Grammy Voters Reveal Secret Ballots: Why Trade Execs Did or Didn’t Go for Beyoncé, Harry Kinds, Adele, Lizzo and Different Entrance-Runners

Do Grammy voters go along with their heads or their hearts? Do they decide by private desire or strategically? Do they even know who the nominees are? To get contained in the voting physique’s thoughts, Selection spoke with 5 business figures, on the situation of anonymity, to learn how Recording Academy members actually made their selections concerning the contenders within the high 4 classes this 12 months.

Voter 1: 

A music supervisor who has been a Grammy voter for 15-plus years

Report of the 12 months: “I picked Steve Lacy’s ‘Unhealthy Behavior’ for each document and music. It’s pop music that doesn’t sound like some other pop music — not like information the place you may change the vocal and it sounds the identical. I like ABBA, however I didn’t love this document. The Harry Kinds document was actually good. There are particular artists, like Brandi Carlile, which can be superb for the Grammys, so I perceive why she’s there, however that document didn’t do a lot for me. I like however don’t love that Beyoncé music, ‘Break My Soul’; I like ‘Cuff It’ higher. I feel there’s a extremely good likelihood Beyoncé wins one or all the massive classes. Beyoncé will win this, or possibly Adele may; ‘Simple on Me’ is cool, however it’s not ‘Rolling within the Deep.’”

Album of the 12 months: “Kendrick Lamar. He’s so massive, however that document doesn’t sound like he was anyone else’s document. Unhealthy Bunny was by far essentially the most commercially profitable album of the 12 months, however I feel lots of people don’t know who Unhealthy Bunny is, identical to when ‘Despacito’ was the most important music of the 12 months and didn’t win. The Coldplay document is an atrocity. I don’t know who that document is for — I don’t suppose 12-year-olds need to hear Chris Martin, and I undoubtedly don’t suppose Coldplay followers need to hear BTS and Selena Gomez.”

Music of the 12 months: “This 12 months particularly, I felt like they didn’t get this class proper. I like Kendrick Lamar’s ‘The Coronary heart, Half 5,’ however it’s singular for the document. When you take the manufacturing out, is it actually the identical music? I really feel like that is often extra of a ballad-y class —a music that had industrial success however can turn out to be a Nice American Songbook music. Gayle’s ‘ABCDFU’ I hate, however novelty information have been massive eternally. Once more, that feels to me extra like a document than a music. God bless Bonnie Raitt — if she wins, that will be enjoyable — however I don’t know that anybody was pondering that was one of the best music this 12 months. Steve Lacy’s hook is simply so infectious I went with that once more. For the winner, I really feel prefer it comes all the way down to a Harry-Beyonce factor. I feel there’s a extremely good likelihood Beyonce wins one or all the massive classes.”

Greatest new artist: “A few of them I didn’t know, which I feel might be true of lots of people. I voted for Moist Leg as a result of I like how singular it’s. I feel they may win. Each a part of the business is its personal bubble, however in my circle, they’ve loads of love. Måneskin feels very kitschy for the Grammys. Muni Lengthy is superior, however she’s not a brand new artist in any method. Anitta just isn’t new in any respect both. I like the Latto single ‘Massive Vitality’ — that might have been within the document of the 12 months class — however I don’t know if anybody actually is aware of her past the music.”

Voter 2: 

A Grammy-winning producer-engineer who has been a voter for nearly 20 years

Report of the 12 months: “I felt very strongly that Lizzo has modified this tradition quite a bit. ‘About Rattling Time’ was an awesome observe that everybody responded to. I additionally have a look at who’s been there and go, ‘OK, Adele, Beyoncé — they all the time win; it’s the identical individuals again and again.’ So I went for Lizzo. I don’t know who’s going to win; I really feel a little bit out of contact with the place the Academy is true now. I feel Harry Kinds’ ‘As It Was’ is a tremendous, catchy music. I liked the Brandi Carlile observe, however I didn’t suppose it was document of the 12 months. I additionally just like the Steve Lacy observe quite a bit, however what do I feel everybody else is gonna vote for? Not these two. For the highest classes, I feel it needs to be about extra than simply your style. ‘And the Grammy goes to …’  ought to imply one thing apart from ‘I simply favored that observe.’”

Album of the 12 months: “I feel they’re very a lot catering to the pop world. Brandi’s album is possibly the one one which has actual musicians. The credit score record on the album just isn’t 8,000 individuals — three individuals made that document, plus the band, and that’s it. The pendulum is swinging. It was method deep into white man world, and it got here again, and now it’s method into ‘We should appease the TikTok era, or the youngsters received’t perceive why we’re having this award present.’ However they don’t even watch TV! If it’s about what’s essentially the most streamed, and for those who have a look at what number of Latin individuals there are on the earth, it doesn’t shock me in any respect that Unhealthy Bunny can be in there. It’s additionally an awesome document, however it brings me to: What do I feel is superb? I really feel like Lizzo crosses this line between pop and excellence of craft.”

Music of the 12 months: “‘As It Was’ — whatever the visuals, no matter his viewers, no matter any of it, it’s a very good music. However ‘About Rattling Time” can also be a enjoyable music. ‘ABCDFU’ is a cute music, too — however do I feel it’s music of the 12 months as a result of it was on TikTok eighty bajillion instances? I don’t know. ‘Simple on Me’ isn’t any totally different from each different Adele ballad. ‘Unhealthy Behavior’ is an effective music, however I don’t suppose that was music of the 12 months. I don’t care concerning the Taylor Swift music.”

