Grammys
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The Grammy Museum announced its Grammy Week programming schedule on Monday (Jan. 23).
A session on Tuesday Jan. 31 will celebrate triple Grammy nominee Muni Long, who was an in-demand songwriter for such stars as Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Madonna and Ariana Grande before breaking out as a solo artist this year with the hit “Hrs and Hrs.” Long is nominated for best new artist, best R&B song and best R&B performance. The latter two nominations are for “Hrs and Hrs,” which reached No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 2022.
An event on Friday, Feb. 3 will feature Merck Mercuriadis, Nile Rodgers and singer/songwriter/producer The-Dream, a six-time Grammy nominee this year. They will discuss their backgrounds in the music industry, the importance and power of the songwriter and sustaining a career. The-Dream is one of the nominees for the inaugural songwriter of the year, non-classical award. Rodgers is slated to receive a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy at the Special Merit Awards on Feb. 4, the day before the Grammy Awards.
All education programs are free for students with registration.
MONDAY, JAN. 30:
Event: Careers in Music: Music Producers Panel with Isla Management
What: A conversation with Grammy-winning and -nominated producers Boi-1da, Jahaan Sweet, Sevn Thomas and Leon Thomas, and Isla Management founder and manager Simon Gebrelul, on the creative process, working with artists, and what it takes to have a career in the music industry as a music producer.
When: 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Event: Careers in Music: Latin Music Panel
What: A conversation celebrating the culture and impact of Latin music with singer-songwriter Gaby Moreno; Yvonne Drazan, vice president of the Latin division at Peermusic; and Gil Gastelum, founder and president of Cosmica Records.
When: 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
TUESDAY, JAN. 31:
Event: Backstage Pass: Global Music Panel
What: A conversation celebrating music from around the world with Grammy-nominated artist Zakes Bantwini; Adam Byars, CEO of creative agency GridWorldwide; Anele Mdoda, TV/radio personality and entrepreneur; Sibo Mhlunga, talent manager and music/entertainment executive; and Theo Baloyi, CEO & founder of Bathu Sneakers. This program will include a live performance by Zakes Bantwini and Nomcebo Zikode.
When: 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Event: Backstage Pass: LGBTQ Panel & Performance presented by the Ally Coalition
What: Backstage Pass is a career exploration program that gives students a first-hand look at what it takes to get a job in the music industry. This Backstage Pass program will consist of a question-and-answer session with music industry professionals from the LGBTQ community.
When: 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Event: Celebrating Grammy Nominee: Muni Long
What: An exclusive Grammy Week event to celebrate this year’s three-time Grammy nominee, Muni Long. Long was an in-demand songwriter before breaking through as a solo artist.
When: 7:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 1:
Event: Careers in Music: 1500 Sound Academy
What: 1500 Sound Academy is a music education program that strives to produce passionate sound creators through mentorship, positive mindset and professional development. This event is a moderated Q&A with Grammy winners James Fauntleroy and Larrance “Rance” Dopson, founders of the 1500 Sound Academy and of the musical ensemble, 1500 or Nothin’.
When: 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Event: Live Out L!ve Presents: Beyond the Mainstage – Black Professionals in Live Music
What: This event will explore the challenges and reality of being a Black professional in the live entertainment industry. The panelists will share their journey of becoming live industry leaders and resources for breaking into the industry, and answer questions from the next generation of music industry leaders.
When: 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
THURSDAY, FEB. 2:
Event: Backstage Pass: Hawaii Day with Bobby Moderow, Jr. & Kawika Kahiapo
What: A celebration of the music and culture of Hawaii, this Backstage Pass program will consist of a question-and-answer session as well as a live performance.
When: 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
FRIDAY, FEB. 3:
Event: Careers in Music: Merck Mercuriadis, Nile Rodgers and 2023 six-time Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter/producer The-Dream.
What: A conversation with Merck Mercuriadis, Nile Rodgers and The-Dream discussing their background in the music industry, the importance and power of the songwriter and sustaining a career. The event will celebrate the songs past and present that have led to The-Dream amassing 21 Grammy nominations (including five wins) throughout his career.
When: 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
The 2023 Grammy Awards are just around the corner, which means all the best parties and events will be taking over Los Angeles leading up to Music’s Biggest Night at the Crypto.com Arena.
