On the 2024 Grammys, finest new artist winner Victoria Monét’s nomination for report of the 12 months made her the one breakthrough contender to compete in a Huge 3 class (tune, report and album of the 12 months). This 12 months, Chappell Roan, Shaboozey and Benson Boone additionally will comfortably stand proudly alongside veterans who’ve come earlier than. Not solely are they poised to earn noms for finest new artist, they’re in rivalry for main awards — the place nominees doubtless will embrace Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish. Roan and Carpenter are even on monitor to attain bids for the highest prize: album of the 12 months. It’s paying homage to 2020, when new artist contenders included Lizzo, Lil Nas X and winner Eilish, who additionally received album, tune and report of the 12 months. May Chappell do the identical? THR breaks down the newcomers — or considerably new — gunning for the 2025 finest new artist Grammy.
Chappell Roan
Roan is your favourite artist’s favourite artist. Beyoncé, Adele, Girl Gaga, Elton John and SZA are followers of the modern pop singer, whose Lollapalooza efficiency was a must-watch. Her 2023 debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess — eligible for album of the 12 months and finest pop vocal album — continues to achieve new heights on the Billboard charts, and her singles “Good Luck, Babe!” and “Scorching to Go!” are licensed pop smashes. Profitable the perfect new artist honor on the MTV Video Music Awards foreshadows what her Grammy night time would possibly appear like.
Sabrina Carpenter
Ought to Carpenter even be thought of a finest new artist nominee? She launched her sixth album this 12 months, and whereas this has been her greatest 12 months, I’d argue she technically marked her breakthrough over the past Grammy cycle when the bops from Emails I Can’t Ship — “Nonsense” and “Feather” — have been launched. Her eligibility will likely be decided quickly on the Recording Academy’s screening assembly — the place songwriters, producers, musicologists, et al. decide who qualifies for brand spanking new artist and different awards. And if she weasels into the class, her large success with “Espresso,” “Please Please Please” and “Style” may assist her edge out Roan.
Shaboozey
Solely three nation acts have been named finest new artist on the Grammys, and Shaboozey may very well be subsequent. The hybrid additionally may make historical past as a rapper: Solely 5 hip-hop acts have taken the respect. He’s in a very good place to win: He’s featured twice on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, and his anthem, “A Bar Music (Tipsy),” is the 12 months’s longest-running No. 1 hit — and exhibiting no indicators of sobering up. He’s nominated for 2 CMA Awards, and his third album, The place I’ve Been, Isn’t The place I’m Going, continues to carry sturdy within the prime 10 of nation charts.
Megan Moroney
Talking of nation acts, Moroney’s star continues to rise. Like “Tennessee Orange” and “I’m Not Fairly” from her 2023 debut, Fortunate — oft cited as finest nation album of that 12 months — the 26-year-old has a knack for storytelling that showcases her story and voice on Am I Okay? Launched in July, it’s already reached gold standing. She’s nominated for 3 CMA Awards and has collected new artist honors on the ACM and CMT awards.
Benson Boone
His VMA efficiency alone (falsetto and backflips!) of his breakout, “Lovely Issues,” helps him stand out among the many finest new artists. One of the vital profitable songs of the 12 months, the hit has dominated every part from radio to streaming companies to TikTok, the place the pop-rock singer has gained 3 million-plus followers this 12 months. “Sluggish It Down” and “Fairly Slowly” proceed to leap on the charts, and Boone is proving he’s greater than a singles artist: his debut album, Fireworks & Rollerblades, has spent its entirety within the prime 20.
Teddy Swims
“Lose Management,” launched final 12 months, hit the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Scorching 100 and not too long ago logged its thirty fourth week within the prime 10 — tying Swift’s “Merciless Summer time” because the eighth tune to attain the feat in that chart’s 66-year historical past. The singer-songwriter’s debut album, I’ve Tried All the things However Remedy (Half 1), options his large, sturdy vocals and achieved gold standing. And his soulful tune, “The Door,” simply cracked the highest 40.
Sexxy Crimson
This 12 months hasn’t been the best for breakthrough rap acts, however Sexxy Crimson has emerged as probably the most profitable newcomer. And Grammy voters have been large supporters of feminine rappers with regards to finest new artist, nominating Ice Spice, Doja Cat, Saweetie, Latto and Megan Thee Stallion, who received in 2021. For greater than a 12 months, Sexxy Crimson has launched viral jams like “SkeeYee,” “Get It Sexxy,” “Pound City,” “U My All the things” and “Wealthy Child Daddy,” the final two with Drake. However after that disastrous BET Awards efficiency, Sexxy Crimson may be within the purple with voters — except they don’t watch BET.
Raye
At this 12 months’s BRIT Awards — the British equal to the Grammys — Raye took dwelling six honors and made historical past for many wins at a single ceremony. That success may very well be sufficient purpose for her to garner a finest new artist Grammy nomination. Although some predicted she would obtain a nod for the award at this 12 months’s Grammys, she may nonetheless qualify in 2025 and her destiny could be decided on the Academy’s screening assembly, like Carpenter. And with songwriting credit for acts like Beyoncé, John Legend, Charli XCX and extra, voters may be drawn to help Raye, who has strongly advocated for artists to have full artistic freedom in addition to higher rights for songwriters.
This story appeared within the Sept. 19 challenge of The Hollywood Reporter journal. Click on right here to subscribe.
