Rolling Stone India’s Predictions for Grammys 2024

It’s Grammy week and Rolling Stone India’s own David Britto (DB), Anurag Tagat (AT) and Amit Vaidya (AV) discuss this year’s nominees, the likely winners and who they wished in an ideal world would win.  

Will India take home the night’s most anticipated prize with PM Narendra Modi following the footsteps of Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama? Yep. Besides, you know, musicians, this year’s Grammys include a surprise nod for Modi. Who cares about SZA or Olivia Rodrigo when our country’s pride is on the line! 

While we sorta kid, as has become the routine, we are thrilled to look at this year’s Grammy nominations and give our picks for who should win and will win.  

Song of the Year 

• “A&W” – Jack Antonoff, Lana Del Rey & Sam Dew, songwriters (Lana Del Rey)
• “Anti-Hero” – Jack Antonoff & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)
• “Butterfly” – Jon Batiste & Dan Wilson, songwriters (Jon Batiste)
• “Dance the Night” (from Barbie the Album) – Caroline Ailin, Dua Lipa, Mark Ronson & Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Dua Lipa)
• “Flowers” – Miley Cyrus, Gregory Aldae Hein & Michael Pollack, songwriters (Miley Cyrus)
• “Kill Bill” – Rob Bisel, Carter Lang & Solána Rowe, songwriters (SZA)
• “vampire” – Daniel Nigro & Olivia Rodrigo, songwriters (Oliva Rodrigo)
• “What Was I Made For?” [from the motion picture Barbie] – Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas O’Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish)

Will Win:  

AV: It’s a songwriter’s award. I actually think this will go to Taylor Swift despite very stiff competition. Although there are so many women, it may just go to Jon Batiste.  

AT: The Recording Academy has often swung wide in this category but it’s not been wholly unpredictable. I’d go with Jack Antonoff’s work with either Lana Del Rey or Taylor Swift.  

DB: Although this category is focused on a song, I think with the impact Barbie had on pop culture, Dua Lipa might just snag this one.  

Should Win:  

AV: For the first time I actually think Billie Eilish should win this category.  

AT: It would be cool to see SZA grab this category! 

DB: I’d like for Jon Batiste to this home.  

Best New Artist 

• Gracie Abrams
• Fred again..
• Ice Spice
• Jelly Roll
• Coco Jones
• Noah Kahan
• Victoria Monét
• The War and Treaty

Will Win:  

AV: Such an interesting list. I think Victoria Monét wins but Jelly Roll would be the surprise.  

AT: It feels like Ice Spice might be a favorite here, or Noah Kahan even! 

DB: Yepm got to agree with Ice Spice.  

Should Win:  

AV: Noah Kahan 

AT: Victoria Monét for me.  

DB: Jelly Roll 

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical 

• Jack Antonoff
• Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II
• Hit-Boy
• Metro Boomin
• Daniel Nigro

Will Win:  

AV: Jack Antonoff for Lana & Taylor this year.   

AT: I agree, it feels like an easy walk to the podium for Jack Antonoff.  

DB: Can’t look past Antonoff.  

Should Win:  

AV: Jack Antonoff.  

AT: It would be amazing to see someone like Metro Boomin take it home, just for being the workhorse in hip-hop that he’s been.  

DB: Jack Antonoff for me.  

Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical 

• Edgar Barrera
• Jessie Jo Dillon
• Shane McAnally
• Theron Thomas
• Justin Tranter

Will Win:  

AV: First time category! Would be thrilled to see Edgar Barrera win here! 

AT: Theron Thomas seems to have really knocked it out of the park with some diverse artists here. I think he’ll win! 

DB: Edgar Barrera would be a fun pick for this one.  

Should Win:  

AV: Tranter is probably the real hitmaker here this year so I’m going with him.  

AT: That’s true but I’m gonna flip it here and put your pick Edgar Barrera in the ‘should win’ bracket.  

DB: Possibly Jessie Jo Dillon? 

Best Pop Vocal Album 

• chemistry – Kelly Clarkson

• Endless Summer Vacation – Miley Cyrus
• GUTS – Olivia Rodrigo
• – (Subtract) – Ed Sheeran
• Midnights – Taylor Swift

Will Win:  

AV: I think it comes down to Swift or Rodrigo – I’m thinking Swift.  

