy Awards, hosted by Alicia Keys, start at 8 p.m. Eastern on CBS.• The Grammy Awards, hosted by Alicia Keys, start at 8 p.m. Eastern on CBS.
• See the full list of early winners and the red carpet looks.• See the full list of early winners and the red carpet looks.
• Kendrick Lamar leads the nominees, and women dominate major categories.• Kendrick Lamar leads the nominees, and women dominate major categories.
• Jon Pareles: Can the Grammys escape the past?• Jon Pareles: Can the Grammys escape the past?
• Snubs and surprises in this year’s nominations.• Snubs and surprises in this year’s nominations.
LOS ANGELES — The organizers of the Grammy Awards call it music’s biggest night.LOS ANGELES — The organizers of the Grammy Awards call it music’s biggest night.
The show’s three and a half hours of network television time certainly represents the music industry’s highest-profile media real estate. This year the top awards will feel a little bigger as well, with the slate of nominees extended to eight from five.The show’s three and a half hours of network television time certainly represents the music industry’s highest-profile media real estate. This year the top awards will feel a little bigger as well, with the slate of nominees extended to eight from five.
But as the 61st annual ceremony arrives, the Grammys are struggling more than ever to remain relevant in a rapidly evolving pop scene, and to meet demands for more equitable gender representation. Last year just one woman accepted a solo award during the broadcast, and public uproar after a remark backstage by the head of the Recording Academy that women in music should “step up” to advance their careers led to the establishment of a task force examining how the institution works.But as the 61st annual ceremony arrives, the Grammys are struggling more than ever to remain relevant in a rapidly evolving pop scene, and to meet demands for more equitable gender representation. Last year just one woman accepted a solo award during the broadcast, and public uproar after a remark backstage by the head of the Recording Academy that women in music should “step up” to advance their careers led to the establishment of a task force examining how the institution works.
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To no one’s surprise, women are well represented among the nominees this year. Lady Gaga, Cardi B, Maren Morris and Kacey Musgraves will all compete in the most important categories, facing artists including Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Post Malone and Childish Gambino. And the performers include music greats like Dolly Parton and Diana Ross and rising stars like Camila Cabello, Dua Lipa and H.E.R.To no one’s surprise, women are well represented among the nominees this year. Lady Gaga, Cardi B, Maren Morris and Kacey Musgraves will all compete in the most important categories, facing artists including Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Post Malone and Childish Gambino. And the performers include music greats like Dolly Parton and Diana Ross and rising stars like Camila Cabello, Dua Lipa and H.E.R.
But it wouldn’t be the Grammys without at least one dark-horse nominee. That spot belongs to Brandi Carlile, a critically respected singer-songwriter in an Americana-meets-alt-country idiom whose album “By the Way, I Forgive You,” while reaching No. 5 on Billboard’s chart, had far less impact on the culture than, say, Childish Gambino’s “This Is America,” or virtually any track on Drake’s blockbuster album “Scorpion.”But it wouldn’t be the Grammys without at least one dark-horse nominee. That spot belongs to Brandi Carlile, a critically respected singer-songwriter in an Americana-meets-alt-country idiom whose album “By the Way, I Forgive You,” while reaching No. 5 on Billboard’s chart, had far less impact on the culture than, say, Childish Gambino’s “This Is America,” or virtually any track on Drake’s blockbuster album “Scorpion.”
Will women make a big showing among the winners? Will Lamar finally win album of the year, after being shut out three times? (And if so, will he show up?) Will Carlile be this year’s Herbie Hancock? Here are some of the topics we will be watching.Will women make a big showing among the winners? Will Lamar finally win album of the year, after being shut out three times? (And if so, will he show up?) Will Carlile be this year’s Herbie Hancock? Here are some of the topics we will be watching.
The Grammys red carpet has a history of delivering outrageous sartorial concoctions. It is where Jennifer Lopez debuted her low-slung Versace dress and where Rihanna strutted in a bubble-gum-pink Giambattista Valli puff. Here’s hoping that this year delivers something equally fresh.
We will be on the lookout for Cardi B, who is nominated for five awards and will perform.
We will also be watching for Donald Glover, who is nominated for five awards including record of the year for “This Is America” and has been known to bring looks in the past.
