By Karen Glauber

Since last week’s Grammy announcement of the nominations coincides with our U.K. issue, I’d like to bring attention to some of my favorite Brits: One nomination for Wet Leg’s genius self-titled debut would’ve been a victory. I figured they were a lock for Best Alternative Music Performance for “Chaise Longue,” one of the most exciting debut singles of the past decade. Then the other nominations for the Isle of Wight duo started rolling in, five in all, including Best New Artist (!!!), Best Alternative Music Album, Best Engineered Album (Non-Classical) and Best Remixed Recording (“Too Late Now,” Soulwax Remix).

Congrats to Domino Recording Company, manager Martin Hall and Team Wet Leg on these well-earned nominations. Martin was also presented with a lifetime-achievement award as the “Managers’ Manager” at the Artist and Managers Awards in London for his work with Wet Leg, Manic Street Preachers and The Script.

Also at that ceremony, Dirty Hit artist beabadoobee won for Breakthrough Artist. Her viral smash “The Perfect Pair” should’ve been nominated for a Grammy, but I digress

Domino, led by Laurence Bell in the U.K. and Kris Gillespie in Brooklyn, have a second nomination for Best Alternative Music Performance, with Arctic Monkeys’ “There’d Better Be a Mirrorball” also in that category. The latest Arctic Monkeys’ album, The Car, is one of my favorite albums of 2022.

Florence + the Machine, fronted by reigning Grande Dame of Alternative, Florence Welch, earned their first-ever Best Alternative Music Performance nod (and seventh overall) for “King.” The band’s “What Kind of Man” was nominated for Best Rock Performance in 2016. They have not yet won a Grammy.

Although the band hails from Texas and not the U.K., I feel compelled to mention that Spoon, led by Britt Daniel, one of my favorite people in the world, scored a Best Rock Album nom—their first Grammy nod ever—for Lucifer on the Sofa (Matador). It’s quite the culmination, considering the band has for decades released some of the most consistently GREAT albums in the alt-rock genre. Bravo.

Every musician’s favorite band, Idles, was also nominated for Best Rock Album for Crawler and Best Rock Song for “Crawl!” Watching Idles tear up the stage with that song is one “Grammy Moment” we could all use. From what I’ve been told, Best New Artist nominees Måneskin are massive Idles fans. That pairing would be quite something. Congrats to our friends at Partisan Records on these nominations, which come on the heels of Fontaines D.C. being nominated for Best Rock Album for their 2020 release, A Hero’s Death.

Ozzy is likely to garner a number of wins in the Rock and Metal categories—he’s been nominated for four this year for his latest release, Patient Number 9. It should be noted that the majority of nominations in the Alternative categories are for female artists. The Grammys continue to get that part right.

U.K. superstars The 1975 are currently on tour in the U.S., selling out arenas in every market. I had a blast at the Madison Square Garden show with Christine Malovetz, Brad Steiner, Marisa DiFrisco and friends from other formats/markets. “I’m in Love With You,” the band’s current Top 10 Alternative hit, is streaming over a million a week in the U.S., and this leg of the tour will wrap up in mid-December, so you certainly have time to see this extraordinary show. The Kia Forum show on 11/28, presented by Alt 98.7 and true believer Lisa Worden, has been sold out since the on-sale. There is no better front person than Matty Healy. There is no debating this fact.

Once again, I’m going to remind you that the women pick the hits. Lisa Worden, Jenna Kesneck, Christine Malovetz, Amber Miller, Michelle Rutkowski, Hilary from 91X, Laura Lee, Christy Taylor and Shawn Lucero, among other women in our format, understand Alternative music on an almost cellular level. Pay attention to the records they champion.

There is much to be grateful for this year, including you. Happy Thanksgiving.