The 2020 GRAMMYs
It's become an annual tradition that we make a playlist with the best of the best of the year. What's the best? We go by end of year lists and then of course the Grammys.
This year's Grammys were off to a rocky start though, with scandals rocking the Recording Academy to the level that Grammy-hoarders Jay-Z, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift (52 Grammys combined) decided to skip the show. That is nothing to say of the helicopter tragedy that cost nine athletes their lives in California, including basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna.
But as they say, in this very business, the show does indeed have to go on. Here we see two of the most nominated artists this year: Ariana Grande (5 nominations) and Billie Eilish (6 nominations) greet each other outside the Staples Center, where the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards were held.
The Performances & The Wins
Alicia Keys' ability to hold it together as grief loomed over the entire entertainment industry has been lauded. Here's one of her charming performances (she was also a host!) where she narrates what will happen at the Grammys as a parody of Lewis Capaldi's Someone You Loved.
Seeing Billie Eilish win, again and again, reminded us of the line from NPH's 2013 Tony performance that went "nothing is bigger and better [than] seeing a beginner freak out on a win on a first nomination". Billie Eilish did not seem to know how to handle all these wins, she took home awards for all the big four categories.
This was hands down the best performance at the GRAMMYs. Don't just take our word for it, it was the number one trending on Rolling Stone magazine and is one of the most talked-about performances of the night.
It's not hard to see why. "Why the fuck am I praying anyway, If nobody's listening" she belts out, and if the false start and the single tear streaming down her face don't switch your emotion chip, maybe learning that this song was recorded four days before her overdose in 2018 will.
In our binging, ehm, researching of this power-duo over the whole of 2019 we once came across Finneas answering the question of why he liked working with his sister. "Because I believe every words she sings" was the response. Here's a perfect example of what he means.
Other Notable Moments
- Billie said Ariana should have won Album of the Year for thank u, next in her acceptance speech, while Ariana just waved her off
- Lizzo took home 3 statues, for Truth Hurts as Best Pop Solo Performance, Jerome as Best Traditional R&B Performance, and her album Cuz I Love You also won Best Urban Contemporary Album.
- Michelle Obama won for the audio version of her book, Becoming.
- Nipsey Hussle won not one but two posthumous Grammys
- Boyz II Men jumped in at the last minute in an opening tribute to Kobe
- Rosalía's rise to stardom continues, she took home Best Latin Rock Album for El Mal Querer
- Gary Clark Jr. took home a Grammy
- Lil Nas X finally performed Old Town Road live, with help from Billy Ray Cyrus of course, but also BTS and many other stars
- Lana Del Rey didn't take home an award, although her album NFR has been the most critically acclaimed album of 2019
- Neither did Ariana Grande, although she also had one of the most popular performances and a great start of the year with her blockbuster thank u, next
- Anderson .Paak took home two Grammys for Best R&B Album’ & ‘Best R&B Performance’ for “Come Home” feat. Andre 3000
- Tyler, the Creator wins for Best Rap Album
Browse Grammy-winners (and nominees) on tour near you
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Sat Oct 31 2026 19:00
Nightmare on Channelside
Benchmark International Arena
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Sun Nov 01 2026 17:00
RNB X Live in Dallas
The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
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Sat Dec 12 2026 12:00
Spilt Milk Canberra | 2026
Exhibition Park In Canberra
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Sun Dec 13 2026 11:30
Spilt Milk Gold Coast | 2026
Gold Coast Sports & Leisure Centre
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Sat Dec 19 2026 12:00
Spilt Milk Geelong | 2026
GMHBA Stadium
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Sun Dec 20 2026 12:00
Spilt Milk Perth | 2026
Claremont Showground
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Tue Feb 09 2027 18:00
Cage The Elephant
Klub Studio
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Mon Feb 15 2027 20:00
Cage The Elephant - Dying In Reverse Tour
AFAS Live
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Wed Feb 17 2027 21:00
CAGE THE ELEPHANT
Fabrique
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Sat Feb 20 2027 19:30
CAGE THE ELEPHANT
Zenith Paris - La Villette
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Mon Feb 22 2027 19:00
Cage The Elephant
Depot Cardiff
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Tue Feb 23 2027 19:00
Cage The Elephant
O2 Academy Leeds
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Thu Feb 25 2027 19:00
Cage The Elephant
O2 Academy Glasgow
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Fri Feb 26 2027 19:00
Cage The Elephant
O2 Academy Birmingham
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Sun Feb 28 2027 19:00
Cage The Elephant
O2 Victoria Warehouse Manchester
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Mon Mar 01 2027 18:30
Cage The Elephant
Alexandra Palace
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Fri Mar 12 2027 00:00
Lollapalooza 2027 @ Parque O'Higgins
Parque O'Higgins
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Fri Mar 12 2027 00:00
Lollapalooza 2027 @ Hipódromo de San Isidro
Hipódromo de San Isidro
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Thu Mar 18 2027 22:00
Lollapalooza 2027 @ Autódromo José Carlos Pace (Interlagos)
Autódromo José Carlos Pace (Interlagos)
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Thu Jun 03 2027 00:00
Primavera Sound Festival 2027 @ Parc del Fòrum
Parc Del Forum
What else is on our RADAR:
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PLAYLIST
PLAYLIST • Best of 2018
The list is inspired by the GRAMMY nominations, end of year lists, and our own discoveries.
Tue Feb 05 2019 11:48
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The Magic of the Music in 'A Star is Born'
If like me, you have friends who are obsessed with Lady Gaga, you may have been dragged to the cinema to see 'A Star is Born'.
Tue Jan 29 2019 11:46
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Pink Floyd in Venice, 1989
The Most Picturesque Concert of All Time?
Pink Floyd in Venice, 1989
Tue Jan 22 2019 15:06
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#NewMusicFriday
What a Wonderful Start of the Music Year 2019
When one #NewMusicFriday delivers: Maggie Rogers // Alice Merton // Ariana Grande
Fri Jan 18 2019 13:49
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in the words of one Nathan Hubbard
What Ticketing Will Look Like in 2019
Continued change in the pricing model, which shifts the sales curve for ticket sales.
Wed Jan 02 2019 14:34
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Top Acts benefit from better ticket price strategies
2018: Amazing Year for Touring
Top Acts benefit from better ticket price strategies
Wed Dec 19 2018 11:38
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Why Alice Merton Won't Be a One Hit Wonder
With Swiftian charm and Welchian sound – there's a lot to love about Merton
Wed Nov 28 2018 12:05
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Taylor Swift's fourth studio album
Six Years of Taylor Swift's RED
I don't think anyone envisioned when country darling Taylor Swift released 'RED' in 2012 that she was also placing herself in a situation from going from country sweetheart to world domination.
Mon Oct 22 2018 16:47
- Frequency > Awareness > Familiarity > Trust > Profit The Paradox of Awareness Danny Quick works at Ryan Leslie's Superphone, the platform where fans and audiences can reach their idols via the humble text message. Quick wrote this fantastic article "How to Hack The Music Industry: The Paradox of Awareness" on Medium's Cuepoint. Wed Oct 17 2018 11:10
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this time: Dream Wife's Headlining N-American Tour
a gig worth (go)going to
this time: Dream Wife's Headlining N-American Tour with special guest RUSSO
Mon Oct 15 2018 19:09