2025 GRAMMYS: CELEBRATION OR CONCERN FOR THE FUTURE OF AN INDUSTRY GROWING LARGER EVERY YEAR
Earlier this month saw, once again, the largest music awards-show full of snubbing and critical acclaim, it’s the 2025 Grammys! Loaded with nominees across big-ticket categories, competition came close – particularly with the presence of Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Billie Eilish, to name a few of the stars present. Additionally, the show acknowledged the recent Los Angeles fires that took place only a month ago, calling out the charity Direct Relief for donations.
Several firsts came with this year’s ceremony, including dedicated ASL interpreters at the premiere provided by the Recording Academy and Beyoncé’s historic eleven award nominations.
Various awards were handed out before the ceremony took off, such as Best Traditional Blues Album going to Swingin’ Live at The Church In Tulsa by The Taj Mahal Sextet and Best Music Video going to Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us”. Lamar’s wins are particularly notable given his appearance as the headliner for the halftime show earlier this month.
Awards such as the Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media faced strong contenders, with Dune: Part Two and Challengers set for nominations – though Hans Zimmer’s work on the former eventually landed in a win for the category.
As the premiere wrapped up, artists like Cardi B presented signature looks wearing a customized Roberto Cavalli FW04 dress. Chappell Roan’s dress from Jean Paul Gaultier’s 2003 couture collection with a print of “Dancer With a Bouquet” featured on it. Other looks by Jaden Smith called to mind Willem Dafoe’s look for GQ Italia back in 2023.
Comments from other performers such as Alberto Montenegro of Rawayana and Sheila E. left a notable mark on the red carpet, addressing the current deportations occurring in the United States.
Kicking off the ceremony was a performance by several of the nominated artists this year, including Yolanda Adams and Scott Hoying, of “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” Opening remarks then further dedicated the show to first responders with a speech by Recording Academy’s CEO Harvey Mason Jr.
Once the ceremony properly commenced, Billie Eilish performed a live version of their multi-award-nominated hit “Birds of a Feather” from Hit Me Hard and Soft, also up for awards this year.
Following suit, Sabrina Carpenter then performed a revitalized show-tune version of “Espresso” and “Please Please Please,” calling upon the Old Hollywood style Carpenter is known for. Jazz instrumentation accompanied the first verse before jumping into the modern pop chorus, joined by a group of dancers clad in light blue who tapped the night into the first major award presentation.
Best Rap Album of the Year
The nominees included: J-Cole’s Might Delete Later, Common & Pete Rock’s The Auditorium Vol. 1, Doechi’s Alligator Bites Never Heal, Eminem’s The Deal Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce), and Future & Metro Boomin’s We Don’t Trust You.
The win went to Doechii, who recently also performed a live Tiny Desk Performance, for their album Alligator Bites Never Heal. Doechii thanked several artists in their address, including Lauryn Hill and Cardi-B for the award.
Best Pop Vocal Album
Nominees for this award included: Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet, Billie Eilish Hit Me Hard and Soft, Ariana Grande’s eternal sunshine, Chappell Roan’s The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess, and Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department.
The win went to Sabrina Carpenter, who thanked the academy while noting that she felt lucky to “come together and do something so special and beautiful and celebrate music.”
Chappell Roan then performed hit song “Pink Pony Club,” boasting a giant pony onstage and several scarecrow clowns, upping the ante on theatrics since her last performance of the song on SNL in November of last year.
Best Country Album
Nominees included in the run for this award: Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, Post Malone’s F-1 Trillion, Kacey Mustgraves’ Deeper Well, Chris Stapleton’s Higher, and Lainey Wilson’s Whirlwind.
The win went to Beyoncé, who was reportedly not expecting to win the Grammy for the genre – in spite of the numerous nominations received this year.
Following the award, Benson Boone, Doechii, Teddy Swims, and Shaboozey performed together in a Best New Artist medley – riffing songs such as “Beautiful Things”, “Catfish”, “Denial is a River”, “Lose Control”, ending with “Good News” and “A Bar Song”.
Best New Artist
This award had several nominees: Benson Boone, Sabrina Carpenter, Doechii, Khruangbin, RAYE, Chappell Roan, Shaboozey, and Teddy Swims.
The well-deserved win went to Chappell Roan who went on to then accept the award, offer a few thank yous, and call out record labels by stating that “record labels need to treat their artists as valuable employees with a livable wage and health insurance and protection. Labels, we got you, but do you got us?”
