The 2021 Grammy Awards are coming up. However, there has been a lot of uncertainty since the entertainment industry was rocked by the COVID-19 pandemic. And the Grammys specifically have been in flux following multiple controversies around the recording academy’s treatment of women and people of color, not to mention alleged irregularities in voting. So there are a lot of questions about how the music industry’s highest-profile kudos will adapt. Here’s what we know so far.
When are the awards?
The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards telecast is scheduled for March 14, 2021.
What music is eligible?
Songs and albums are eligible if they were released from September 1, 2019, through August 31, 2020.
When does voting for the nominations take place?
Recording academy members vote for the nominees from September 30, 2020, to October 12, 2020.
When are the nominations announced?
The full list of nominees will be revealed on November 24 at 9:00am Pacific/12:00 Noon Eastern. The event will be streamed on Grammy.com, and then all 84 categories will be publicized via press release and on their website
When does voting for the winners take place?
After nominations are announced, academy members pick the winners from December 7, 2020, to January 4, 2021.
The rules have changed for Best New Artist.
There had previously been an upper limit on the number of songs and albums an artist could have released to be considered eligible as a new artist, but that threshold is gone. Instead, screening committees will determine whether an entrant has truly achieved their breakthrough during the eligibility period. Though there is a minimum requirement for consideration: an artist must have released at least five singles/tracks or one full album. And an artist may not enter more than three times, including as a member of a previously established group.
Best Urban Contemporary Album is getting a new category name.
Modern trends in R&B have been considered under different names over the years. The category was previously known as Best Contemporary R&B Album, then Best Urban Contemporary Album, and now the category will be known as Best Progressive R&B Album.
Best Rap/Sung Performance is getting a new category name too.
This category has been subject to some controversy: Drake won it for “Hotline Bling,” but objected to the song being considered in the rap field in the first place. Now the category will be known as Best Melodic Rap Performance.
Two Latin awards are also being amended.
Best Latin Pop Album will now be known as Best Latin Pop or Urban Album. And Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album will now be Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album.
New rules to prevent conflicts of interests among voters.
After former academy CEO Deborah Dugan alleged vote-rigging during the nominations process, the academy will now provide a conflict of interest disclosure form for members of the nomination review committees that make final decisions on nominees in top categories. Failure to disclose a conflict of interest will result in a voter being barred from future committees.
Recording academy invites new members to diversify the Grammys.
In an effort to make the organization more inclusive, 2,300 individuals were invited to join in 2020: 48% are women, 21% are Black and 8% are Hispanic, among other underrepresented groups the academy hopes to increase membership for.
Who’s hosting the awards?
Comedian and “Daily Show” host Trevor Noah will preside over the event. He knows what it’s like to be nominated for a Grammy: he contended for Best Comedy Album for “Son of Patricia” in 2020. Now he’ll be emceeing the event where other recording artists will await their fates.
Most of the awards will be presented during the Grammys Premiere Ceremony.
The primetime broadcast is usually chock full of musical performances, so the vast majority of the awards go out at the Premiere Ceremony, which will take place a few hours before the main event on March 14, at Noon Pacific/3:00pm Eastern and be streamed live internationally via Grammy.com. Jhene Aiko has been tapped to host; she’s up for three awards this year including Album of the Year for “Chilombo.” Performers will include Burna Boy, Terri Lyne Carrington and Social Science, Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, Igor Levit, Lido Pimienta, Poppy and Rufus Wainwright.
Who will be performing at the awards?
The lineup of musical performances includes Album of the Year nominees Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, Chris Martin, Post Malone, Black Pumas and HAIM, along with many others. Check out the complete list here.
Who will win at the awards?
Thousands of Gold Derby users have placed their bets, and they say Swift, Lipa and Megan Thee Stallion will be among the big winners. Check out our complete racetrack odds here.
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