All Grammy nominees for Best Rock Performance are women for the first time in award’s history

Contenders were announced on Tuesday 24 November

For the first time in Grammys history, the nominees for Best Rock Performance are all either female or female-fronted acts.

The Recording Academy unveiled the list of contenders during a remote event on Tuesday (24 November).

Nominees for Best Rock Performance include Fiona Apple for “Shameika”, Haim for “The Steps”, Phoebe Bridgers for “Kyoto”, “Stay High” by Brittany Howard, “Daylight” by Grace Potter, and “Not” by Big Thief, a four-person band fronted by Adrienne Lenker.

Big Thief, Howard, Bridgers and Apple have also received recognition in the Best Rock Song category, which comprises 80 per cent female nominees.

Overall, female artists lead the nominations this year. Beyonce and Dua Lipa have both bagged five nods, while Billie Eilish follows close behind with four.

BTS also made history yesterday, becoming the first ever Korean band to earn a Grammy nomination in a major category. The K-Pop juggernaut has been nominated in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category, where they are up against Justin Bieber and Quavo, Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift and Bon Iver, as well as J Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny and Tainy.

In a tweet posted earlier today, The Weeknd – who was notably snubbed from this year’s contendors for his latest album After Hours – called out the Grammys as being “corrupt”.

“The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency,” he wrote in a post that has since received nearly 760,000 likes.

Recording Academy Chair Harvey Mason Jr responded to the R&B artist’s criticism, telling Rolling Stone: “His music this year was excellent, and his contributions to the music community and broader world are worthy of everyone’s admiration.

ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

“Unfortunately, every year, there are fewer nominations than the number of deserving artists.”

The 63rd annual Grammy Awards will be hosted by Trevor Noah and take place on Sunday 31 January 2021.