Grammy Awards 2023: 6 biggest talking points from the nominations
Nominations to be announced ahead of the ceremony in LA next year
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The nominations for the 2023 Grammy Awards have been announced, with a number of artists helping to reveal the nominees.
The first round of voting began on 13 October and ended on 23 October this year. A final round of voting to determine the winners will take place on 14 December.
Among the heavyweights nominated were Taylor Swift and Beyonce, along with British artists including Adele and Harry Styles. It looks like Adele and Beyoncé will once again lock horns as favourites in the major categories.
Announcing the nominees today (15 November) were Olivia Rodrigo, Machine Gun Kelly, John Legend, Luis Fonsi, Smokey Robinson and CBS Mornings anchors Gayle King and Nate Burleson, who will be joined by Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr.
Five new categories have been introduced this year, including Songwriter of the Year (Non-Classical), Best Alternative Music Performance, and Best Americana Performance, plus a special award to the Best Song for Social Change.
Here were the five biggest talking points from the nominations broadcast:
Beyoncé vs Adele – the rematch
It looks like the 2023 Grammy Awards will be a repeat of 2017 where Beyoncé and Adele did battle in the major categories. This year, the pair are once again nominated in the Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Album of the Year categories. Beyoncé has nine nominations to Adele’s seven. Adele won the last showdown in 2017, sweeping up five Grammys to Beyoncé’s two. Who will come out on top this time?
Wet Leg nominated for New Artist
British indie-rock band Wet Leg were among the nominees for Best New Artist, the nominees of which were announced by last year’s winner Olivia Rodrigo. The band, formed of duo Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers spoke to The Independent earlier this year about newfound fame and acclaim. “We’re just trying to stay on top of the wave,” says Chambers. “Because it is going to end, inevitably,” adds Teasdale.
Beyoncé tied Jay-Z as the most nominated artist in Grammy history
Beyoncé has earned nine nominations for the 65th Grammy Awards, bringing her career total to 88. She now ties with her husband, rapper Jay-Z, who previously held the record with 83 nods. He received five additional nominations for the 2023 Grammys, making his new grand total 88 as well.
Machine Gun Kelly’s joke about his ability to read
While announcing the nominees for the 2023 Grammys, Machine Gun Kelly made fun of himself. “My name’s Machine Gun Kelly and I’ll be attempting to read for the first time today,” he joked, before proceeding to successfully read the names.
Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music
Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members)
Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music
Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members)
Harry Styles still doesn’t deserve his nominations (opinion)
The Independent’s music editor Roisin O’Connor still isn’t convinced by Harry Styles after the singer was nominated for a Mercury Prize earlier this year. She wrote at the time: “The problem with Styles is, for the most part, his songs sound like weak imitations of someone better – as if he’s raided the dressing-up box for Laurel Canyon karaoke. He has no discernible ‘sound’ of his own.” She hasn’t changed her mind.
Nicki Minaj criticises Recording Academy for prioritising new artists
Ahead of the announcement of the 2023 Grammy nominees, Nicki Minaj made headlines after she criticised the Recording Academy for prioritising new artists. Her remarks came after her 2022 song “Super Freaky Girl” was moved from the rap category to the pop category.
Read below for the nominations as they happened.
Odds are apparently in Adele’s favour for Album of the Year
According to Gold Derby, a website that pools award predictions from sites like Variety, IMDb, Associated Press, Rolling Stone and more, this is how the odds for Album of the Year are looking:
1. Adele leads with a 21/2 odds of winning with her album 30.
2. Beyoncé follows with an 11/1 odd with Reinassance.
3. Harry Styles comes next with 13/1 odds for Harry’s House.
4. Kenrick Lamar lands 14/1 odds with Mr Morale and the Big Steppers.
5. Brandi Carlile surprises with 15/1 odds with In These Silent Days.
Lizzo, Bad Bunny, Taylor Swift, ABBA, and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss make up the rest of the top 10 odds.
Nicki Minaj accused Grammys for prioritising new artists
Last month, Nicki Minaj criticised the Grammys of prioritising new artists, after her 2022 song “Super Freaky Girl” was moved from the rap category to the pop category.
The 10-time Grammy-nominated rapper shared her frustrations in an Instagram video, saying: “If you can’t tell by now that there is a concerted effort to give newer artists things that they really don’t deserve over people who have been deserving for many years, then you’re not paying attention.”
Read more below:
The broadcast has begun!
And we’re off! The broadcast, which is being live streamed on YouTube has just kicked off. First up: a live performance from Dan + Shay.
Stay tuned for the announcements...
Cyndi Lauper announces nominees in Pop and Dance/Electronic
ALL the nominees in the Pop and Dance/Electronic categories just got announced at once.
Check out the nominees including Adele, Harry Styles and Beyoncé below.
The rap nominees are in...
Rap nominees this year include heavyweights like Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar alongside younger artists including Jack Harlow and TEMS.
Machine Gun Kelly attempts to read for ‘the first time'
Machine Gun Kelly makes a funny before reading out more nominees: “My name’s Machine Gun Kelly and I’ll be attempting to read for the first time today.” Which he does!
There are so many categories
Anyone else feeling like their head is spinning? Presenters are rattling through 91 (yes, 91) nomination categories. Five new categories have been added since the 2022 Grammys because I guess 86 awards weren’t enough for the Recording Academy.
We’ll be posting the highlights here and, rest assured, there’ll be a full rundown of every nomination to come.
Song of the Year nominees announced
The first big-big award category to be announced is Song of the Year. The nominees are:
Gayle - “abcdefu”
Lizzo - “About Damn Time”
Taylor Swift - “All Too Well”
Harry Styles - “As It Was”
Steve Lacy - “Bad Habit”
Beyoncé - “Break My Soul”
Adele - “Easy on Me”
DJ Khaled - “God Did”
Kendrick Lamar - “The Heart Part 5”
Bonnie Rait - “Just Like That”
Olivia Rodrigo reads Best New Artist nominees
Another biggie. Last year’s winner of the category has the honour of reading out this year’s nominees. Olivia Rodrigo announced they are:
Anitta
Omar Apollo
Domi and JD Beck
Muni Long
Samara Joy
Latto
Måneskin
Toby Nwigwe
Molly Tuttle
Wet Leg
Album of the Year announced
Here’s the one we’ve all been waiting for. Album of the Year nominees are:
Voyage by Abba
30 by Adele
Un Verano Sin Ti by Bad Bunny
Renaissance by Beyoncé
Good Morning Gorgeous (Deluxe) by Mary J Blige
In These Silent Days by Brandi Carlile
Music of the Spheres by Coldplay
Mr Morale & The Big Steppers by Kendrick Lamar
Special by Lizzo
Harry’s House by Harry Styles
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments