Staff Meeting: GRAMMYs

Hi all — thank you for taking the time. It only feels right to start with the category lingering in every music fan’s mind: What are your thoughts on Album of the Year this year and the potential contenders?

Admin 1: My thoughts for Album of the Year are more split than ever. This is the first year in a while that I can’t confidently pinpoint two to three leaders in the category because it feels like it can go in so many different directions. Nearly every recent year has had at least a couple clear possibilities, like Midnights and SOS last year. However, 2024 was one of the most eventful music moments in recent memory and there are only eight slots in Album of the Year, so there will definitely be a couple of snubs here and there. It’s a bit tough to accurately evaluate who will be left in the floor of the voting room and who will actually make it onto the final list, especially considering how unpredictable the academy can be. If I had to bet on it though, I’d go with this (uncertain) guess of front-runners: Cowboy Carter, Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, and Hit Me Hard and Soft.

Admin 2: I think this year’s race for AOTY will be pretty interesting considering the amount of great projects that were released and could very well be a nail-biter. My top contenders are Cowboy Carter, Short n’ Sweet, The Tortured Poets Department, Hit Me Hard and Soft, Eternal Sunshine, TYLA, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess and, of course, BRAT.

Admin 3: 2024 has truly been a great year for many artists and it’s quite difficult to narrow it down to just one album that’s deserving of the title ‘Album of The Year.’ There have been so many fantastic albums this term that deserve to at-least receive a nomination in recognition, e.g. The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess, Cowboy Carter, Brat and The Tortured Poets Department (just to name a few), but my top contender above all would be Ariana Grande’s eternal sunshine.

Admin 4: This is a tough one considering the great quality of music released this year, not to mention, all of the Grammy darlings have released too - Taylor, Billie, Beyoncé, etc. and on top of that, we have some unexpected breakthroughs such as Sabrina and Chappell, who are most definitely in the mix. I think the winner is going to be based off an even mix of critical acclaim and commercial success. My top picks are Hit Me Hard And Soft, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, Short n’ Sweet and maybe The Toured Poets Department, which I say with a grain of salt because I don’t think the Grammys are going to let her win back-to-back and the reviews were fairly mixed compared to the others.

Admin 5: The Tortured Poets Department, Short n' Sweet, Brat, Hit Me Hard and Soft, Where I've Been Isn't Where I'm Going, F-1 Trillion, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, Cowboy Carter — If I had to predict what the nominee list will look like, it would be something like this. This year, music has seen so much variety in sound and impact that it’s making the race for Album of the Year incredibly tight. With so many great albums out there, it’s one of the most difficult years to predict who will come out on top. Albums like Cowboy Carter, Short N' Sweet, The Tortured Poets Department, and HIT ME HARD AND SOFT are all so different, but they each bring something special, making it a really tough call.

In my personal opinion though, a strong contender, despite efforts to downplay its brilliance, is The Tortured Poets Department. I think it’s the most raw Taylor Swift album to date and highlights an unmatched talent for creating deeply personal — yet somehow relatable — stories through a journey that truly only her fans can decipher. This goes without mentioning the moment it had when it first dropped, which definitely made it one of the most memorable moments of the year.

Admin 6: I think that the category will be full of some hard hitters. However, I personally think that the artist and song-based categories will be more interesting than the album-based categories. Alongside the contenders who will obviously be nominated, such as The Tortured Poets Department and Cowboy Carter, I hope that Tyla earns a nomination. Tyla is a very cohesive album and deserves to be recognized for that. BRAT, Hit Me Hard And Soft, and Short n’ Sweet also seem to be definite nominees. The Tortured Poets Department or Cowboy Carter possibly taking home the win should be a surprise to no one, as both albums display the creativity and strong lyrical content that comes from both Grammy favorites.

The Best New Artist race seems to be a lock between Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan — who do you think will take it?