Greatest new artist: “I used to be between Toby Nwigwe and Moist Leg, however I don’t see Toby as a brand new artist, and I noticed Moist Leg as extra of a sensational new factor, so I voted for that. Toby’s been round and Måneskin’s been round — how is that finest new artist? Or is it simply time for the Grammys to push them ahead? There’s some attention-grabbing names right here, however do you see them graduating to the opposite lists we simply went by way of? I don’t see any of those artists doing that. Effectively, I assume Måneskin may inherit some larger rock-stage throne. And Anitta is fairly excellent, so possibly she’s the one that might.”

Voter 3

A 20-something producer, voting for the primary time

Report of the 12 months: “ ‘As It Was’ is essentially the most culturally impactful and consultant of what our era consumes — a superbly well-formed pop music. It was too omnipresent to not be document of the 12 months. I do suppose the Grammys ought to signify extra of what’s present. I’ve by no means heard these ABBA or Mary J. Blige information; what are these doing right here?”

Album of the 12 months: “‘Harry’s Home.’ Did I personally take heed to it a ton? No. Did it make itself identified in each TikTok? Completely. Beyoncé is a detailed second. Lizzo’s undertaking was nice, however solely had one large music on it. I listened to Kendrick way more than the others, but it didn’t have a standout music and I don’t really feel it had the cultural affect that album of the 12 months deserves.”

Music of the 12 months: “The Steve Lacy music for certain. Freshest, most tasteful, thrilling, totally different, enjoyable music. ‘Unhealthy Behavior’ simply smokes the whole lot when it comes to style, cool issue and pushing sonic boundaries, and it was concurrently so commercially profitable and the most important earworm of the entire 12 months, most likely, or up there alongside ‘As It Was.’ One other factor about ‘Unhealthy Behavior’ is that the whole lot appears like a refrain. Even the verses really feel like a refrain… a few of these different songs, like ‘God Did’ and ‘All Too Effectively’ — what are these doing right here?”

Greatest new artist: “That is the simplest reply: Omar Apollo. He stands for the LGBT neighborhood and for Latino individuals and makes one of the best music. Domi & JD Beck are amazingly gifted however really feel too area of interest. The reality is I don’t know loads of these different individuals.” 

Voter 4:

A music enterprise veteran in his 70s

Report of the 12 months: “I attempt to be ecumenical, however there’s a big share of music I’ve by no means heard. It’s loads of work to take heed to all of it. I assume I’m a foul voter as a result of I didn’t do my diligence. However that’s my proper… I voted for ABBA.They used to get quick shrift as a result of they had been dismissed as pop fluff, however I’ve all the time been a fan. The brand new album just isn’t their finest ever, however it’s fairly good. I actually hope they win one thing, however I doubt they’ll. I might’ve voted for Adele’s ‘Simple on Me’ if ABBA wasn’t within the class.”

Album of the 12 months: “Once more, ABBA… With Beyoncé, the truth that each time she does one thing new, it’s an enormous occasion and everybody’s purported to quake of their sneakers — it’s a little bit too portentous. I maintain Harry Kinds’ origin story in opposition to him. He’s from a boy band, and I by no means took these acts significantly.”

Music of the 12 months: “Lizzo has this focus and ultra-talent. The truth that she’s massive and may do what she desires is secondary to me. She writes, sings and, of all issues, performs the flute. She deserves the popularity as a result of she put the trouble into it; her success isn’t about advertising and marketing. Although it’s a bit jarring to see it takes a whole workplace constructing to jot down these songs.”

Greatest new artist: “I used to be captivated by Molly Tuttle’s beyond-great model of the Rolling Stones’ ‘She’s a Rainbow.’ I didn’t know a lot about her, however I did hear her cowl of the Useless’s ‘Chilly Rain and Snow.’ I didn’t do an actual evaluation, with brackets — I favored her, so I voted for her.”

Voter 5:

A thirtysomething, Juno-nominated feminine singer voting for the second time

Report of the 12 months: “I voted for ‘As It Was.’ It’s a fairly commonplace pop music, however it’s catchy and just like what I might need to put out, in order that influenced me. If I needed to take heed to one of many songs eternally, it could be that one. I didn’t vote for both Adele or Beyoncé in any of the highest classes. I like Beyoncé’s album and have been a fan of Adele, however I really feel that they’ve already received loads of Grammys. I feel Doja Cat is cool and I respect Brandi Carlile, however their information didn’t overwhelm me. I respect Lizzo as an artist, as a result of she performs the flute and I do, too, however she’s not my favourite.”

Album of the 12 months: “I’m an enormous Coldplay fan, much more than Harry Kinds. They’ve stood the check of time; they’re wonderful, prolific songwriters. This isn’t their finest album, however I might like to see them get a Grammy.”

Music of the 12 months: “’All Too Effectively (Taylor’s Model).’ That music is superior, and my focus was on the lyrics. Most songs today are created by committee. Taylor is an old-school author and one in every of solely two credited on the music, and he or she’s essentially the most just like what I aspire to be like. Kendrick Lamar is a superb songwriter, nice lyricist, however there’s no second or third place within the voting.”

Greatest new artist: “Måneskin. I hadn’t actually heard of anybody on this class apart from Anitta and Samara Pleasure. Possibly I’m dwelling beneath a rock. I listened to songs from all of them and I favored Måneskin one of the best. I like their movies, and so they placed on an awesome reside present.”

Further reporting by Roy Trakin and Ellise Shafer