Going for the gold gramophone

The eligibility cut-off for the Grammy awards ended September 30, so that now means we can start predicting albums, songs and artistes who made the cut and who can certainly win a few awards. Here are some our top predictions

Adele

Her record breaking album 25 was released in November 2015 and so was not eligible for the 2016 Grammys, which means that the 2017 Grammys are going to be huge for Adele. Or like Donald Trump says, “Yuuuuuuge!” She has a great chance of joining Taylor Swift as a female artist who has won two Album of the Year Grammy wins. Adele’s obligatory single Hello will surely bring a Song of the Year nomination and quite possibly a Record of the Year nod as well. Furthermore, both Hello and When We Were Young are strong candidates for Best Pop Solo Performance. Adele is definitely going to be the artist to beat in 2017.

David Bowie

If anyone can unseat Adele, it’s David Bowie, who passed away on January 10 just days after releasing his swan song masterpiece Blackstar. Amazingly, David Bowie has only won a single Grammy. Although it’s sad he won’t be here to enjoy it, it’s looking like the Recording Academy will give Ziggy what he deserves in 2017. There’s a good chance Blackstar will see an Album of the Year nomination. The last AOTY to be given posthumously was for Ray Charles’ Genius Loves Company. The song Blackstar could also join Adele in the Record of the Year and Song of the Year categories.

BeyoncÃ©

When a song causes a lot of controversy it usually means that it’s either really good or really bad; there’s really no grey area here. BeyoncÃ©’s performance of Formation at the Super Bowl was amazing and the song is as well. It is a safe bet that song will bring in nominations for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Solo Performance.

Coldplay

It’s been a big year for Brit rockers Coldplay. They released their album, A Head Full of Dreams, on December 4, 2015 and headlined the Super Bowl halftime show on February 7. They will also be embarking on their massive A Head Full of Dreams world tour in 2016. A Head Full of Dreams could see an Album of the Year nomination and the albums lead single, Adventure of a Lifetime could also bring in Record of the Year and Song of the Year nominations. A Head Full of Dreams is a shoo-in for Best Rock Album, same for Adventure of a Lifetime in the Best Rock Performance or Best Pop/Duo Performance categories.

Other Artists

Drake, Future, and Kanye West are likely to dominate the hip-hop categories. While Kanye probably won’t see an Album of the Year nod for The Life of Pablo, he will give Drake a run for his money in the hip-hop categories. Rihanna’s ANTI and subsequent singles will make a strong showing, and her collaboration with Drake on Work will no doubt receive some attention. One of the biggest stories at the 2016 Grammys was Justin Bieber winning his first with Skrillex and Diplo. 2017 could be his big year at the Grammys. It seems Grammy voters are warming up to Biebs, and his singles Where Are You Now, Sorry, and Love Yourself will be on voters’ minds.

Album of the Year

Adele’s 25 and BeyoncÃ©’s Lemonade will almost certainly score nominations. The question is whether the near-universal commercial appeal of 25 will carry more weight than Lemonade’s social resonance. Though Adele’s album came out back in November 2015 and BeyoncÃ©’s new music didn’t fully take off on radio, both women are flexing their popularity on tour. David Bowie’s Blackstar is considered one of the strongest albums in his magnificent career. The rest of the slate might depend on how voters perceive Bowie’s legacy. If his nomination is seen as filling the “classic rock” slot, then Radiohead’s A Moon Shaped Pool could win out as a more contemporary choice. But if he’s viewed as representing music’s experimental edge, then Grammy favorite Paul Simon might make the cut with his acclaimed Stranger to Stranger. Chance the Rapper’s Coloring Book may have an uphill battle against the bigger-name rap contenders, but a change in Grammy rules makes his highly praised, streaming-only album eligible despite never being sold commercially.

Others in play: Rihanna’s Anti, Coldplay’s A Head Full of Dreams, Justin Bieber’s Purpose and country anti-hero Sturgill Simpson’s A Sailor’s Guide to Earth.

The road to the 2017 Grammys:

Oct. 14, 2016

First ballot mailing

Nov. 4, 2016

First ballot deadline

Nov. 15, 2016

Last day to become a member to vote in final round

Dec. 6, 2016

Nominations announcement

Dec. 14, 2016

Final ballot mailing

Jan. 13, 2017