Admin 1: Unlike Album of the Year, this category has two very clear front-runners. Both Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan have had a breakthrough year for the ages, but obviously only one can win. Personally, I’d go with Chappell Roan and I think the academy voters will as well. Her organic rise has been something so incredible to witness and I think the academy will want to recognize that in a big way. I also find the argument of Sabrina Carpenter’s eligibility to be a bit ridiculous because she may not be a ‘new’ artist to the people who have been in the loop since her Disney days but she is new to the mainstream scene, and this year really did mark her breakthrough. Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet was obviously a heavier commercial hitter than Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess so there’d be no surprise at all if she’s victorious here, but I think the academy will go with Chappell in this case. I could also see a scenario where they both split the pop vote and the award ends up going to Shaboozey, who has also undeniably had a year.

Admin 2: Sabrina and Chappell have both had an amazing year in music and have both released great projects which have resulted in a whirlwind of success. Both ladies ruled pop music this summer so the race will be a tough one! My guess though would go to Sabrina Carpenter for Best New Artist. Additionally, another potential candidate that may surprise some is Shaboozey. He has also had a wonderful year in music while ruling the country music scene and breaking many barriers so he’s not to be counted out by any means.

Admin 3: This is a tough one to call because both Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan have had a phenomenal year in their own right. Sabrina kicked off the year with her inescapable hit Espresso, paving the way for what I would consider one of the most impactful single runs we’ve had since Ariana Grande’s thank u, next. Chappell on the other hand had a considerable ‘late-bloomer’ with her project which was released late last year; gradually entering the mainstream music realm following the success of her hit song Good Luck, Babe!. Notably, her project has birthed what could be considered this generation’s equivalent of the YMCA dance with HOT TO GO!. It’s tough to compare the two and their journey for the title of ‘Best New Artist’ because while they took very different paths to get here, they both deserve the title equally. If I had to choose just one to take it, it would be Sabrina Carpenter — I think my decision is heavily swayed by the global success of Espresso along with her other Short n’ Sweet singles.

Admin 4: I genuinely think it’s been years since we’ve seen a face-off for the front-runner position in this category. Both artists have had such incredible breakthroughs in their own right, such as Chappell going from 0-100 in a matter of months and Sabrina’s absolute slow burn to success considering she’s been known pop culturally for years with a couple of notable hits. It’s a toss because I’ve been a Sabrina supporter and definitely think she earned her spot, however I feel like she might dominate other categories. For that reason, I feel Chappell is most deserving of this specific one because her breakthrough fits the criteria more to me and it’s extremely impressive how her music has organically spread across a large audience and the crowds she’s pulled with a fraction of the fame and audience that Sabrina has been building up. To keep it short n’ sweet, I vote Chappell but I can see it going to Sabrina!

Admin 5: It’s more than clear that Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan are the standout contenders for Best New Artist, each excelling in their own lanes this year. Sabrina has cemented her place in pop with her latest album and Chappell Roan brings a bold but fresh edge to pop music. I’m honestly undecided but since we have to pick I’ll go with Sabrina due to the monstrous success of Espresso, Please (x3) and Short n’ Sweet.

Admin 6: Sabrina Carpenter should definitely be the one who takes the Best New Artist win. She has broken many records, even ones that artists as old as The Beatles held. She gives off strong pop star vibes, has great vocal talent, and has charisma on and off stage. Not that any other artist doesn’t also have that, but anyone can see that Sabrina Carpenter is different from everyone else.

Who do you think will be the most nominated artist this year?

Admin 1: Definitely Beyoncé. I’m well aware of the conversation around Cowboy Carter already being shutout from previous country award shows but I don’t see that being the case here. Bey has submissions across the board — some in non-country awards as well so I think when nominations are released, her name will be the most heard throughout the Grammy livestream.

Admin 2: Sabrina or Taylor. Plain n’ Simple.

Admin 3: Sabrina.

Admin 4: I definitely think Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter or Billie Eilish — or they’ll be within close proximity of nods at the least. Without getting too technical I can see them getting nominated for almost every category they’ve submitted in, with Sabrina being a strong contender for the Big Four, Taylor and Billie having a possible Best Pop Duo/Group nomination, and all of them being spread across the rest of the pop categories.

Admin 5: Sabrina.