Beyoncé leads the way in the just announced 2023 Grammy nominations, securing nine nods and tying the record for the most-nominated artist of all time. Just trailing Beyoncé in 2023 nominations is Kendrick Lamar, who also has three Big Four nods (album of the year for Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers and record and song of the year for “The Heart Part 5”) and eight nominations total. Adele and Brandi Carlile each add seven nominations to their already-storied Grammy legacies, while six artists tie with six nods apiece: Mary J. Blige, Harry Styles, DJ Khaled, Future, The-Dream and mastering engineer Randy Merrill.
See below for where celebs will be spending Grammy Week. (Updating through Grammy night with new events. Events are invitation-only.)
For the first time in three years, Spotify will host a pre-Grammys performance showcase for the year’s best new artist nominees.
Spotify’s 2023 Grammys party will take place on the evening of Thursday, Feb. 2, in Los Angeles, Billboard can exclusively reveal. All 10 of this year’s best new artist nominees — Anitta, Omar Apollo, Domi & JD Beck, Muni Long, Samara Joy, Latto, Måneskin, Tobe Nwigwe, Molly Tuttle and Wet Leg — will be in attendance, with multiple performances and surprise guests planned.
Spotify launched its best new artist Grammy soiree in 2017, and last held its nighttime showcase in 2020, when artists like Lizzo, Lil Nas X and eventual winner Billie Eilish performed intimate sets. After taking off 2021 due to the pandemic, Spotify hosted a poolside brunch last April when the Grammys were held in Las Vegas, with best new artist nominees in attendance but no performances.
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“Spotify stands for new artist discovery and we take great pride in championing the next generation of superstars early on. For each of the past six years, our Best New Artist campaign has celebrated the category’s nominees in increasingly impactful ways,” says Jeremy Erlich, Global Head of Music at Spotify. “These nominations mark a pivotal moment in their careers, and we want to help them further capitalize on that momentum with our marketing muscle and global reach, culminating in our annual BNA Party in Los Angeles. This is the largest class of performing nominees that we’ll have in one night and it’s bound to be our biggest and best event yet.”
In 2021, Spotify filled the void of its best new artist party by launching a Spotify Singles series featuring that year’s nominees in the week leading up to the Grammys, which included Phoebe Bridgers reworking her song “Kyoto” with Jackson Browne and Chika covering Billie Eilish’s “My Future.” That series continued last year in the lead-up to the 2022 Grammys, and Spotify confirms that a new batch of Spotify Singles featuring the best new artist nominees is coming soon.
The 2023 Grammy Awards will be presented Sunday, Feb. 5, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Click here to see the full list of nominations, including best new artist.
Unlike seven years ago, when Hamilton’s Grammy win for best musical theater album was a foregone conclusion, this year’s contest appears to be wide-open.
The award could go to the cast album from the latest revival of one of Stephen Sondheim’s most beloved musicals, or to the album from a musical that celebrates the legacy of pop legend Michael Jackson or to the album from a show (A Strange Loop) that has already won a Pulitzer Prize and two Tony Awards, including best musical.
The Grammys have presented an award for best musical theater album every year since they started in 1959 (though the name of the category has changed over the years). This year, 42 albums were entered and eligible in the category, from which six were nominated.
Four of the nominated cast albums are from newly-produced shows – MJ: The Musical, Mr. Saturday Night, Six and A Strange Loop. The other two are from revivals – Into the Woods, which first opened on Broadway in 1987, Caroline, or Change, which first opened on Broadway in 2004.
Voters in this category are asked to focus on the cast album, not their memories of the show. (The Rules and Guidelines handbook for the 65th Annual Grammy Awards states: “This award honors excellence in the performances(s) in and production of musical theater recordings. Elements of the corresponding stage production should not be considered in evaluating the recording.”)
The award is presented to the principal vocalist(s) and to the album producer(s) of 50% or more of the playing time on the album. The lyricist(s) and composer(s) of 50% or more of a score of a new recording are eligible if no previous recording of said score has been nominated in this category. Caroline, or Change had not previously been nominated in this category, so its composer, Jeanine Tesori, and lyricist, Tony Kushner, are eligible. Into the Woods had been, so its composer/lyricist, Sondheim, is not.
A few category quirks: Recordings of revues that reflect a dramatic theme are eligible, but benefit/tribute concerts featuring performances of various musical show songs are not. Non-musical theater performance albums are likewise not eligible.
