LORDE'S GRAMMY-PERF ABSENCE RAISES QUESTIONS

The biz is buzzing over Lorde’s absence from the schedule of Grammy performers. Insiders are wondering why she was excluded, particularly given that she’s not only the only female Album of the Year nominee but has been everywhere during Grammy week. On Friday alone, she performed at the MusiCares event for Fleetwood Mac and received a Diamond plaque at the Republic party.

The questions swirl amid much chatter in the press about the general underrepresentation of women in several top categories; Record of the Year, for example, has no female nominees. Best New Artist and Song fare better, thanks to Julia Michaels, SZA and such co-writers as Alessia Cara (“1-800-273-8255”) and Erika Ender (“Despacito”). But a report that some 90% of recent nominees have been male has contributed to an awkward situation for the Recording Academy—just as it’s been getting props for foregrounding creators of color this time around. In a year when white roses will be in lapels to salute the #TimesUp and #MeToo moment, the Grammy’s issues with gender representation are very much in the foreground.