Innholdsfortegnelse for December 16, 2023 i Billboard Magazine

After Harvey Mason Jr. embarked on a series of trips to Africa in 2022 that were “guided by curiosity,” the Recording Academy CEO and the organization at large were determined to become an “effective collaborator” for the creative communities across the continent. The first step arrived this year, when the category of best African music performance was unveiled. “Artists throughout the U.S., Africa and worldwide see this as a pivotal acknowledgment by the academy that African music has achieved extraordinary impact [and] influence throughout the globe,” chief awards and industry officer Ruby Marchand says. The academy’s African music genre manager, Shawn Thwaites, agrees, noting that the addition not only reflects the current music landscape but also “Africa’s profound influence on music history.” As Mason says, it is “the beginning…

How did you feel when you heard about the new best African music performance category? I was quite elated because it shows inclusivity. Beyond being African artists, this category shows that the world is watching and seeing the effort we put in and does not mind giving us our flowers to smell. How does it feel to not only be nominated for “Rush” but be represented in this category’s historic first class? It feels iconic. To be doing this at 21? Whew! [It’s so] mind-blowing for me that I sometimes have to pinch myself that it’s all real and I’m not dreaming. What do you think of this first class of nominees? I think everyone in this category is badass, and I can only imagine the amount of tough…

WHEN THE RECORDING Academy announced the new songwriter of the year category in 2022, the move was widely praised — and considered a rare win for the songwriting community, which has faced major economic challenges in the streaming and TikTok era. “With the visibility brought by this award comes power,” says Justin Tranter, one of the five nominees for the honor this year. “The more that people know we exist, the more we can make sure the next generation is taken care of.” Along with the new category, the academy created a new Songwriters & Composers Wing, helmed by hit-maker and Seeker Music CEO Evan Bogart, to continue expanding its outreach to the songwriter community. “The underpinning of what we do as an academy is built on songs,” Recording…

BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE “Flowers” MILEY CYRUS Cyrus mined the uber-specific details of her high-profile divorce from Liam Hemsworth — while tapping into the resolve of Gloria Gaynor and countering the sentimentality of Bruno Mars — to make this seemingly universal post-love song from her album of the year nominee, Endless Summer Vacation. Give this child star-turned-adult pop queen her flowers for scoring her biggest Hot 100 hit along the way (eight weeks at No. 1) with a song that had even Diane Keaton dancing in her backyard. “Paint the Town Red” DOJA CAT Bitch, she said what she said! Doja lyrically answers all her haters’ critiques point by point — Is she too pop? Does she need a feature to succeed? Is she the actual devil? — on…

BEST R&B SONG “Angel” HALLE Songwriters: Halle Bailey, Theron Feemster, Coleridge Tillman After spreading her wings and flying solo from the five-time Grammy-nominated sister duo Chloe x Halle — and donning a mermaid tail for her starring role in Disney’s live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid — Halle scored her first solo Grammy nod for her debut solo single. The gorgeous, piano-driven ballad “Angel” inspires Black girls like Halle to love themselves for who they are without being tarnished by outside perceptions. The track marks her second nomination in this category after receiving a nod for Chloe x Halle’s breakout hit, “Do It,” in 2021. “Back to Love” ROBERT GLASPER FEATURING SIR & ALEX ISLEY Songwriters: Darryl Andrew Farris, Robert Glasper, Alexandra Isley With “Back to Love,” five-time Grammy…

BEST MÚSICA URBANA ALBUM Saturno RAUW ALEJANDRO To hype fans for his third studio album, Saturno, Rauw wrote on Instagram that he was in “Saturn making the most amazing album of the year” — and he wasn’t wrong. On the 18-track set, the chameleonic Puerto Rican artist stepped away from his signature trap and perreo rhythms in favor of a more experimental sound that fused innovative, otherworldly rhythms with hip-hop, ’80s and ’90s freestyle and even punk rock. Saturno tracks such as “Lokera,” “Punto 40” and “Dime Quién????” became fan favorites while also setting the tone for Rauw’s new interstellar era, where he has taken his edgy reggaetón beats to outer space. Saturno debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart in November 2022, becoming Rauw’s fourth…

How did you feel when you heard about the new best African music performance category? ASAKE I felt excited and grateful at the same time because African music and traditions have been a direct influence on the world for far too long to not have its own category. It is a great moment to be a part of. What was your reaction to your collaboration, “Amapiano,” being nominated? OLAMIDE Watching all the hard work pay off after our team has dominated the African continent and the world over the years is a blessing and a huge win already. What do you think of this first class of nominees? ASAKE It is a brilliant, diverse and very necessary first class of nominees. Thank you to the team at the Recording…

