Record of the Year – Award to the Artist(s), Album Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s), and/or Mixer(s), and Mastering Engineer(s) if other than the artist.
- “Now and Then” – The Beatles
- “TEXAS HOLD EM’” – Beyonce
- “Espresso” – Sabrina Carpenter
- “Birds of a Feather” – Billie Eilish
- “Not Like Us” – Kendrick Lamar
- “Good Luck, Babe!” – Chappell Roan
- “Fortnight” – Taylor Swift
Lilly: “Espresso” – Sabrina Carpenter
Manuela: “Good Luck, Babe!” – Chappell Roan. The production of this song is impeccable, and Chappel Roan’s performance is as touching as it makes you feral.
Trenedy: I think that “Not Like Us” should win. Kendrick’s use of lyricism and its impact on communities all over America make this track great. I believe that “TEXAS HOLD EM” should not win because of Beyonce’s lack of creativity on the track.
Tristan: “Good Luck, Babe!” – Chappell Roan.
Album Of The Year – Award to Artist(s) and to Featured Artist(s), Songwriter(s) of new material, Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s), Mixer(s) and Mastering Engineer(s) credited with 20% or more playing time of the album.)
- “New Blue Sun” – André 3000
- “COWBOY CARTER” – Beyoncé
- “Short n’ Sweet” – Sabrina Carpenter
- “BRAT” – Charli xcx
- “Djesse Vol. 4” – Jacob Collier
- “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” – Billie Eilish
- “The Rise and Fall of A Midwest Princess” – Chappell Roan
- “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT” – Taylor Swift
Lilly: “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” – Billie Eilish.
Manuela: “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT” – Taylor Swift.
Trenedy: I’m not an avid Billie Eilish fan by any means, but her album “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” is a masterpiece, and I think it will win the category. As much as I love Charlie xcx, “Brat” just isn’t comparable to some others on this list. I don’t think it should win.
Tristan: “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT” – Taylor Swift. I know Swift has won this category four times already, but to me, no album on this list compares to the depth and detail in “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT.” It showcases Swift’s commitment to her craft because she wrote this album while on a world tour. Some of my favorite songs can be found on this album, and I have to point out it’s a “no-skip” album. The emotion, the quality and the rawness of this album ultimately separate it from the others on this list.
Song of the year – A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. Singles or Tracks only.
- “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – Shaboozey
- “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” – Billie Eilish
- “Die With A Smile” – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
- “Fortnight” – Taylor Swift
- “Good Luck, Babe!” – Chappell Roan
- “Not Like Us” – Kendrick Lamar
- “Please Please Please” – Sabrina Carpenter
- “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” – Beyonce
Lilly: “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” – Billie Eilish. While I would say “Espresso” was the song of the summer, I think Eilish’s “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” was the song of the year. 1.8 billion streams on Spotify shows how much listeners love the song. Ever since its release in May 2024 the track has been a crowd pleaser for general audiences and Eilish’s fans (including myself). The lyrics dive into the theme of longing for a lasting connection, making it a lovable and relatable song for anyone listening.
Manuela: “Not Like Us” – Kendrick Lamar. While “Good Luck, Babe!” comes close to perfection with its outstanding bridge, “Not Like Us” was revolutionary in the grudge it held over the world. I praise the Machiavellian wit that took Drake down, who was once Spotify’s No.1 streamed artist.
Trenedy: “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” – Billie Eilish
Tristan: “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” – Billie Eilish
Best New Artist
- Benson Boone
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Doechii
- Khruangbin
- Raye
- Chappell Roan
- Shaboozey
- Teddy Swims
Lilly: Sabrina Carpenter. Even though Carpenter has been in the industry for ten years, she finally found great success with her hit album “Short n’ Sweet.” I think she is deserving of and will win this award for her hard work and eventual (some say overnight) success. Her singles and album performed so well. So many love her fun, flirty, feminine songs and style. Carpenter finally shook off her Disney Channel identity and placed herself amongst popstars.
