Music world set for pandemic-era Grammys after devastating year
- The coronavirus pandemic means the normally glitzy gala will be scaled back, like all major awards shows, to a primarily virtual affair
- Grammys organisers are plugging performances as a reason to tune in, bringing in heavyweights including Cardi B, Harry Styles and K-pop boy band BTS
The normally glitzy gala will be scaled back, like all major awards shows, to a primarily virtual affair, with a mix of live and pre-taped performances in keeping with restrictions now commonplace in the coronavirus era, which left the industry flailing and forced the ceremony to be pushed back.
Beyoncé – whose repeated losses in the top categories have stirred heated controversy – leads the pack with nine nods, followed by Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa and Roddy Ricch with six each.
Beyoncé’s sweeping “Black Parade” – released in June amid explosive nationwide anti-racism protests, after another spate of deadly police violence targeting Black Americans – is up for Record and Song of the Year honours.
Many critics nevertheless favour the chances of Lipa, who took a big risk in dropping a sparkly disco ball of a dance album just as the pandemic took hold – a bet that paid off.
