By Maria Sherman, AP Music Author
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Killing her ex? That’s a foul concept. Writing “Kill Invoice” and releasing her critically acclaimed sophomore album “SOS” earlier this yr? That was an excellent one. SZA is the lead contender for the 66th Grammy Awards, with 9 nominations introduced Nov. 10.
“Kill Invoice,” her revenge anthem cloaked in an R&B ballad, earned her nods for file of the yr, track of the yr, and greatest R&B efficiency. “SOS” can be up for album of the yr and greatest progressive R&B album. The 2024 ceremony will mark the second time SZA has been nominated for file, album, and track of the yr in the identical yr.
And identical to on the field workplace, “Barbie” can be seen — and heard — on the Grammys. Music from the hit movie’s soundtrack earned 11 nominations, together with nabbing 4 of the 5 slots within the visible media track class.
If there may be an total pattern within the 2024 nominations, it’s that feminine acts outperformed their male counterparts. The vast majority of main nominees are ladies and embody superstars like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Miley Cyrus and Olivia Rodrigo. In each the file and album of the yr classes, the one man represented is Jon Batiste.
“Seeing the ladies nominees this yr, and the variety of them, was not a shock nevertheless it was one thing that made me pleased,” the Recording Academy CEO and President Harvey Mason jr. instructed The Related Press. He believes that illustration permits the following group of creators to take a look at the nominees and say: “Perhaps anyone will love what I do someday, or possibly I’ve a chance to precise myself or voice my ideas like that particular person.”
SZA, in fact, leads the cost, additionally selecting up nominations for greatest conventional R&B efficiency (“Love Language”), greatest R&B track (“Snooze”), greatest melodic rap efficiency (“Low”), and greatest pop duo/group efficiency (“Ghost within the Machine”). The final options Phoebe Bridgers, who — alongside Victoria Monét, the one main nominee additionally up for greatest new artist — boasts the second-most nominations with seven.
Six of Bridgers’ nods are together with her band boygenius, nominated for the primary time for file of the yr, album of the yr, greatest rock efficiency, greatest rock track, greatest various music efficiency, and greatest various music album.
Additionally incomes six nominations: Swift, Rodrigo, Cyrus, Eilish, Brandy Clark, Batiste and producer Jack Antonoff.
Solely recordings launched between Oct. 1, 2022, by way of Sept. 15, 2023 have been eligible.
Along with Monét, the very best new artist class is rounded out by Gracie Abrams, Fred once more.., Ice Spice, Jelly Roll, Coco Jones, Noah Kahan and The Conflict and Treaty.
For album of the yr, it’s once more Batiste, boygenius, Cyrus, Rodrigo, Swift, and SZA, however with the addition of Lana Del Rey’s “Do you know that there’s a tunnel underneath Ocean Blvd” and Janelle Monáe’s “The Age of Pleasure.”
The track of the yr class options Del Rey’s “A&W,” Swift’s “Anti-Hero,” Batiste’s “Butterfly,” Cyrus’ “Flowers,” SZA’s “Kill Invoice,” Rodrigo’s “vampire,” and two tracks from the “Barbie” soundtrack: Dua Lipa’s “Dance The Evening” and Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?”
Whereas “I’m Simply Ken” from “Barbie” did get a nomination, it’s in a songwriting class — so actor Ryan Gosling is just not up for a Grammy.
What else is lacking? Some followers might discover a dearth of Latin and nation musicians in the primary classes.
“We have to do extra work with our nation voters and proceed to ask extra nation voters to the method,” says Mason jr. “One other factor that shocked me was, as massive of a yr that Latin had this yr, (that) we didn’t have extra Latin illustration in among the common fields.”
“We wish to be sure that our membership is consultant of the music that’s being created and anxious,” he added. “So, these nominations all the time inform us on what we’re going to do over the following few years. And these nominations particularly have instructed us we have to proceed to achieve out and talk with the voting teams inside nation and Latin.”
There are three new classes on the 2024 Grammys: greatest pop dance recording, greatest African music efficiency and greatest various jazz album. 4 of the 5 acts in the very best African music efficiency class are nominated for the primary time: ASAKE & Olamide for “Amapiano,” Davido that includes Musa Keys for “UNAVAILABLE,” Ayra Starr for “Rush,” and Tyla for “Water.” The fifth is the already Grammy-winning Burna Boy for “Metropolis Boys.”
The 2024 Grammy Awards will air Feb. 4 reside on CBS and Paramount+ from the Crypto.com Enviornment in Los Angeles.