Let’s take a closer look at the six nominees:
Rebecca Milzoff and Keith Caulfield assisted in preparing this list.
Karen Bass, newly elected mayor of Los Angeles, will give the keynote speech at the Recording Academy Entertainment Law Initiative’s Grammy Week Event on Friday, Feb. 3 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.
“We are honored to welcome Mayor Karen Bass to the Entertainment Law Initiative [ELI] Grammy Week Event as we gather and celebrate with the trailblazing professionals and students who are paving the way forward in the entertainment law industry,” Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, said in a statement.
“Mayor Bass has been a longtime supporter of music creators’ rights in her legislative roles, and she has a unique understanding of how the creative industries intersect with law and policy that we look forward to hearing at this year’s event.”
Said Mayor Bass: “I’m proud to support Grammy Week because of the role that our entertainment industry plays in powering our local economy and to encourage efforts to increase equity and opportunities for Angelenos to break into the music business.”
Mayor Bass took office on Dec. 11, 2022, after serving in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2022. Between 2004 and 2010, she served in the California State Assembly, where she was elected Speaker in 2008.
The Entertainment Law Initiative’s Grammy Week Event will also honor the winner and runners-up of the ELI Writing Contest, co-sponsored by the American Bar Association, which challenges students in Juris Doctorate and Master of Laws programs at U.S. law schools to research a pressing legal issue facing the modern music industry and outline a proposed solution in a 3,000-word essay.
The winner of this year’s Writing Contest is Aron Lichtschein, a JD student at NYU School of Law, for his essay, “Tickets to Ride: NFTs and the Future of Concert Ticketing.” Lichtschein will receive a $10,000 scholarship as well as tickets to the 65th Grammy Awards and other Grammy Week events. His essay will be published in the ABA’s journal, Entertainment & Sports Lawyer. Two runners-up, Gina Maeng and Amanda Sharp, students at Georgetown Law School and University of San Diego School of Law, respectively, will each receive $2,500 scholarships for their essays.
The Recording Academy announced last month that Peter T. Paterno, partner at King, Holmes, Paterno & Soriano, LLP, will receive the 2023 Entertainment Law Initiative Service Award at the ELI Grammy Week Event.
In the lead-up to the 65th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 5, the Recording Academy and CBS present “Grammy House: Where the Stars Align,” a pop-up experience for “music makers, culture creators and rising industry leaders.” The house will be open from Wednesday, Feb. 1, to Friday, Feb. 3. Programming includes an emerging artists showcase, a producer panel and the second annual #GrammysNextGen Party.
The destination features a dedicated space, Universe of Hip-Hop, an exhibit celebrating 50 years of hip-hop music and culture through the lenses of photographers who were there, including Janette Beckman, Michael Lavine, Danny Clinch, B+ (Brian Cross), Greg Noire and Gunner Stahl.
Designed and curated by artist Cey Adams — the founding creative director of Def Jam Recordings — the space will feature iconic imagery from dozens of artists, including Run-D.M.C., five-time Grammy host LL Cool J, The Notorious B.I.G., 2Pac, Kendrick Lamar and 21 Savage.
Grammy House Programming is curated in partnership with The Revels Group and Coup D’Etat Music.
Celestial Sessions
Emerging artists showcase featuring artists Stephen Sanchez, Oxlade, JELEEL!, Jenevieve, Lakeyah and TiaCorine, with guest host, social comedy star Desi Banks.
Date: Wed, Feb. 1
Time: 6-8 p.m.
#GrammysNextGen Power Brunch
Inaugural brunch for a new class of over 25 official #GrammysNextGen ambassadors and advisors.
Date: Thurs, Feb. 2
Time: Noon-2 p.m.
Starmaker Studio
Panel featuring prolific producers in hip-hop today, including Jozzy, Tommy Parker, Tommy Brown, Ojivolta and Murda Beatz.
Date: Thurs, Feb. 2
Time: 2-4 p.m.
#GrammysNextGen Party
Second annual #GrammysNextGen Party for leading young artists, tastemakers and the next generation of music executives.
Date: Fri, Feb. 3
Time: 4-7 p.m.
All events are invitation-only.
The roster of artists set to perform at the 2023 Persons of the Year tribute concert honoring Motown founder Berry Gordy and one of its greatest stars, Smokey Robinson, includes both Motown royalty (The Temptations, Four Tops and Lionel Richie) and non-Motown artists paying their respects.
