Angie Martoccio
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Jason Kempin/Getty Images; Elena Di Vincenzo/Archivio Elena Di Vincenzo/Mondadori Portfolio/ Getty Images; Matthew Baker/Getty Images Leading up to the Grammy nominations on Nov. 16, “Rolling Stone” is breaking down 11 different categories. For each, we’re predicting the nominees, as well as who will (and who should) win on Grammy night.
The key factor to winning Best New Artist at the Grammys? Longevity. “Are you somebody that is just going to have a quick little moment, or are you going to be somebody that pushes music to a more interesting place?” Tom Poleman, the Chief Programming Officer of iHeartMedia, tells Rolling Stone. “I think there’s a lot of potential people who are doing that right now.”
Poleman is right. There’s a powerhouse group of contenders for Best New Artist this year, and many of them have been working towards this moment for a while. Geese, this generation’s most exciting rock band, have been cultivating their fanbase for a decade, while Slayyyter’s debut album (Troubled Paradise) arrived five years ago. But with albums like Geese’s Getting Killed and Slayyyter’s Wor$t Girl in America, the world is finally catching on, and so are the Grammys.
“The whole field that we’re talking about, they’re in this category for a reason,” says Alex Tear, SiriusXM’s Vice President of Music Programming. “They’re not manufactured. It’s a very diverse group, and they’re so very talented, and they’ve done the work. So it’s great to see that they’re being recognized.”
Best New Artist — Our Predictions
Ella Langley Geese Slayyyter Bella Kay Audrey Hobert Malcolm Todd Sienna Spiro Ravyn Lenae
Who Will Win?
A country artist hasn’t taken home the Best New Artist award since 2010, after Zac Brown Band. Ella Langley, who broke out with the record-shattering “Choosin’ Texas,” is likely to win this one. “She’s a global beast,” Tear says. “I feel like she’s where the future of country is,” Poleman adds. “Which is really great to see. But then, she also is one of the biggest crossover artists of the year. So she’s not just having a hit, she’s really building a career that goes way beyond just a song that you hear on the radio or streams. It’s somebody that you want to see in concert, somebody that their fan base will engage with on a consistent level. I think you need to underscore the artist part of the category. It’s not just the best new song. It’s somebody who truly connects with a fan base from all angles.”
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Who Should Win?
Audrey Hobert released her debut Who’s the Clown last year, and she recently debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 with her breakout hit “Sue Me.” Her whimsical pop has been gravitating with listeners, and it would be a huge achievement for her to take this home. (As she recently told Rolling Stone, it’s on her mind, as well: “I’m definitely a dreamer, and I’ve loved award shows since I was a child,” she said. “I watch every single one.) Her brother, Malcolm Todd, is a contender for this category as well.