Manuela: Sabrina Carpenter
Trenedy: Sabrina Carpenter should take this in a landslide. Her insane rise to the top is unbeatable. A close second place for me is Doechii, her insane rhythm and lyrics are nothing to ignore. I think Chappell Roan is amazing but she’s not the newest, or had the quickest rise to the top.
Tristan: Sabrina Carpenter
Songwriter of the Year – A Songwriter’s Award
- Jessi Alexander
- Amy Allen
- Edgar Barrera
- Jessie Jo Dillon
- Raye
Lilly: Amy Allen. With Sabrina Carpenter’s successful songs “Please Please Please” and “Espresso” Allen has a moment to shine with her.
Manuela: Amy Allen. I am not a Megan Morooney person, which already eliminated two songwriters from the list. I do not know why Jack Antonoff was not indicated for TTPD, the closest I can get to him is Allen.
Trenedy: I predict that Jesse Jo Dillion or Amy Allen will win this category.
Tristan: Amy Allen. She is credited with some of the biggest hits of the year, and I had not heard of the others on this list.
Best Pop Solo Performance – For new vocal or instrumental pop recordings.
- “BODYGUARD” – Beyoncé
- “Espresso” – Sabrina Carpenter
- “Apple” – Charli XCX
- “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” – Billie Eilish
- “Good Luck, Babe!” – Chappell Roan
Lilly: “Good Luck, Babe!” – Chappell Roan
Manuela: “Good Luck, Babe!” – Chappell Roan. Just the fact Chappell Roan can sound the same in recording, face-to-face, and Saturday Night Live! already makes her the perfect fit for this award.
Trenedy: “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” – Billie Eilish
Tristan: “Good Luck, Babe!” – Chappell Roan. She is not just a singer, she is a performer. Her live vocals heal my soul, so I would love to see her recognized for this performance.
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance – For new vocal or instrumental duo/group or collaborative pop recordings.
- “us.” – Gracie Abrams ft. Taylor Swift
- “LEVII’S JEANS” – Beyoncé ft. Post Malone
- “Guess” – Charli xcx & Billie Eilish
- “the boy is mine” – Ariana Grande, Brandy, & Monica
- “Die With a Smile” – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
Lilly: “Die With a Smile” – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
Manuela: “us.” – Gracie Abrams ft. Taylor Swift. I do not think they will win, but I wish they would. The duo would make “Happy Birthday” sound melancholic and tragic; “us.” is a knife to the heart of anyone who ever had a fast-burning relationship.
Trenedy: I’ll take “Guess” on this one, mostly because I love the song. It’s a club-house style remix and it should win here. Again, I don’t think Gaga and Mars should win this category because they could’ve done so much more with the song.
Tristan: “Die With a Smile” – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
Best Pop Vocal Album – For albums containing greater than 75% playing time of new pop vocal recordings.
- Short n’ Sweet – Sabrina Carpenter
- HIT ME HARD AND SOFT – Billie Eilish
- eternal sunshine – Ariana Grande
- The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess – Chappell Roan
- THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT – Taylor Swift
Lilly: “Short n’ Sweet” – Sabrina Carpenter. I have biases for Billie Eilish and Chappell Roan’s albums but I think Sabrina Carpenter excelled more in this category. Carpenter found her sound and style and then ran with it (in her glittery platform boots). I think it will be a tough decision because 2024 was a great year for the pop girlies, but Carpenter will win this one.
Manuela: “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” – Chappell Roan
Trenedy: “Short n’ Sweet” – Sabrina Carpenter
Tristan: “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” – Chappell Roan. I absolutely adore Roan. Her vocals never fail to disappoint, and I am so glad I found this gem of an album. She serves the ultimate pop princess, amazing fans with her “campy” outfits and dramatic makeup, so I would love to see her take home this category.