AT: This one’s going to go to Taylor Swift, anything else would be a surprise.  

DB: Hands down Taylor Swift here.  

Should Win:  

AV: Olivia Rodrigo – was the better album.  

AT: I agree, it’s GUTS for me that ought to win.  

DB: Would be cool to see Kelly Clarkson win this though.  

Best Pop Dance Recording 

• “Baby Don’t Hurt Me” – David Guetta, Anne-Marie & Coi Leray
• “Miracle” – Calvin Harris Featuring Ellie Goulding
• “Padam Padam” – Kylie Minogue
• “One in a Million” – Bebe Rexha & David Guetta
• “Rush” – Troye Sivan

Will Win:  

AT: It feels like Troye Sivan really honed in on something stellar with “Rush,” but then again there are stalwart producers like Calvin Harris and David Guetta, so my guess is Guetta.  

AV: Another new category! Happy so long as David Guetta does NOT win. I think they’ll give this to Troye Sivan.  

DB: Chanced of Guetta winning are higher, think he might just pick this one up.  

Should Win:  

AV: Kylie Minogue. Padam 

AT: Seconded, Kylie Minogue’s “Padam” deserves it! 

DB: The Kylie comeback is on! 

Best Rock Album 

• But Here We Are – Foo Fighters
• Starcatcher – Greta Van Fleet
• 72 Seasons – Metallica
• This Is Why – Paramore
• In Times New Roman… – Queens of the Stone Age

Will Win:  

AV: Ugh. Foo Fighters. Love them but not their best album.  

AT: It’s a close one between Foo Fighters and Paramore for me. I think it will go to Foo Fighters! 

DB: I think the fact that the Foos album was made out of grief, it stands out in many ways, and the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Famers have a great record in this category, so I don’t see anyone getting past them.  

Should Win:  

AV: Paramore! 

AT: Greta Van Fleet would surprise us all, because it was indeed a killer album.  

DB: Foo Fighters  

Best Melodic Rap Performance 

• “Sittin’ on Top of the World” – Burna Boy Featuring 21 Savage
• “Attention” – Doja Cat
• “Spin Bout U” – Drake & 21 Savage
• “All My Life” – Lil Durk Featuring J. Cole
• “Low” – SZA

Will Win:  

AT: SZA’s a top contender and she’ll probably cement her night’s awards tally with wins in exactly these kind of categories.  

AV: I think SZA wins even though the other tracks are better.  

DB: I’m going with Doja Cat for this one.  

Should Win:  

DB: I suppose SZA in this case.  

AV: Doja. “Attention” really proved she could. 

AT: SZA, still for me.  

Best Alternative Jazz Album 

• Love In Exile – Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, Shahzad Ismaily
• Quality Over Opinion – Louis Cole
• SuperBlue: The Iridescent Spree – Kurt Elling, Charlie Hunter, SuperBlue
• Live at the Piano – Cory Henry
• The Omnichord Real Book – Meshell Ndegeocello

Will Win:  

AT: Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer and Shahzad Ismaily crafted a powerful album with Love In Exile. I think the Grammys will recognize that.  

AV: The Academy has been loving Arooj Aftab of late, so I’ll place a safe bet here. 

DB: I really enjoyed Cory Henry’s album, that’s my winner.  

Should Win:  

DB: Louis Cole would be interesting.  

AT: I just heard Cory Henry’s album and it sounds powerful yet simple. The kind of stuff that shouldn’t go unnoticed at the Grammys.  

AV: Meshell Ndegeocello – a completely underrated career and this album was fantastic!  

Best Country Duo/Group Performance 

• Dierks Bentley ft. Billy Strings – High Note
• Brothers Osborne – Nobody’s Nobody
• Zach Bryan ft. Kacey Musgraves – I Remember Everything
• Vince Gill & Paul Franklin – Kissing Your Picture (Is So Cold)
• Jelly Roll with Lainey Wilson – Save Me
• Carly Pearce ft. Chris Stapleton – We Don’t Fight Anymore

Will Win:  

AV: Such a strangely competitive category. I hope it’s Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves – the track really deserved Song and Record nods too.  