Following the award was a performance of “California Dreamin’” by duo Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga as a tribute to Los Angeles wildfire survivors. Additionally, The Weeknd performed tracks “Cry for Me” and “Timeless” after Harvey Mason Jr. acknowledged criticisms the awards show has received over the years for its voting process.
Best Latin Pop Album
Nominees included for this award are: Anitta’s Funk Generation, Luis Fonsi’s El Viaje, Kany García’s GARCÍA, Shakira’s Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, and Kali Uchis ORQUÍDEAS.
The win went to Shakira, who appeared on her birthday, and dedicated the award to “all my immigrant brothers and sisters.”
Tributes then followed shortly after by Cynthia Ervio, Herbie Hancock, Lainey Wilson, Jacob Collier, Stevie Wonder, and Janelle Monáe to legendary producer and songwriter Quincy Jones – who died early November of last year. Will Smith also presented, remarking “Quincy taught us all that life is a feast, and you don’t stop til you get enough.”
Best Pop Duo / Group Performance
Nominees for this award included: Gracie Abram’s “us.” featuring Taylor Swift, Beyoncé’s “LEVII’S JEANS” featuring Post Malone, Charli xcx and Billie Eilish’s “Guess,” Ariana Grande and Brandy & Monica’s “the boy is mine,” and Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars’ “Die With A Smile.”
The win went to Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, who congratulated each other for their respective additions to their discography and legacy. Lady Gaga additionally spoke about transgender issues stating that “trans people are not invisible. Trans people deserve love. The queer community deserves to be lifted up.”
The traditional In Memoriam performance then played out by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, joined by Grace Bowers. Artists such as Quincy Jones, Adam Lewis, Claudia Perry, and Imogen Moorsom were counted among those who passed away in the previous year and recognized for their role in the industry.
Record of the Year
Nominees for record of the year included: The Beatles’ “Now and Then,” Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em,” Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso,” Charli xcx’s “360,” Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather,” Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!,” and Taylor Swift’s “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone.
The well earned win went to Kendrick Lamar’s iconic “Not Like Us.” Lamar then dedicated the award to Los Angeles, along with his late aunt.
Shakira then performed a medley of her works including “Ojos Asi” and “Sessions,” after being introduced by Gloria Estefan. Shakira commented that it felt like a “full circle moment” after the start of her mainstream career 25 years ago.
Between performances and the next award, speakers such as Alicia Key, who won the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, spoke up about the controversies surrounding DEI in the United States, stating that “it’s strange we don’t think of women as producers… but female producers have always powered the industry” and that “DEI is not a threat, it’s a gift.”
Song of the Year
Nominees for this award included: Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” Billie Eliish’s “Birds of a Feather,” Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile,” Taylor Swift’s Fortnight featuring Post Malone, Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!,” Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” Sabrina Carpenter’s “Please Please Please,” and Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em.”
To perhaps little surprise following the win at record of the year, the recipient was Kendrick Lamar and the song “Not Like Us.” Lamar provided a brief comment on the award, saying “at the end of the day, nothing more powerful than rap music. We are the culture.”
Following the award, Charli xcx performed two cuts off critically acclaimed “Brat,” including “Von Dutch” and “Guess.” The performance featured noted friends of Charli, including Julia Fox, while also paying homage to the stylistic motifs of the music videos for both albums with a confetti of underwear and fluid camera work.
After the performance, firefighters from the Los Angeles area appeared on stage to thank the Recording Academy and those who donated that night.
Album of the Year
Nominees for this award included: André 3000’s New Blue Sun, Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, Sabrina Carpenter’s Short N’ Sweet, Charli xcx’s Brat, Jacob Collier’s Djesse Vol. 4, Billie Elish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft, Chappell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, and Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department.
A well deserved, and surprising, win went to Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter. She thanked the Los Angeles firefighters, and then addressed her previous losses in the category while thanking the ceremony and all members of the industry. “I hope we just keep pushing forward opening doors,” she commented.
With the conclusion of the ceremony, the music industry is geared for a tumultuous year – as it reels from calls to improve the benefits artists receive, questions about the voting process, and the increasingly tense political situation in the United States and its effects on BIPOC artists. What shape the Grammys will take next year is uncertain and what the industry will do to integrate any of the calls to action seen this week is even less certain.
