On December 7, the music world eagerly awaited the public release of the 2016 Grammy Awards Nominations. This is the 58^th year that the awards will be held, and they’re just as monumental as ever.

The Staples Center is holding the awards this year, as they have since the 46^th year of the award show. Because the Staples Center has become the seemingly new permanent home of the awards, artists from all over the world are eager to receive the news if they’ll be invited to the well known arena and awards show.

This year, artists that have had a pretty successful run had a difficult time snagging a nomination at “Music’s Biggest Night” because of the ferocity of the competition.

“And all too often the awards end up going to the wrong people and projects. Why does this happen? Because of people like me,” Rob Kenner, Grammy Committee voter, said in an interview with Complex.

It is a pretty difficult job to choose which wonderful artists will be nominated for, much less receive, a Grammy award. The voting committee is made up of recording professionals and producers who are experts in their fields and know everything that there is to know about music in general.

In order to win a Grammy, an artist’s song or album must exhibit “artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position.” Therefore, only the best of the best can be awarded such an honor.

Notable releases from artists such as Justin Bieber, One Direction, and Adele were made after the cutoff for consideration of a Grammy award. For this reason, these deserving artists are not included in this year’s Grammy nominations, but they are eligible for consideration next year.

The following music artists were presented with Grammy nominations on December 7, 2015 in preparation for the show on February 15, 2016.

Record Of The Year

• Really Love – D’Angelo and The Vanguard

• Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson Featuring Bruno Mars

• Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran

• Blank Space – Taylor Swift

• Can’t Feel My Face – The Weeknd

Katie’s Pick: Blank Space- Taylor Swift

Although Taylor Swift can be cocky and wins pretty much every award she’s up for, she really deserves all of the nominations and awards she wins. She’s up for 7 Grammy’s altogether, and its probable that this is one she should go home with.

Album Of The Year

• Sound & Color- Alabama Shakes

• To Pimp A Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar

• Traveller – Chris Stapleton

• 1989 – Taylor Swift

• Beauty Behind The Madness – The Weeknd

Katie’s Pick: Beauty Behind The Madness- The Weeknd

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Weeknd has recently become extremely successful in making R&B/Pop music since he began uploading songs onto a Youtube screen name called “The Weeknd”. His real name is Abel Tesfaye, and he reeled in 7 nominations this year, right next to Taylor Swift, so there’s a good chance that his extremely popular album will take this award home.

Song Of The Year

• Alright – Kendrick Lamar

• Blank Space – Taylor Swift

• Girl Crush – Little Big Town

• See You Again – Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth

• Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran

Katie’s Pick: Alright- Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar came out with the most nominations out of all of the artists at the Grammy’s with 11. Taylor Swift and The Weeknd came in at a close second with seven nominations, but neither could match the work that Kendrick has done in the past year. His song “Alright” is should come home with the coveted Song Of The Year award this year.

Best Dance Recording

• We’re All We Need – Above & Beyond Featuring Zoë Johnston

• Go – The Chemical Brothers

• Never Catch Me – Flying Lotus ft. Kendrick Lamar

• Runaway (U & I) – Galantis

• Where Are Ü Now – Skrillex, Diplo, and Justin Bieber

Katie’s Pick: Where Are Ü Now- Skrillex, Diplo, and Justin Bieber

This song has dominated charts since its release in February of 2015. With work from three genius producers/artists, this song was destined to succeed from the beginning. Skrillex has won six Grammys already, but a win for Where Are Ü Now would be Diplo and Justin Bieber’s first Grammy award.