Admin 6: I think that Beyoncé will be the most nominated artist at the GRAMMYs this year. Beyoncé has successfully entered the country genre, as well as fusing it with other genres such as rap, R&B, and pop with her Cowboy Carter album. “This ain't a Country album. This is a 'Beyoncé' album.” was truly the best and only way to describe it.

What are your thoughts on Song and Record of the Year? (Don’t forget Song of the Year awards songwriting while Record of the Year awards production and performance)

Admin 1: Generally, this category tends to be a mirrored battle. If you see a song in Record of the Year, chances are you’ll find it in Song of the Year, as well. I think that’ll be the case again this year with a few tweaks. Sabrina Carpenter is one of the few examples who chose to vary her submissions for both categories. (Espresso went to Record while Please Please Please went to Song). With that said, I’d bet money Record of the Year will go to either Espresso or Not Like Us by Kendrick Lamar. I would also not count out Not Like Us in Song of the Year, given it awards songwriting, but there are a few others I can see thriving here. One of them being: Good Luck Babe! by Chappell Roan. That feels like a perfect depiction of what 2024 has been for music. Another one that I’m not going to count out here is the brilliant Birds of a Feather.

Admin 2: Espresso for Record, we can’t be friends for Song.

Admin 3: These two awards are actually the easiest for me to determine this year. ‘Record of the Year’ without a doubt deserves to go to Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso, that song is the definition of a hit record and to fail to recognise it as such would be a disgrace from the recording academy. I feel that ‘Song of the Year’ deserves to be handed to Ariana Grande’s we can’t be friends (wait for your love). The way she used the media’s criticism of her life combined with the concept of Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind (2004) to create such a beautifully-told story was ingenious. The song is capable of taking on a unique interpretation pertaining to each listener and I think that’s something worth rewarding.

Admin 4: There is no bone in my body that believes that ‘Record of the Year’ should go to any other song than Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter. It truly was the song of the summer that stood the test of time with its simple yet catchy production that just gave me the replay value we needed in a fun and catchy song. I’m not sure if she expected it to become the monster hit that it is, but I’m glad she let it out of the vault. As for ‘Song of the Year’ I have such a deep love and understanding for Good Luck, Babe! by Chappell Roan. She came out swinging with this one, with the lyrics so sharply representing her feelings of anger, regret, denial and so forth between two partners, but can also relate contextually to different relationship dynamics and the insecurities within them. To know that it was solidly written in 3 minutes without any additions other than great producing beyond that — it’s a masterclass in honest, vulnerable and clever songwriting. If Espresso doesn’t take it, I personally wouldn’t mind this winning both ROTY and SOTY.

Admin 5: What is certain is that both Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter and Good Luck, Babe! by Chappell Roan will land nominations in these categories. Sonically, the tracks brought a freshness to pop that 2024 needed. Both tracks dominated the charts for months, so that’s a bonus. Espresso has that perfect addictive pop production that is worthy of the memorable breakthrough Sabrina had. Good Luck, Babe! production is vibrant and playful, yet carries a weight in its lyrics and delivery that elevates it beyond just a catchy pop song. I’d love to see either of these take it!

Admin 6: Song of the Year and Record of the Year are the two most interesting categories this year in my opinion. Firstly, there are many songs which could be nominated in both categories. Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us and Like That (with Future and Metro Boomin) were both cultural resets and huge influences for the state of the music industry in 2024. Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ Die With A Smile and Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso are also strong contenders in both categories. Billie Eilish’s Birds of a Feather would be a strong contender in the Record of the Year category. I’m personally interested in seeing if Benson Boone would earn a nomination or two in either of these categories with Beautiful Things. I think that it’s a very intriguing song. A personal favorite for Record of the Year would be Doja Cat’s Agora Hills. The production and composition on Agora Hills creates a nearly flawless song. I’m also rooting for Shaboozey and his song A Bar Song (Tipsy).

There are so many contenders in Best Pop Vocal Album this year — who do you see taking that?

