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 ofthe Year, Record/Songof the Year and Best New Artist contenders.