AT: I had to catch up on this category and it sounds like Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson will clinch it.  

DB: The Bryan-Musgraves collab is fantastic, seems a sure winner.  

Should Win:  

DB: Bryan-Musgraves 

AT: I’m gonna go with Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves, even though there are other deserving artists as well.  

AV: Zach Bryan & Kacey Musgraves 

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album  

• Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer ft. Rakesh Chaurasia – As We Speak

• House of Waters – On Becoming
• Bob James – Jazz Hands
• Julian Lage – The Layers
• Ben Wendel – All One

Will Win:  

AT: We’re likely to see some Indian winners this year and it might just come in this category, for As We Speak.  

DB: Gotta root for the home team here — As We Speak 

AV: I’m going with our own Zakir Hussain and company for this 

Should Win:  

AV: I think Ben Wendel might take this one! 

AT: It would be really cool to see House of Waters take this one, for making a versatile record.  

DB: Bob James 

Best Global Music Album  

• Susana Baca- Epifanías
• Bokanté – History
• Burna Boy – I Told Them…

• Davido – Timeless
• Shakti – This Moment

Will Win:  

AT: True to the category, there’s so much diversity here that it’s tough to pick. This one might go to Bokanté.  

DB: Burna Boy all the way.  

AV: Burna Boy – just no possible way he doesn’t 

Should Win:  

DB: Shakti.  

AT: Shakti’s album comes after so many years and still does well to feel like they picked up just where they left off. They deserve it.  

AV: Davido – the better album 

Record of the Year 

• “Worship” – Jon Batiste
• “Not Strong Enough” – boygenius
• “Flowers” – Miley Cyrus
• “What Was I Made For?” [from the motion picture “Barbie”] – Billie Eilish
• “On My Mama” – Victoria Monét
• “vampire” – Olivia Rodrigo
• “Anti-Hero” – Taylor Swift

• “Kill Bill” – SZA

Will Win:  

AT: It’s crazy to see all these amazing songs in the same category but I guess that’s the point of it! I’m gonna say it’s a toss-up between Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift.  

DB: This is really difficult. But if I had to pick, I’ll go with Taylor Swift.  

AV: Kill Bill – and it should 

Should Win:  

DB: Billie Eilish for me.  

AV: “On My Mama” – I know the nomination is enough but still… 

AT: Billie Eilish.  

Album of the Year 

• World Music Radio – Jon Batiste
• the record – boygenius
• Endless Summer Vacation – Miley Cyrus
• Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd – Lana Del Rey
• The Age of Pleasure – Janelle Monáe
• GUTS – Olivia Rodrigo
• Midnights – Taylor Swift
• SOS – SZA

Will Win:  

AV: Jon Batiste – everyone else will cancel each other out.  

DB: I agree, Jon Batiste. 

AT: Jon Batiste really does tick all the boxes for a Grammy win with World Music Radio.  

Should Win:  

AT: GUTS was amazing, so I feel like if a rock album should get it, it would be that one or Boygenius.  

AV: SOS – SZA, most impact and would be well-deserved 

DB: Janelle Monáe.  

Best Global Music Performance  

• Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer & Shahzad Ismaily – Shadow Forces
• Burna Boy – Alone
• Davido – Feel
• Silvana Estrada – Milagro Y Disastre
• Falu & Gaurav Shah (ft. PM Narendra Modi) – Abundance In Millets
• Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer & Zakir Hussain ft. Rakesh Chaurasia – Pashto
• Ibrahim Maalouf ft. Cimafunk & Tank and the Bangas – Todo Colores

Will Win:  

AV: Finally, the most hyped category of the year! I think this is going to Burna Boy. Sorry Modi fans!  

DB: The King of Afrofusion – Burna Boy! 

AT: There might be a lot of lobbying for the song featuring PM Modi, but Burna Boy’s going to come out on top here.  

Should Win:  

DB: Burna Boy 

AT: Burna Boy, still.  

AV: Todo Colores is kind of amazing. Would love to see that win.