Admin 1: Hit Me Hard and Soft or The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. Billie is obviously a Grammy darling and the project is amazing so she’s the obvious front-runner here to me. On the other hand, another route I can see the academy taking is Chappell Roan. The album, though a late-bloomer, has had a rise unlike anything else we’ve seen this year.

Admin 2: Eternal Sunshine and Short n’ Sweet both had moments this year, so probably one of those.

Admin 3: Same here, Eternal Sunshine or Short n’ Sweet.

Admin 4: It’s quite a gamble but I could see it going to Short n’ Sweet or Hit Me Hard And Soft. Based on recent trends, the Best Pop Vocal Album winner tends to be the AOTY winner but I think they’re going to break that streak this year just because of the vast options they have and for the sake of spreading the awards across various artists this season. With that being said, I also see Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine in the mix. I believe this category is one of her strongest chances to not go home empty-handed. It genuinely is a great pop album with personal meaningful themes and inspirations that she creatively integrated into it.

Admin 5: I think eternal sunshine will take it, assuming it’s nominated.

Admin 6: In the Best Pop Vocal Album category, I think that this is where some artists, such as Tate McRae with Think Later and Dua Lipa with Radical Optimism, would be able to get nominated unlike the main Album of the Year category. However, the chance of them winning would probably still be small. I believe that this category could either go to Ariana Grande’s eternal sunshine, or Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet, with my prediction leaning towards Sabrina Carpenter taking the win.

Lastly, who would you like to see have some recognition at the GRAMMYs this year?

Admin 1: I really want to see the new artists shine this year. It’s been so long since we’ve had a resurgence and freshness in pop music as we did in 2024, majorly due to those new singers (Chappell, Tyla) and the breakthrough stars like Charli and Sabrina. Even beyond pop, we had artists like Shaboozey absolutely crush it in his own genre. I’d love to see that recognized in a big way come Grammy night.

Admin 2: One artist I would like to see have some recognition at the GRAMMYs this year is Beyoncé. Yes, Beyoncé. I feel like Cowboy Carter didn’t get its flowers and it’s a concept masterpiece. Beyonce takes a deep dive into country music history and her level of talent is simply too great to tie into one genre!

Another artist I want to throw in there is Ariana Grande. I feel like she’s often overlooked in pop categories and deserves much more recognition at this year’s ceremony. ES was an amazing project. It’s truly one of her strongest.

Admin 3: Ariana Grande. I think she has been snubbed across her past projects and I think if she doesn’t win anything for the masterpiece that is eternal sunshine then I’m not sure if she ever will again. She knows how to make pop music, and more importantly; GOOD music. It’s about time that her art is recognised and respected!

Admin 4: Aside from everybody that I’ve been going on about, I would like to reiterate that Ariana deserves some more flowers from the Grammys in general so I hope she takes something!

Another fun emergence in the awards season would be Charli XCX! I don’t particularly listen to all of her music but CRASH was an overlooked masterpiece so it would be nice to see her get her flowers with BRAT which undeniably had one of the biggest cultural moments this year. Her resurgence into the mainstream was not something I was expecting but she remained hard-working, persevered, stuck to her artistry, and the world finally listened so recognition is due. I would love to see her become a first time Grammy-winner with maybe a ‘Best Dance Pop’ Grammy which seems fitting enough!

Admin 5: The Tortured Poets Department was, in my opinion, the best project released this year. There are so many greats — obviously — but this was the album that not only got me excited from the first listen, but also keeps me coming back regularly. There’s just so much to dissect from front-to-back (The Anthology included). I hope it’s recognized somehow.

Admin 6: As mentioned previously, I hope that Tyla is able to get some more recognition from the Academy. GloRilla also has put in a lot of work and truly perfected her craft. PinkPantheress is also another artist who should get some recognition at the GRAMMYs this year. I loved her project Heaven Knows.

— The Pop Base team

Subscribe to the newsletter for weekly updates and future ‘Staff Meetings’ — we truly enjoyed this one and hope you did too. With that said, don’t forget to tune into our page for the best coverage around Grammy season and, specifically, the nominations this Friday!