As the year draws to a close and award season starts to creep up, the Grammys are preparing to celebrate yet another huge year for music.
Taking place on February 3, 2024, music’s biggest night will celebrate the achievements of artists from across the world. It's set to highlight a year of girl power, with the likes of Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus and SZA dominating the charts worldwide, and likely to score highly on the Grammy scoreboard.
Nominations will be announced on November 10, and all the talk is around who will be recognised on the shortlist of music’s most coveted awards.
Naturally, our attention is on the British artists likely to pick up a nomination, following an incredibly successful year for UK music, both at home and abroad.
There are plenty of options for the Recording Academy to choose from, and the plethora of new British candidates for a Grammy nod makes this year's prospects all the more exciting.
Here are the UK artists that could land a nomination this year:
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran is no stranger to the Grammys, the Ipswich-born singer-songwriter has been nominated for 16 awards during his career, winning four, including Best Pop Solo Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album. He released his sixth studio album Subtract (-) earlier this year, which could put him in good stead for a few nominations for 2024’s ceremony, including Album of the Year. While not a shoo-in for the win – there's tough competition from artists including Taylor Swift and SZA – likely nominations in other categories could see him pick up a fifth win.
PinkPantheress
London-based artist PinkPantheress made quite the splash stateside with her hit Boy's a Liar Pt. 2 with Ice Spice, which hit number two both in the UK and US. The singer has since had a string of successful tracks, and even featured in Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster Barbie movie soundtrack. She is a strong candidate for a nomination in the Best New Artist category, and recognition from music’s premier prize would be a huge moment for the Canterbury native. Her Boy's a Liar Pt. 2 is also a strong contender in the Song of The Year/Record of The Year categories.
Dua Lipa
Dua Lipa is already preparing to enter a new era of music, with her highly anticipated third album expected to land at some point next year. Though the three-time Grammy winner’s focus will undoubtedly be around her new project, her standout track from the Barbie soundtrack, Dance The Night, may put her in line for multiple nods this year, most notably in the Record of the Year and Song of the Year categories, though she’s most likely to take home the gong for Best Song Written for Visual Media.
RAYE
It’s bizarre to think we may never have heard RAYE’s debut album My 21st Century Blues, released earlier this year, had she remained signed to her former label. However, following her newly found musical independence last year, the singer took ownership of her own sound, and her stellar viral-hit Escapism solidified her creative credence, topping the charts in the UK and cracking the top 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100 charts. With such a notable rise, and the story of resilience that surrounds her, she's a top contender for a Best New Artist nomination, with a strong chance at also scooping a nomination in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category.
Fred again..
London-born producer Fred again.. has become a driving force in dance music both in the UK and the other side of the pond, selling out a string of shows at New York’s iconic Madison Square Gardens, a venue reserved for music’s greats. His latest album, Actual Life 3, released last year, was critically acclaimed and saw him nominated for both a BRIT Award and Mercury Prize, and his most recent Adore U track has become his highest charting single yet in the UK, reaching number four.
As buzz for the producer continues to build in the US, Fred again.. could see himself picking up a nod in the Best New Artist category, though facing stiff competition from the likes of Ice Spice and PinkPantheress. His track Rumble, with Skrillex and Flowdan, may also see the British producer secure a nod in the Best Dance Recording category.
Dave & Central Cee
Dave and Central Cee were both formidable forces in UK rap before they collaborated this year, with each having over a billion streams. This year though, the pair took things to a different level when they came together on their Split Decision EP, which featured the ten-week UK chart-topping Sprinter track, a standout for UK rap that broke into international markets, topping the charts in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Switzerland, as well as reaching top 5 in Canada. The track is a strong contender for the Best Rap Performance by Duo or Group category, which would be a first for a UK rap song.
Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys released their album The Car late last year, landing widespread critical acclaim, and topping multiple end of year album lists. Their single There’d Better Be a Mirrorball nabbed a nomination for Best Alternative Music Performance at this year’s awards, but the full album missed the eligibility window for 2023’s Grammys.
With the project now eligible for nomination, it’s a strong contender to pick up a nod in the Best Alternative Music Album category, with their track Body Paint also a favourite for Best Alternative Music Recording field. The group's track Sculptures of Anything Goes also looks likely to pick up recognition in the Best Rock Performance category.
Depeche Mode
Eighties rock legends Depeche Mode made a return to music this year with their fifteenth studio album, Memento Mori, their first LP since the tragic passing of founding member Andy Fletcher, who died in May 2022. The album explored themes of mortality, which were influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, along with Fletcher’s death. The 12-track project received rave reviews across the board from critics and fans alike, making it a strong contender to feature in the Grammy’s multiple rock categories, including Best Rock Song for Ghosts Again, and Best Alternative Music Album.
Sam Smith
Sam Smith made a huge impact last year with their track Unholy with Kim Petras, which topped the charts both in the UK and US, as well picking up a Grammy at this year’s awards, a historic win for the LGBTQ+ community, which made Sam Smith the first non-binary Grammy winner, while Petras became the first trans Grammy winner. Smith’s Gloria album came out in January this year, meaning it is eligible for nomination at next year’s awards, with the artist's fourth album a possible contender for Best Pop Vocal Album.
Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding
Scottish superstar DJ Calvin Harris has had a huge year, bringing the sound of trance back to the mainstream with his smash hit Miracle, featuring Ellie Goulding. The tune was a viral success, becoming Harris’ eleventh number one in the UK, and Goulding’s fourth, topping the charts for eight weeks. As one of the biggest dance hits of the year, the track will no doubt have caught the attention of the Recording Academy, making it a strong contender for a nod in the Best Pop Dance Recording category.