Persons of the Year 2023 will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 3, two nights before the 65th annual Grammy Awards. This marks the first time that there have been co-honorees. Gordy is also the first executive to receive the honor.
The roster of performers includes The Isley Brothers, who recorded two albums for Motown’s Tamla subsidiary in the 1960s but achieved their greatest success elsewhere; Valerie Simpson, who teamed with her late husband Nick Ashford to write many of Motown’s greatest hits; and Michael McDonald, who received a 2013 Grammy nomination for best pop vocal album for Motown, a tribute album to the label.
It also includes EGOT recipient John Legend whose huge crossover success owes a great deal to the trails blazed by Motown in the 1960s.
The roster includes three artists who are Grammy-nominated in Big Four categories this year – Brandi Carlile, who is vying for record and album of the year, and best new artist nominees Samara Joy and Molly Tuttle.
Also on the bill: Jimmie Allen, Dionne Warwick, Sheryl Crow, Lalah Hathaway, PJ Morton, Mumford & Sons, Trombone Shorty, Sebastián Yatra, Chloe x Halle and Rita Wilson.
“I am so excited to share the always wonderful MusiCares event with my best friend Smokey Robinson and I can’t wait to hear these wonderful artists celebrate the Motown music,” Gordy said in a statement.
“I’m so excited for this year’s MusiCares lineup,” Robinson added. “These artists are my friends and I not only love them, but I’m honored that they will be performing my music, along with hits from the Motown catalogue.”
“We are thrilled to see such an incredible array of talented performers coming together to honor Smokey and Berry, two legends who have helped define modern music,” said Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy.
“We’re bringing together such a unique lineup of artists not only to pay tribute to Mr. Gordy, Mr. Robinson and Motown, but also to raise awareness of the critical health and social service needs within the music community,” said Laura Segura, executive director of MusiCares.
The event includes a reception and silent auction, followed by a dinner and tribute concert. Since 1991, money raised from this gala has gone toward MusiCares programs that assist the music community, including physical and mental health, addiction recovery, preventative clinics, personal emergencies, and disaster relief.
The event will again be produced by live event broadcast company Lewis & Clark, comprised of Joe Lewis and R.A. Clark. Greg Phillinganes, who hails from Detroit, Motown’s home town, will serve as musical director. Phillinganes won a 2015 Primetime Emmy as music director of Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life – An All-Star Grammy Salute.
Tables are available for purchase at http://personoftheyear.musicares.org/. For more information, visit MusiCares.org or email personoftheyear@musicares.org.
Kojey Radical, Mimi Webb, Rina Sawayama, Sam Ryder and Wet Leg got the thrill of a lifetime on Thursday when they received 2023 Brit Awards nominations for best new artist.
Several of the nominees expressed their joy on hearing the news. Wet Leg exclaimed, “Somebody hold our horses while we get to grips with this wild news, being nominated for a BRIT award is too hard to comprehend, we never could have expected for our wee band to achieve this.”
Webb gave a shout-out to a previous winner in the category. “I remember seeing Dua Lipa win Best New Artist in 2018 and being in awe of her – that moment really inspired me to work hard and be the artist I am today.”
Ryder expressed his joy in a most vivid way: “I’m buzzing! I feel like a Golden Retriever that’s won a medal.”
Wet Leg, the female indie rock duo that tied Harry Styles for the most nominations by any artist this year (four), is the clear front-runner here, but the other four acts should not lose heart. Many future superstars have lost this award and gone on to do very well. The gifted singer whose photo accompanies this story is one of them.
It’s not that the Brits don’t know a talented new artist when they see one. The roster of winners in this category includes such heavyweights as Oasis, Arctic Monkeys, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Dua Lipa and Lewis Capaldi. It’s just that it’s not always easy to envision how an artist will develop and grow based on just their first year – and sometimes, less than a year – of success.
Note: The category has undergone several name changes over the years. When the Brits originated in 1977, they presented separate awards for British female newcomer and British male newcomer. When the show resumed in 1982 following a four-year hiatus, the Brits made the category gender-neutral and called it the Brit Award for British newcomer. In 2003, they changed it to the Brit Award for British breakthrough act. In 2020, they changed it again to the Brit Award for best new artist – mirroring the language the Grammys had used since they introduced the award in 1959.
