Album of the Year: Eligible 2025 Grammy Contenders
Wrapping up with the VMAs, artists, and fans are sitting at the edge of their seats as they await the Grammy nominations for the big four: Song, Record, Album, and Best New Artist of the Year.
With many artists coming to rise, making a comeback or simply continuing their perpetual success, the Grammy’s main goal is to recognize formidable achievements within the music industry.
To determine an artist’s eligibility, qualifiers decide whether they fit several criteria. The first numerical rule reduces an artist’s eligibility for a Grammy to the amount of releases they have made. A minimum of five singles, tracks, or a whole album must have been produced. The maximum is thirty previously released singles, tracks, or three albums.
Another factor is that the music was distributed between September of the year before (2023) to August of the current year’s voting deadline (2024). In addition to this, to qualify as being distributed, the single/album must be sold in physical stores or made accessible for download with the appropriate metadata credits.
So who is up for the running? Here’s Glitter Magazine’s foreseeable forecast for the leading contenders at the 2025 Grammy Awards.
grammys 2025 is about to be the messiest day in history pic.twitter.com/eoZ18rBgMF
— bratgirl core (@bratgirlcore) August 24, 2024
Album of the Year
Taylor Swift, The Tortured Poets Department: Taylor Swift’s eleventh studio album debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. With countless re-releases and record-breaking streams, the 14-time Grammy winner isn’t far from further nominations.
Charlie XCX, Brat: This past year, the internet was taken over by “Brat Summer,” celebrating English singer, and songwriter, Charlie XCX. For more than ten years, Charli XCX has been producing music that appears on the Hot 100, yet no project has raised her to the status of a household name like Brat has.
Ariana Grande, Eternal Sunshine: Ariana Grande’s seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine, explores healing oneself and post-divorce sadness. Nominated five years ago for Thank U, Next, many fans speculate that she will likely be nominated again due to the high praise and success of her most recent album.
Chappell Roan, The Rise and Fall of a Midewest Princess: Born Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, this rising pop idol has worked her way to the Billboard Hot 100, gaining 45 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Working on her craft for over seven years, the Olivia Rodrigo opener, turned star has been a hot topic within the media for the past year. With her unique style, incredible vocal range, and hyper-confident personality, it can be assumed that her rise to fame will only continue.
Beyoncé, Cowboy Carter: Beyoncé produced her eighth studio album this year, which is comprised of a body of work that is not just captivating but also incredibly relevant to society, amplifying a conversation that was already taking place about race within country music. Since Ray Charles’ nomination for Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, if nominated she could become the first Black musician to receive a country album nomination.
Billie Eilish, Hit Me Hard and Soft: Nine-time Grammy award winner, Billie Eilish continues to set the bar straight within the music industry as she released her third studio album in May of this year. As one of the most nominated artists at this time, it would be no surprise that her name will appear again in the upcoming Grammy’s.
Best New Artist
Chappell Roan, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess: Her latest album demonstrates her exceptional ability to create distinct music with a touch of nostalgic pop. Audiences and critics alike have been drawn to her strong lyricism, unfiltered emotion, and dynamic vocal range, which has helped boost her fame within the past year.
Sabrina Carpenter, Short n’ Sweet: With her hand in the game for nearly a decade, this actor-turned-pop sensation creates catchy pop sounds with clever and witty lyrics. Thanks to her newest album, her popularity has skyrocketed and continues to grow.
Benson Boone, Fireworks & Rollerblades: Benson Boone’s passionate songwriting, genre-blending, and compelling craft establish his status as one of music’s most promising new artists.
Shaboozey, Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going: Featured on Beyonce’s newest album, 29-year-old, Shaboozey, has reached number 5 on the Billboards Hot 200, with his hit single, “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” making it to number 1 on the Hot 100.
Record of the Year
Sabrina Carpenter, “Espresso”/”Please Please Please:” The song “Espresso” has remained at the top of the charts all while going viral on the internet. Holding the top spot of the Hot 100, the song was briefly replaced by her second single from her upcoming album, “Please Please Please.”
Billie Eilish, “Lunch:” If nominated for this category, it would be Eilish’s fifth mention. Previously nominated for “Happier Than Ever” and “What Was I Made For?” Billie won the award for “Bad Guy” and “Everything I Wanted.” With great success at such a young age, nominations are set to be announced before Eilish’s 23 birthday.
Chappell Roan, “Good Luck, Babe:” The viral sensation, Chappell Roan, released her follow-up single, “Good Luck, Babe” to her debut album earlier this year. It was Roan’s Billboard Hot 100 debut back in April, and it shows no sign of leaving.
Beyoncé, “Texas Hold’ Em:” Her most recent track, “Texas Hold ‘Em,” became her ninth top song as a soloist when it peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The top 6 favorites to win Record of the Year at the 2025 #GRAMMYs, according to @GoldDerby’s combined odds:
— Talk of the Charts (@talkofthecharts) June 25, 2024
Beyoncé – Texas Hold ‘Em
Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso
Ariana Grande – we can’t be friends (wait for your love)
Taylor Swift & Post Malone – Fortnight
Billie Eilish -… pic.twitter.com/0O6jDfDHzW
Song of the Year
Hoizer, “Too Sweet:” Hozier has only received two Grammy nominations overall. A nomination for”Too Sweet” from his most recent album would be his first since “Take Me To Church” lost out on Song of the Year in 2014.
Billie Eilish, “Birds of a Feather:” Hitting the top of the Global 200, “Birds of a Feather” has surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify as of September 2024.
Kendrick Lamar, “Not Like Us:” Pulitzer Prize winner, Kendrick Lamar, released “Not Like Us” in May of 2024. In a year filled with pop singers like Sabrina and Chappell Roan, it’s one of the few rap songs at the top of the charts.
Taylor Swift & Post Malone, “Fortnight:” Reaching number 1 on global charts, the song featuring Post Malone is part of her new and well-admired album, The Tortured Poets Department.
Announcing on November 10, there is no doubt that the Grammy nominations will be filled with breakout artists, established idols, and overall talented individuals with distinct music.
