Grammys
This Year’s Grammy Gift Bag Is Stocked With Inclusive Swag… And Flamin’ Hot Chips
Fary declined to specify the value of the gift bags and would only say that the “real value is that we’re elevating and shining a light on these diverse brands.” He would say that the value is commensurate with previous years and that close to 100 will be doled out to VIPs. (WWD reported that the price tag is more than $5,000 each.) And speaking of delivery, to honor COVID-19 protocols and keep contact at a minimum, the bags will be delivered or mailed to show participants rather than exchanged in a suite, as is typical. Grammy Awards host Trevor Noah is also represented in the bags via a Bonfire and Trevor Noah Foundation collaboration that features a T-shirt and tote bag set. Featuring designs by South African artists and currently for sale by the Trevor Noah Found...
Nasri Almost Gave Up Writing for Other Artists. Now He’s Reintroducing Himself
So he hired Slaiby as his manager, then forged ahead writing for a growing network of superstars like John Legend and Gwen Stefani — and getting Grammy attention for his work with some of R&B’s coolest acts. Late last year, he earned a best R&B song nod for co-writing Skip Marley and H.E.R.’s chart-topping “Slow Down,” and he also contributed to Chloe x Halle’s Ungodly Hour, which is up for best progressive R&B album. A self-proclaimed “blue-collar songwriter,” Atweh sees the recognition as a helpful reintroduction: “With the Grammys, it’s like, ‘Does anybody new want to talk to me? Has there been anyone who has been hesitant to take a song who might not be hesitant now?’ ” His chill studio presence — Atweh likens his role to “songwriter and party host” and is fond of preg...
For Devonté Hynes, His First Grammy Nom — For Classical Music — ‘Feels Like Doors Opening’
There were times I wondered, “Is this a little too crazy?” I was trying to see what I could get away with. And they were more than able to do it and to add their own thing to it. I’d say to them, “If you want to try this any way you want to do it, go ahead! I’m curious to see what shape it can take.” They’re incredibly intuitive, so in sync with each other. It was very motivating. I was reading recently about Gershwin and his hangup about not necessarily being the most advanced in terms of music theory and education, which is something I definitely relate to. I’m not at conservatory level. The fact that this nomination is within the compositional, classical world — it takes on a different connotation in my mind. It feels like doors opening, whether that’s for me personally or for other peo...
How Well Do You Know the Grammy Awards? Try Our 20-Question Quiz
The 63rd annual Grammy Awards are set for Sunday night (March 14). Trevor Noah is hosting. Beyoncé is the night’s top nominee, with nine nods. To help you get in the mood for Music’s Biggest Night, here’s a 20-question Grammy quiz. Remember, 60% is needed for a passing grade. Do well on this quiz and then you can tell us if Grammys are really plated with “24K Magic.” You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to meet Beautiful people, chat and make money in the process. Earn rewards by chatting, sharing photos, blogging and help give users back their fair share of Internet revenue.
Zayn Says Grammy-Slamming Tweet Was ‘Not Personal’
It was about transparency. Just hours after he slammed the Grammys over its voting process, Zayn returned to Twitter on Tuesday night (March 9) to say that his comments were “not personal,” but rather about the “need for inclusion.” The singer, 28, teed off on the Recording Academy on Tuesday, just five days before the 63rd annual Grammy Awards, writing, “F— the grammys and everyone associated. Unless you shake hands and send gifts, there’s no nomination considerations. Next year I’ll send you a basket of confectionary.” Zayn, who has yet to receive a Grammy nomination for his solo work, appeared to have second thoughts a short time later, returning to Twitter to explain his earlier comments. “My tweet was not personal or abo...
Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak’s Silk Sonic to Make Live Debut at Grammys
Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak are not only some of the smoothest guys making funk-based music these days, but they’re also two of the most entertaining artists of this era. A few weeks ago, they revealed they’re joining forces under the new moniker Silk Sonic, and now they’re already gearing up to make their live debut as such at the 2021 Grammy Awards. This all started when Mars and .Paak decided to write music together while stuck in quarantine during the coronavirus pandemic. The two artists originally bonded when .Paak opened for Mars on his 24K Magic world tour years ago, and they collaborated on record for the first time when they contributed to Chic’s 2018 album It’s About Time. But for them, Silk Sonic is a chance to explore other creative corners of the funk world that they’ve not...
Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak’s Silk Sonic Added to Grammy Line-up
It was pretty obvious they were going to be added to the line-up on Sunday when Mars, an 11-time Grammy winner who has performed on the Grammy telecast five times, publicly released an appeal to the Academy politely asking them to consider adding Silk Sonic. Mars’ “appeal” was a model of dry, understated comic writing. “Dear Grammys, If you can see it in your hearts to allow two out of work musicians to perform at your show, we would really appreciate it. We just released a song and could really use the promotion right now. We have a lot riding on this record (and the Pelicans game next week, but that’s another story).” He promised that Silk Sonic would follow all safety protocols and even joked that they’d be willing to audition for the spot. “We ...
Harry Connick Jr. on the ‘Thrill’ of His 15th Grammy Nod & Going It ‘Alone’ for New Album
He jokes, but in actuality, the New Orleans crooner now has three Grammy Awards to his name (he won again in 2002) and 15 total nominations — including one at Sunday’s show: best traditional pop vocal album for True Love: A Celebration of Cole Porter. While his first priority is making great music, Connick admits the nominations never get old. “I’m not really thinking about Grammys when I’m recording, but when Grammy time comes around, I think we all think about that and what an incredible thrill and honor it is,” he says. “So I pinch myself. It’s a really big deal.” Looking back on his early wins, Connick remembers just how massive Music’s Biggest Night truly felt back then. “You have to understand, that was before cell pho...
Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak Ask the Grammys to Let Silk Sonic Perform at This Year’s Show
He promised that Silk Sonic would follow all safety protocols and even joked that they’d be willing to audition for the spot. “We haven’t been able to perform for a while and we just want to sing. We’ll send in an audition tape and take as many covid tests as we need to. I promise we won’t be extra. We just really want a gig again. I hope you’ll consider this request and give us the opportunity to shine,” Mars asked nicely. Of course, .Paak wasn’t quite so chill about it all. Earlier, he sent a whole lot of tweets Mars’ way about not seeing Silk Sonic — who just released their first single together, “Leave the Door Open” — named as performers for the March 14 show. “YO @BrunoMars WHAT THE F—?!? Did yo...
BTS & Taylor Swift Among 22 Artists Set to Perform on 2021 Grammy Awards
Hosted by Trevor Noah, the show will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center and its surroundings. All performances will emanate from there, though the Grammys will make use of other venues for the reading of nominations and announcement of winners in various categories. This will be Swift’s seventh performance on the Grammy telecast and her first in five years. She is widely expected to win album of the year for the third time with her hit album Folklore. This will be the sixth performance for both Martin (counting Coldplay) and Mayer; the fifth for Lambert; the third for Cardi B and Morris; and the second for Carlile, Eilish, Howard, Lipa and Post Malone. Half of the acts on the show will be making their Grammy telecast performance debuts — a milestone event in an artist...
Grammy Museum Spotlights a Beatle, Film Music & Women’s History Month
On Monday (March 1), the museum will have a program in which Leslie Odom Jr. discusses his role as Sam Cooke in One Night in Miami… and another in which Harry Gregson-Williams discusses his original score and original song for Disney’s Mulan. Cooke was Oscar-shortlisted for best original song for “Speak Now” from One Night in Miami… He is also expected to receive a nod for best supporting actor. Gregson-Williams is Oscar-shortlisted for both best original score and best original song for “Loyal Brave True” from Mulan. On March 4, the museum will release separate conversations celebrating Women’s History Month with musician, author and educator Alice Bag, journalist Leila Cobo, recording artist Ella Henderson and singer/songwriter Sara Kays. Cobo, Billboard’s VP/Latin industry le...
Recording Academy’s Virtual ‘Women in the Mix’ Event Will Champion Female Producers & Engineers
The event will spotlight female producers and engineers in the music industry while encouraging and facilitating mentorship between established women in the industry and aspiring female music professionals. The Recording Academy has been focused on the gender gap in the recording studio for a while. This event follows follows the academy’s Women In The Mix Pledge in 2019. Grammy history bears out the need for more progress in this area. In the 47 years that the Grammys have awarded producer of the year, non-classical, female producers have been nominated in the category just eight times — and only four of the eight have been nominated on their own, not in collaboration with male producers. Those four are Paula Cole (1997), Sheryl Crow (1998), Lauryn Hill (1998), and Linda Perry...