Here are 10 artists who lost the award for best new artist, but (thankfully) didn’t let that stop them.
With 10 nominees apiece in each of the Big Four categories at the 2023 Grammy Awards, predicting the night’s winners is tougher than ever — but that won’t stop the Billboard Pop Shop Podcast from trying.
On the latest episode, Katie & Keith are breaking down Billboard awards editor Paul Grein’s Big Four predictions — in the record of the year, song of the year, best new artist and album of the year categories. Will Harry Styles and Lizzo snag their first Big Four wins, thanks to nods in three of the four categories each? And after years of being passed over for album of the year, could Renaissance be Beyoncé’s golden ticket — or will Bad Bunny continue on his unstoppable path toward global domination and take the top prize with Un Verano Sin Ti instead?
There’s a lot to discuss ahead of the Feb. 5 awards show, so let’s get to it in the brand-new episode of the Billboard Pop Shop Podcast below.
Also on the show, it’s a rather exciting week on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, as both The Weekend and Beyoncé notch new top 10 hits, David Guetta and Bebe Rexha’s “Blue (I’m Good)” hits a new peak, and Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” jumps back to No. 1 for a seventh week — tying for the most weeks any Swift song has spent atop the chart. Plus, on the Billboard 200, SZA’s SOS clocks a fourth straight week at No. 1 — becoming the first R&B album by a woman to spend its first four weeks atop the list in nearly 30 years.
Plus, we happened to get some breaking pop news while we were recording the podcast: The 2023 Coachella headliners have arrived! And Keith shares his experience attending ABBA’s Voyage concert in London — what it was like to see he virtual concert in person?
The Billboard Pop Shop Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things pop on Billboard‘s weekly charts. You can always count on a lively discussion about the latest pop news, fun chart stats and stories, new music, and guest interviews with music stars and folks from the world of pop. Casual pop fans and chart junkies can hear Billboard‘s executive digital director, West Coast, Katie Atkinson and Billboard’s senior director of charts Keith Caulfield every week on the podcast, which can be streamed on Billboard.com or downloaded in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast provider. (Click here to listen to the previous edition of the show on Billboard.com.)
On Wednesday, Feb. 1, the Recording Academy Producers & Engineers Wing will kick off Grammy Week by honoring jazz drummer and producer Terri Lyne Carrington and classical producer Judith Sherman at its annual Grammy Week celebration at The Village Studios in Los Angeles.
“We’re thrilled to return live to The Village Studios for the first time in three years to celebrate two groundbreaking music creators who are dedicated to innovating both creatively and technically in the recording field,” Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, said in a statement. “Both Terri Lyne and Judith have made indelible contributions to music, and we look forward to bringing together producers, engineers and artistic professionals to honor these incredible artists and kick off our Grammy Week celebrations.”
Carrington and Sherman are both multi-Grammy winners. Both are nominated again this year. Carrington, a three-time Grammy winner, has two of the five albums nominated for best jazz instrumental album – New Standards Vol. 1 (a collab with Kris Davis, Linda May, Han Oh, Nicholas Payton and Matthew Stevens) and Live at the Detroit Jazz Festival (a collab with Wayne Shorter, Leo Genovese and Esperanza Spalding). Carrington won in that category nine years ago. Impressively, she has also won twice for best jazz vocal album.
Sherman, a 13-time Grammy winner, is nominated for producer of the year, classical. Sherman has won in that category six times. If she wins again this year, she’ll tie David Frost, Steven Epstein and Robert Woods for the most wins in the history of the category, which was first presented in 1980.
“The Producers & Engineers Wing is privileged to pay tribute to two women who have pushed boundaries both in and outside of the studio,” Maureen Droney, vice president of the Producers & Engineers Wing added. “Terri Lyne and Judith are awe-inspiring honorees who represent the best of the recording industry and whose contributions to their respective genres continue to resonate with our music community.”
Along with saluting Carrington and Sherman, the event will also celebrate the year-round work of the Producers & Engineers Wing and its members, who advocate for excellence and best practices in sound recording, audio technologies and education in the recording arts, along with proper crediting, recognition and rights for music creators.
Grammy Week culminates with the 65th annual Grammy Awards at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena on Sun, Feb. 5, 2023. The show will broadcast live on CBS and stream live and on-demand on Paramount+ at 8-11:30 p.m. ET/5-8:30 p.m. PT.