The expansion of nominees in the top four categories — album, record and song of the year, and best new artist — has made the field more diverse. But it has also made it trickier to predict who will win.The expansion of nominees in the top four categories — album, record and song of the year, and best new artist — has made the field more diverse. But it has also made it trickier to predict who will win.
In record of the year, for example, five songs are, more or less, hip-hop: Drake’s “God’s Plan,” Kendrick Lamar’s “All the Stars,” Post Malone’s “Rockstar,” Childish Gambino’s “This Is America” and Cardi B’s “I Like It.” They are up against “Shallow,” Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s torch song from their movie “A Star Is Born”; “The Middle,” a country-pop mashup sung by Maren Morris; and Carlile’s piano ballad “The Joke.”In record of the year, for example, five songs are, more or less, hip-hop: Drake’s “God’s Plan,” Kendrick Lamar’s “All the Stars,” Post Malone’s “Rockstar,” Childish Gambino’s “This Is America” and Cardi B’s “I Like It.” They are up against “Shallow,” Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s torch song from their movie “A Star Is Born”; “The Middle,” a country-pop mashup sung by Maren Morris; and Carlile’s piano ballad “The Joke.”
Will the hip-hop songs cancel one another out on Grammy voters’ ballots, thus giving a boost to a song like “The Joke”? Does “Shallow” have an advantage simply because of its association with a popular movie? Or will voters feel compelled to select a woman with a great rise-to-fame story, like Cardi B?Will the hip-hop songs cancel one another out on Grammy voters’ ballots, thus giving a boost to a song like “The Joke”? Does “Shallow” have an advantage simply because of its association with a popular movie? Or will voters feel compelled to select a woman with a great rise-to-fame story, like Cardi B?
Those kinds of questions are bedeviling the industry’s usual oddsmakers, which makes the contests more intriguing.Those kinds of questions are bedeviling the industry’s usual oddsmakers, which makes the contests more intriguing.
The academy, the organization behind the Grammys, knows that it will be scrutinized for how the show rewards women, and so it has already taken steps to diversify its ranks.The academy, the organization behind the Grammys, knows that it will be scrutinized for how the show rewards women, and so it has already taken steps to diversify its ranks.
But the voters can have their own agendas, and the factionalism of the industry — Nashville versus the coasts; hip-hop versus rock’s old guard — can have surprising effects on the final tallies. If the big winners turn out to be men, will it be seen as a failure, or just a problem that needs more time to be solved?But the voters can have their own agendas, and the factionalism of the industry — Nashville versus the coasts; hip-hop versus rock’s old guard — can have surprising effects on the final tallies. If the big winners turn out to be men, will it be seen as a failure, or just a problem that needs more time to be solved?
The Grammys’ spotty recognition of hip-hop remains a major issue, one that has strained its relations with the very artists the organization needs to draw in younger viewers and remain credible. Stars like Jay-Z, Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar have racked up dozens of Grammys between them, but none in the top categories, and Drake has openly mocked the awards for misclassifying rap-free songs of his as rap. One result: many stars of hip-hop and R&B simply skip the show.The Grammys’ spotty recognition of hip-hop remains a major issue, one that has strained its relations with the very artists the organization needs to draw in younger viewers and remain credible. Stars like Jay-Z, Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar have racked up dozens of Grammys between them, but none in the top categories, and Drake has openly mocked the awards for misclassifying rap-free songs of his as rap. One result: many stars of hip-hop and R&B simply skip the show.
“The fact of the matter is, we continue to have a problem in the hip-hop world,” said Ken Ehrlich, the longtime producer of the Grammys telecast.“The fact of the matter is, we continue to have a problem in the hip-hop world,” said Ken Ehrlich, the longtime producer of the Grammys telecast.
This year, Drake and Lamar — perhaps the two most vital young stars in hip-hop — face off in album, record and song of the year. A win for one of them will be seen as a win for hip-hop. But if neither wins, it will just further erode the relationship between the Grammys and the hip-hop world.This year, Drake and Lamar — perhaps the two most vital young stars in hip-hop — face off in album, record and song of the year. A win for one of them will be seen as a win for hip-hop. But if neither wins, it will just further erode the relationship between the Grammys and the hip-hop world.
