Kanye West and Taylor Swift were among last-minute additions to the Big Four Grammys 2022 categories, according to behind-the-scenes intel obtained by The New York Times. The Recording Academy settled upon its decision to expand those categories to 10 nominees the day before Tuesday’s nomination announcement, The Times reports.
West and Swift joined the Album of the Year shortlist for Donda and Evermore, respectively. Record of the Year added Lil Nas X’s “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” and Abba’s “I Still Have Faith in You,” while Doja Cat and SZA’s “Kiss Me More” and Brandi Carlile’s “Right on Time” joined the Song of the Year ballot. Arooj Aftab and Baby Keem were the additions to Best New Artist.
The Times determined the two latecomers to each category after obtaining a “final” nominees list that had been in circulation before Monday’s decision. That list featured just eight artists in the Big Four categories. Recording Academy President and CEO Harvey Mason, jr. said the expansion would help the Grammys “make room for more music, more artists and more genres, and to embrace the spirit of inclusion,” although he also admitted that the late additions were simply the ninth- and tenth-placed candidates in voting by Academy members.
On Tuesday, Mason also explained the Recording Academy’s rationale behind allowing Marilyn Manson and other alleged sex offenders to be nominated. Follow along with all of Pitchfork’s 2022 Grammys coverage.