JON BATISTE PAST WINS album of the year (We Are), best score soundtrack for visual media (Soul), best music video (“Freedom”), best American roots song (“Cry”), best American roots performance (“Cry”) (all in 2022) NOMINATED THIS YEAR album of the year (World Music Radio), record of the year (“Worship”), song of the year (“Butterfly”), best pop duo/group performance (“Candy Necklace”), best jazz performance (“Movement 18’ (Heroes)”), best American roots performance (“Butterfly”) Why does democracy matter? Why does recognition matter? Why does acknowledgment matter? Why does the idea that someone who exists in a narrow corridor of humanity, creating music and songs and videos and performances — why does the acknowledgment of that matter, in a democratic process through peer recognition and achievement? If we throw all that out —…

BEST RAP SONG “Attention” DOJA CAT Songwriters: Rogét Chahayed, Amala Zandile Dlamini, Ari Starace Doja became one of music’s brightest pop stars in recent years — but her allegiance to hip-hop brought her back to the genre she first considered home for her features-free fourth album, Scarlet. The set’s “Attention” is a lyrical masterwork for Doja, who thrives over a 1990s boom-bap beat with surgical precision. Her mic skills go uncontested as she skewers her opposition about her fashion choices, love for the craft and need for therapy. “I never learn to superstar from a textbook,” she snaps back. “Barbie World (From Barbie: The Album)” NICKI MINAJ & ICE SPICE FEATURING AQUA Songwriters: Isis Naija Gaston, Ephrem Louis Lopez Jr., Onika Maraj With RIOTUSA helming production, Minaj and Ice…

RECORD OF THE YEAR “Worship” JON BATISTE Jon Batiste, Jon Bellion, Pete Nappi and Tenroc, producers; John Arbuckle and Bryce Bordone, engineers/mixers; Chris Gehringer, mastering engineer “Not Strong Enough” BOYGENIUS Boygenius and Catherine Marks, producers; Owen Lantz, Catherine Marks, Mike Mogis, Bobby Mota, Kaushlesh “Garry” Purohit and Sarah Tudzin, engineers/mixers; Pat Sullivan, mastering engineer “Flowers” MILEY CYRUS Kid Harpoon and Tyler Johnson, producers; Michael Pollack, Brian Rajaratnam and Mark “Spike” Stent, engineers/mixers; Joe LaPorta, mastering engineer “What Was I Made For? (From Barbie: The Album )” BILLIE EILISH Billie Eilish and FINNEAS, producers; Billie Eilish, Rob Kinelski and FINNEAS, engineers/mixers; Randy Merrill, mastering engineer “On My Mama” VICTORIA MONÉT Deputy, Dernst Emile II, Jeff Gitelman and Victoria Monét, producers; Patrizio Pigliapoco and Todd Robinson, engineers/mixers; Victoria Monét, engineer; Colin…

How did you feel when you heard about the new best African music performance category? It’s a significant milestone, not only for me, but for the entire African music industry. It’s a testament to the global recognition and appreciation of the diverse and rich musical traditions coming out of Africa, which I am a part of. This category symbolizes a bridge connecting the world to our continent. [It is] something I have believed in and pushed for, so I couldn’t be prouder to see it come to fruition. What is it like to be nominated in the category’s historic first class? It’s an immense honor. It’s like being part of history in the making. This category represents a platform for the incredible diversity and talent within the landscape of…

How did you react to “Unavailable,” which features Musa Keys, being nominated? I was so happy. I feel like this moment was a long time coming for me, and I’m extremely grateful. How does it feel to not only be nominated but be included in the category’s historic first class? It feels like further breaking the glass ceiling into the mainstream. Step by step, African influences and artists are getting more shine within the industry, and this feels like another win toward being acknowledged. To be a part of this historic moment is an honor. What do you think of this first class of nominees? I think it’s a well-curated group. Obviously, there’s so much talent in the African music community and definitely some other names I’d include, but…

JON BATISTE In the history of the Grammy Awards, only 20 follow-ups to an album of the year winner have been nominated in the same category. Batiste’s World Music Radio joins that list this year, after the jazz-pop polymath’s We Are scored the top prize in 2022. The former bandleader and musical director of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert was an unexpected album of the year winner two years ago, and in 2023, he returned with a genre-spanning full-length featuring a diverse guest list, including Lil Wayne, NewJeans and Kenny G. In addition to World Music Radio’s album of the year nod, the set’s “Worship” will compete for record of the year, while another song on the track list, “Butterfly,” is up for song of the year. Batiste’s…