Some USC students are skeptical about how relevant the Grammys are, and whether they truly reflect today’s music culture.
Despite this, the Grammys have been the most-watched music awards show for 18 years in a row, and viewership in 2024 was the highest it had been in years, according to Billboard. With young artists like Chappell Roan and Billie Eilish snagging coveted nominations, younger viewers may be more inclined to tune in.
Some USC students said the nominations were not fully representative of Gen Z’s music taste.
“I do think it represents a small proportion [of Gen Z],” Arnav Ghingra, a sophomore majoring in business administration, said. “I’m unsure as to what exact categories they use to nominate people.”
Janani Casipit, a freshman majoring in AI for business on the pre-medical track, said she felt the Grammys are unfair.
“I do think they’re a little bit rigged. I mean, Eminem was talking about that before,” Casipit said.
Eminem said he would never attend the Grammys again in an interview with Sway Calloway in 2018, and said they used artists as a “selling point.”
While high-profile awards shows have been criticized for the lack of diversity in nominees, like the “#OscarsSoWhite” movement in 2015, some said the diversity and representation in Grammy nominees has improved.
“I definitely think it’s pretty good,” Ryan De Marco, a freshman majoring in theater, said about the diversity of the nominees. “Of course, there’s always room for improvement.”
The 67th Annual Grammy Awards will be held on February 2 at the Crypto.com arena in Los Angeles. Students can stream the show at 5:00 p.m. on CBS and Paramount Plus. Here’s a rundown on who’s leading and who didn’t snag a nod.
The Heavyweights
Beyoncé – With 11 nominations for “Cowboy Carter,” she’s now the most-nominated artist in Grammy history, hitting a wild 99 career nominations.
Charli XCX – “Brat” earned 8 nominations, including Record of the Year and Album of the Year — a massive moment for fans of alternative and club music.
Billie Eilish – Eilish is on her usual Grammy streak with seven nominations, mostly thanks to her hit album “Hit Me Hard and Soft.”
Kendrick Lamar – With seven nods, including Record of the Year for “Not Like Us,” Lamar leads the charge for hip-hop and rap artists.
The Snubs
Renée Rapp was not nominated despite her recent release, “Snow Angel,” and her “Mean Girls” movie buzz.
Dua Lipa’s Radical Optimism didn’t make the cut for the Grammy voters.
Megan Thee Stallion didn’t get a nomination, despite the success of “Hiss.”
Ariana Grande was nominated but shut out of major categories. However, she has a chance for a Best Supporting Actress win at the Oscars for her “Wicked” performance.