Only about 10 awards will be given out during the show. (The others, more than 70, are awarded in a bare-bones, nontelevised ceremony during the afternoon.) The rest of the time is taken up by performances — nearly 20 of them.Only about 10 awards will be given out during the show. (The others, more than 70, are awarded in a bare-bones, nontelevised ceremony during the afternoon.) The rest of the time is taken up by performances — nearly 20 of them.
Among the announced highlights are an appearance by Dolly Parton, with a tribute to her by Katy Perry, Morris and Musgraves; an Aretha Franklin tribute with Andra Day, Fantasia and the gospel star Yolanda Adams; an opening number with Camila Cabello, featuring Ricky Martin, J Balvin, Arturo Sandoval and Young Thug; Post Malone with the Red Hot Chili Peppers; and a 75th-birthday appearance by Diana Ross. Cardi B, Lady Gaga, Shawn Mendes, Travis Scott and Janelle Monáe will also appear.Among the announced highlights are an appearance by Dolly Parton, with a tribute to her by Katy Perry, Morris and Musgraves; an Aretha Franklin tribute with Andra Day, Fantasia and the gospel star Yolanda Adams; an opening number with Camila Cabello, featuring Ricky Martin, J Balvin, Arturo Sandoval and Young Thug; Post Malone with the Red Hot Chili Peppers; and a 75th-birthday appearance by Diana Ross. Cardi B, Lady Gaga, Shawn Mendes, Travis Scott and Janelle Monáe will also appear.
[Here’s what to look for on the Grammys red carpet.][Here’s what to look for on the Grammys red carpet.]
But the show may be just as defined by who does not appear. Drake, Lamar and Childish Gambino were invited to perform but declined; it was unclear whether they would show up at all. Ariana Grande, in a rare public rebuke of the Grammys’ producers, said she refused to perform because her “creativity & self expression was stifled” by them.But the show may be just as defined by who does not appear. Drake, Lamar and Childish Gambino were invited to perform but declined; it was unclear whether they would show up at all. Ariana Grande, in a rare public rebuke of the Grammys’ producers, said she refused to perform because her “creativity & self expression was stifled” by them.
Taylor Swift is in London shooting “Cats.” Bradley Cooper is also there, for the Baftas, the British film awards. Other stars, like Justin Timberlake and Ed Sheeran, were once willing performers but haven’t come since failing to be nominated for top awards; Frank Ocean disavowed the process as out-of-date and irrelevant.Taylor Swift is in London shooting “Cats.” Bradley Cooper is also there, for the Baftas, the British film awards. Other stars, like Justin Timberlake and Ed Sheeran, were once willing performers but haven’t come since failing to be nominated for top awards; Frank Ocean disavowed the process as out-of-date and irrelevant.
One star who will certainly be there, however, is Alicia Keys, this year’s host. A 15-time Grammy winner, she is also an outspoken advocate for women in music; last year, she helped found an organization, She Is the Music, that is working to promote female producers and engineers — behind-the-scenes studio jobs that have long been overwhelmingly held by men.One star who will certainly be there, however, is Alicia Keys, this year’s host. A 15-time Grammy winner, she is also an outspoken advocate for women in music; last year, she helped found an organization, She Is the Music, that is working to promote female producers and engineers — behind-the-scenes studio jobs that have long been overwhelmingly held by men.
At the Grammys, the job of host has typically been a small one. The previous host, James Corden, took the role expecting to be on camera for only about 15 minutes. But Ms. Keys’s involvement carries symbolic weight, and given her interests, some campaigning on her part would not be surprising.At the Grammys, the job of host has typically been a small one. The previous host, James Corden, took the role expecting to be on camera for only about 15 minutes. But Ms. Keys’s involvement carries symbolic weight, and given her interests, some campaigning on her part would not be surprising.
“Celebrating so many amazing nominees, particularly women nominees,” she told The Associated Press, “is so incredibly magnificent and so many are my friends.”“Celebrating so many amazing nominees, particularly women nominees,” she told The Associated Press, “is so incredibly magnificent and so many are my friends.”
[Here’s the full list of Grammys winners.][Here’s the full list of Grammys winners.]