Grammys
Recording Academy Chief Comments on Beyonce Declining to Perform at the Grammys
Ben Winston, executive producer of the Grammys, was also asked by the publication about Beyoncé’s absence: Viewers “might” find it strange that she’s not there, he said when prompted. Beyoncé is nominated for a total of nine awards at this year’s show. “Black Parade” earned her nods in the record of the year, song of the year, best r&b performance and best r&b song categories. “Savage” with Megan Thee Stallion is up for record of the year, best rap performance and best rap song. Beyoncé’s “Brown Skin Girl” earned a nod for best music video, and Black Is King is a contender for best music film. A number of artists have criticized the Grammys in recent years, including The Weeknd, who vowed to boycott the show mo...
Cultura Profetica Has ‘High’ Expectations for Their First Grammy Win
“We believe that all our albums were Grammy-deserving, we don’t doubt it. But it arrived when it had to arrive,” guitarist and bass guitarist Omar Silva tells Billboard. Ahead of the 2021 Grammys on Sunday night, Billboard talked with bandmembers Willie Rodriguez, Juanqui Sulsona and Silva about their nomination. Read the Q&A below: Sobrevolando is a very eclectic album, fusing reggae with other musical influences. What was your source of inspiration during these nearly 10 years of not releasing an album, especially with the rapid evolution of Latin music? Willie Rodriguez: I would say our first inspiration is our own work that continues to form part of our daily lives. The decisions we make every day and the things that we’ve said and still need to say. We always trace back to e...
BTS, Lady Gaga & More Highlights From MusiCares’ ‘Music on a Mission’ Virtual Event
It would be great if MusiCares opened its vaults again so that ordinary music fans for whom a $1,000 ticket is simply out of reach can see some of these classic performance clips. Traditionally, the Friday night before the Grammys is reserved for the MusiCares Person of the Year gala, an annual salute to an artist selected not only for their musical achievement, but for their philanthropic contributions. This year, COVID-19 prohibited people gathering in person so Friday night (March 12), MusiCares’ parent, the Recording Academy, pivoted to a 90-minute virtual celebration dubbed Music on a Mission. The event featured new performances by BTS, Haim, H.E.R., Jhené Aiko and John Legend, as well as performances drawn from past Person of the Year galas by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Ban...
Choreographer Fatima Robinson on ‘Coming 2 America’ and Surprises to Expect at the Grammys
Robinson’s particularly busy March continues with this Sunday’s Grammy Awards, for which she is a creative producer; after that, she’s got Space Jam 2 (for which she made a dance number for star Don Cheadle) and Queens, an ABC pilot starring Brandy and Eve. While taking a breath at her Ojai, Calif. home, she spoke to Billboard about stepping into some big shoes as C2A’s choreographer — and revealed some surprises in store at the Grammys. Choreography was a major part of the original Coming to America — and it was created by none other than Paula Abdul. What impact did it have on you?I mean, it’s so incredible what she created — the dance stands up today. So it was a little daunting to think I had to go up against that. ...
Finneas, Mickey Guyton & More Set For Billboard News Grammys Pre-Show
Trevor Noah will host the 63rd annual Grammys, with performances from Dua Lipa, Roddy Ricch and Taylor Swift, all of whom received six nominations this year. Bad Bunny, Black Pumas, Cardi B, BTS, Brandi Carlile, DaBaby, Doja Cat, Billie Eilish, Mickey Guyton, Haim, Brittany Howard, Miranda Lambert, Lil Baby, Chris Martin, John Mayer, Megan Thee Stallion, Maren Morris, Post Malone, Harry Styles and Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak’s Silk Sonic are also slated to perform. The 63rd annual Grammy Awards will air live on Sunday (Mar. 14) at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS, Paramount+ and Grammy.com. Online viewers can also stream CBS with free trials on fuboTV and Sling TV. Billboard may receive affiliate commission through links on our site. You Deser...
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 ...
