Grammy contention

PUTTING THE “WAR” IN AWARDS: The two-day Grammy nomination meetings in Los Angeles concluded yesterday with feathers flying. One major point of contention involved Ariana Grande’s eligibility in a major category; the Alternative committee, meanwhile, once again elicited outrage by excluding a trailblazing artist. For a thorough handicapping of the key categories—not to mention a correction of Billboard’s multiple errors regarding which records are eligible—see our Grammy whisperer Paul Grein’s analysis of Album of the Year, Record/Song of the Year and Best New Artist contenders. (10/2a)