The Best New Artist Nominations Explained

  • Tuesday saw the announcement of nominations for 2022 Grammy Awards.
  • The nominees for best new artist this year include established acts like Glass Animals, FINNEAS, and FINNEAS.
  • For a detailed breakdown of the categories ambiguous eligibility rules, continue reading.

This category, which is arguably the most difficult to understand, is the best new artist. It’s one of the most prestigious at the Grammy Awards.

Artists don’t really need to be called that, despite their literal title. “new”To be nominated, they must feel the need to. They simply need to feel. “new”For mainstream audiences.

This is clearly represented by this year’s crop of 10 nominees, announced on Tuesday. These include Glass Animals who dropped their first EP almost 10 years ago; Sawetie who released her first four platinum singles in 2017, and Finneas O’Connell who has won eight Grammy Awards.

As BillboardAs previously reported, labels executives and artists “have long complained about the ambiguity of the best new artist rules, which have changed several times in the past decade.”

Here are the most current eligibility requirements.

glass animals

Glass Animals perform at 2021 Outside Lands Music and Arts festival.

Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images


Recently, the rules were changed to eliminate a maximum song limit

Recent years have seen a clear sweet spot for consideration of best new artist.

A musician must be eligible to become a member of the Eligible Musicians. Required to have at least five songs or one album in their catalog — but no more than 30 songs or three albums.

The Recording Academy will be closing in June 2020. AnnouncedNominated nominees will no longer be allowed to vote “specified maximum number of releases.”Also, artists with extensive catalogues can now be submitted.

This change has been a boon for Glass Animals. Since 2014, the British indie-rock band Glass Animals has released three studio albums that contain more than 40 songs. The most recent album, “Dreamland,”was published in August 2020, just before the eligibility period for 2022 Grammys started on September 1, 2020.

The band was, presumably, nominated this year for best new artist. “Heat Waves,”The fourth single is “Dreamland.”

“Heat Waves”This was originally Publishedin June 2020 and began Charts steadily risingThe world’s most admired for its diversity and well-respected by critics Warm sound and great crossover potential.

When the single was released, it became a household name. TikTok became very popular with a slow-down remixThe band has been a hit this summer.


Streaming

Numbers to soar and popularity to soar The song Finally, it reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart in September and Billboard Hot 100’s Top 10November

The Grammy Award is for best new artist and honors a “breakthrough” year.

According to These are the current rules, “This category recognizes an artist whose eligibility-year release(s) achieved a breakthrough into the public consciousness and notably impacted the musical landscape.”

It is subjective if that sounds like it.

Grammys use an anonymous screening panel to evaluate the list of top new artist submissions. This committee can include as many as 500 names to 1,000. Billboard.

This group decides if someone is eligible to be nominated in that year’s election. These rules define. (Each musician can submit up to three times for consideration for the best new artist award.

As the Rules, “The screening committee will be charged with determining whether the artist had attained a breakthrough or prominence prior to the eligibility year. Such a determination would result in disqualification.”

The screening committee decided, for example, that Sawetie was not a household member prior to the eligibility year.

Even though she had numerous hits (including 2017,) “Icy Grl,” 2019’s “My Type,”The 2020 summer anthem “Tap In”Saweetie achieved a new level in fame when she teamed with Doja Cat to create the infectious bop in January “Best Friend.”

Their collaboration was Instantly embrace onlineand peaked at No. 14 on Billboard Hot 100. Saweetie was awarded her first MTV Video Music Award. Certified two-times platinum by the RIAA.

The single helped to create hype for Saweetie’s third EP. “Pretty Summer Playlist: Season 1,”She released it in April. Her debut studio album is also available. “Pretty Bitch Music.”

The 28-year old rapper continued to perform. HostingThe MTV Europe Music Awards are PerformOn “Saturday Night Live”November saw her star-onthe-rise status cement.

Artists are ineligible if they’ve already received Grammy recognition as a performer — but not as a producer or songwriter

Billboard reported previously that many of 2021’s top stars weren’t included in the final list. 463 Artists EligibleThis year, it includes “Industry Baby”Jack Harlow is a rapper “Telepatía” singer Kali Uchis.

These artists were ineligible as they had received Grammy nominations previously. Harlow’s most popular single “What’s Poppin” was nominated last year for best rap performance while Uchis was nominated for best R&B performance in 2018 for her feature on Daniel Caesar’s “Get You.”Her feature on KAYTRANADA’s KAYTRANADA won her the best dance recording award in 2021. “10%.”

Grammy nominations for work behind the scenes are not disqualifying.

billie eilish finneas grammys

Billie Eilish, Finneas O’Connell during the 2021 Grammy Awards.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images of The Recording Academy


O’Connell was nominated because he was previously only a nominee. RecognizedHis work as a producer and cowriter with his sister Billie Eilish.

His best new album nomination specifically mentions his solo career in FINNEAS (eventhough He saidHe is rooting for Olivia Rodrigo to win in the category’s clear lead.

O’Connell releases his debut solo album “Optimist”He released several popular singles in the eligibility period shortly after the cutoff. This includes one of 2020’s most memorable songs. “Can’t Wait to Be Dead.”

Ashe also featured him on his acclaimed single “Till Forever Falls Apart” in March 2021, which The top 20 on Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart.

The 64th Annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast live from Los Angeles’ Staples Center on January 31, 2022.

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