The 2024 music industry has seen a massive resurgence in hyper pop, country ballads, and new artists who are each vying for a nomination at the 67th Grammy Awards. From genre-bending musicians and viral pop sensations, there is a fresh wave of talent this award season that will draw increased attention to the ceremony next February.
The Recording Academy has announced that nominations will go public on Friday, Nov. 8 of this year. The eligibility period for the 2025 awards season includes releases from September of 2023 to August of 2024, allowing consideration for some of the year’s most popular releases. The Grammy’s tend to garner the most attention surrounding the “Big Three” awards of the night: Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Album of the Year.
However, with the number of artists eligible for Best New Artist, it will also be a moment to watch. So, who exactly is eligible? Ranging from Chappell Roan following the tremendous exposure from “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” to both short and sweet Sabrina Carpenter, Benson Boone, Teddy Swims, Doechii, Shaboozy, and more.
The criteria for “Best New Artist” is one of the more contentious categories that has garnered some scrutiny in the past. However, the Recording Academy upholds a specific criterion: “any performing artist or established performing group who releases, during the eligibility year, the recording that first establishes the public identity of that artist” per the Grammy Awards website. Many artists considered breakthrough stars of 2024 have criteria that slightly complicate the nominee selection process.
Chappell Roan, a 26-year-old spunky and flirtatious popstar, has taken the world by storm since the release of her album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.” Roan’s latest single, “Good Luck, Babe!” peaked at number four on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart and remained there for 24 weeks. Her performances at music festivals this year have attracted thousands of fans, sometimes producing larger crowds than the event’s headliners, including NYC’s Governor’s Ball and Chicago’s Lollapalooza. Roan’s popularity has demonstrated a type of “overnight fame” that seems difficult to replicate. Her ability to connect with people who largely feel ignored from social scenes is a large part of her charm. Self-proclaiming herself as “your favorite artist’s favorite artist” (paralleling the sentiment from drag icon, Sasha Colby) has some very accurate merit. While Chappell, originally born Kayleigh Rose, has been making and uploading music since 2014, the release of her album majorly contributed to her success. Along with opening for Olivia Rodrigo’s “Guts” World Tour earlier this year and performing at Coachella, Roan has continued to increase her monthly Spotify listeners from a little over a million in January 2024 to more than 45 million today, a 4400% increase.
Sabrina Carpenter, a 25-year-old singer-songwriter, has increased her social media presence and circulation online through her stark rebranding, becoming America’s newest Pop Princess. Carpenter started her career on Disney Channel and released five studio albums before her latest project, “Short N’ Sweet.” Carpenter can now be seen sporting heart-cut-out micro dresses, chunky platform heels, and Brigitte Bardot-inspired bangs adding to her Ex-Disney image. Her hit song “Espresso” came out in April earlier this year and was performed the following day at Coachella, lasting eight weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. This past week, the effects of her popularity continued to shine with five tracks from her newest project placing in the Top 50. While this is Carpenter’s sixth studio album, “Short N’ Sweet” satisfies Grammy’s requirements for a release, bringing an artist more into mainstream public consciousness. Moreover, while Carpenter submitted approval for Best New Artist consideration twice before, artists are allowed three attempts. This reason is why singer-dancer Tate McRae sadly can no longer be considered despite not receiving a nomination.
Benson Boone, a 22-year-old singer-songwriter, got his footing on TikTok and brief participation in season 19 of American Idol. Boone’s most famous single is “Beautiful Things,” released in January of this year off his debut album “Fireworks & Rollerblades.” The track peaked at number three on Billboard’s Hot 100 and gained even more traction after his star-studded performance at the Video Music Awards. Boone also opened for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour at the Wembley Stadium in London on June 23, increasing his monthly listeners in the U.K. by nearly 20% according to Billboard. His incredible vocal range and songwriting ability might attract some attention from the Recording Academy, who tend to award such twofold performers. For the past seven awards seasons, female artists have secured the Best New Artist award and Boone is hoping to change this trajectory. His album features intimate lyrics and smooth melodies that are meaningful and reflective, hoping to mirror such experiences for his listeners.
Other contenders such as Teddy Swims and Shaboozy have had major success this awards cycle, with both of their hit songs landing in Billboard’s Top 100. While these artists are moreso famous for breakout singles, they should not be overlooked by the public. The Recording Academy shocked viewers, especially pop fans, last year when the award was given to 26-year-old Jazz singer, Samara Joy. Other artists in the category included Latto, Wet Leg, Muni Long, Anitta, Tuttle, and Måneskin. While many of the pop-centric fans watching believed this win to be a shock, jazz tends to be well-represented by the Recording Academy. Joy was also not considered a frontrunner amongst other contenders, giving her the implicit advantage of the underdog. It also is helpful that her album is incredibly well put together and cohesive, also securing another win the same night. This could mean a promising awards season for both Teddy Swims and Shaboozy.
As anticipation continues to build for the 67th Grammy Awards, the competition for Best New Artist is sure to be a promising watch for music fans. Covering different genres and sounds from Chappell Roan to Shaboozy, the Recording Academy has the opportunity to showcase a large range of musical sounds. With nominations being unveiled Nov. 8, music fans are anxiously waiting to see which of their favorites secure a nomination. Best New Artist highlights the voices that are contributing to a vast landscape of established stars, and it will be interesting to note who takes home the coveted golden record player.
