Beyoncé leads this year’s list of nominations, hoping to increase her already impressive collection of Grammy Awards. As was expected, considering its critical and commercial success, Beyoncé’s latest album, Renaissance, features heavily in this year’s nominations. The genre-spanning album received eight nods for awards including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year (the latter two for its lead single, ‘Break My Soul’). With an additional nomination for ‘Be Alive’, written for the film ‘King Richard’, Beyoncé’s nine nominations place her joint top of the list of most Grammy nominations ever, alongside her husband, Jay-Z.
Also nominated in the three biggest categories of the night is Kendrick Lamar, who comes second in the nominations tally, with eight nods for his album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers. Lamar will face tough competition in his fourth bid to win Album of the Year, however, not only from Beyoncé, but from artists including Lizzo (Special), Harry Styles (Harry’s House), and Grammy favourite Adele (30). If he loses out there, though, the relatively weak competition found in the work of his fellow Best Rap Album nominees positions him as the overwhelming favourite to take his third win in that category.
Best New Artist, an established star-maker, is, as ever, one of the more interesting categories at these awards. Recent winners include the likes Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, and Dua Lipa. The current list of nominees include 2021 Eurovision Winners Måneskin, Anderson .Paak-endorsed DOMi & JD Beck, and the divisive, yet undeniably fresh, British indie band Wet Leg.
As is typically the case, this year’s Grammy nominations are not without controversy, both in regard to who received nominations, and who did not. Chris Brown received a nomination for Best R&B Album (Breezy), despite an infamous domestic violence conviction in 2009, in the wake of an incident involving his then-girlfriend, Rihanna. Dave Chapelle and Louis C.K. both received nods in the Best Comedy Album category, despite the former’s recent transphobic comments, and the latter’s admittance to committing multiple acts of sexual harassment. Artists snubbed by this year’s nominations include Megan Thee Stallion, Nicki Minaj, and Ed Sheeran.
The 2023 Grammy Awards will be held on Sunday 5th February 2023 in Los Angeles, and will be hosted for the third time by comedian Trevor Noah. The ceremony will be available to watch in the UK via a livestream on the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel and official website.