I can't recall a year when it was as hard to predict the Grammy nominees as this one. I thought it might be fun for some of us to guess what the big nominees might be before the Dec 4th announcements.
Remember, the eligibility period is 10/1/07-9/30/08. Also keep in mind that as of about five years ago, the big categories are selected by a "Blue Ribbon Panel" who sort through finalists and come up with the final five. This is how you end up with obscure, seemingly off-the-wall selections like Vince Gill and eventual, shocking winner Herbie Hancock in the Album category last year.

The Big categories are
Album of the Year
Record of the Year (for the best single)
Song of the Year (songwriting award for best original song)
Best New Artist (always a tricky one -- to be considered eligible you must "come to prominence" in the eligibility period)

My only guesses are
Coldplay - Viva La Vida for both Album and Record of the Year. They always want a respected Rock artist in the finals and Coldplay has won Record before with "Clocks"

Radiohead -In Rainbows - Strong Album candidate, previous 2 time nominee in that category. Rather old album, though -- over a year old now.

T.I. - Paper Trail - Maybe an Album candidate. Released on last day of eligibility. They'll pick one rap album, and I think this one has more broad-based appeal than Lil' Wayne (though they certainly will battle it out in the Rap Album category). "Whatever You Like" might pick up a Record nom as well.


Any thoughts or guesses?

I think Coldplay is a pretty sure bet to get nominated for Album/Record/Song.

For "Best New Artist", I can see Leona Lewis getting nominated. Quite possibly we'll see a nomination for Duffy as well there.

I'd love a nomination for She & Him, but it doesn't seem likely. Perhaps Vampire Weekend?

If history holds true, it will be about 90% shit.

Adele should be nominated too.

I wonder if Metallica will be nominated for best metal album?

I think the only metal cattagory at the grammy's is 'best metal performance' which is for songs, and i can almost gaurentee 'the day that never comes' will be nominated

Yup, no Metal Album category. Death Mangnetic could be nominated in the Rock Album category, since metal falls unter the Rock awards umbrella.

quite possibly, seeing as Jethro Tull doesn't have an album out

90%? When did the music industry improve?

I predict that I would've gone the entire year and not listened to ONE album nominated. I wear that with pride.

I predict Britney Spears and whoever the most recent winner of American Idol was will run away with all the awards.

Anyone think MIA stands a chance at least a best new artist nomination?

No. Her work was nominated last year (well, at least Timbaland's production of it), so she probably isn't eligible (her album dropped August, 2007).

I think Sara Bareilles has not only a very good shot at the Best New Artist trophy, but "Love Song" could compete in at least the songwriting category as well.

I had forgotten that both "Raising Sand" by Allison Krausse & Robert Plant and "Long Road Into Eden" by The Eagles were released too late last year and are eligible for 2009 Grammys, as crazy as that is. Since Allison Krausse has won a mind-boggling 21 Grammys (or approximately 21 more than Plant has), you'd think their well-received album should be in the final bunch. The Eagles, who won a Grammy in Feb for their single "How Long" in the country category, seem like more of a reach (but if Herbie Hancock and Vince Gill made it to the finals last year, you know that old timers with name recognition have pull with the "Blue Ribbon Panel").

technically the single for 'paper planes' was released in feb of 08, so it is possible to give it record and song of the year

But the question was about best new artist.
And while you may be right about the single release date, that would only have baring on the Record award -- the song would only be eligible in the year that the album came out. That's the reason you can see older songs win Record of the Year awards the year following the one that the album was nominated, but the song is not in the running for Song of the Year. "Boulevard of Broken Dreams", "Clocks" and "Graceland" (the single) are all examples of Record of the Year winners like that

ok, but how did Maroon 5 get away with a best new artist award in 2005 when the album was released in june of 2002?

MGMT for New Artist
Raconteurs for Best Rock Album

It's all about that "rise to prominence" thing. Fountains of Wayne were nominated in 2003, even though their first album was released in 1996.

It's not the music industry. It's the Grammy's. None of the truly best music EVER gets nominated.

I believe I've listened to two new albums this year. Coldplay and Metallica. Both were great and I hope they win a lot of Grammy's because nothing says "We're an awesome band" like having lots of Grammy's.

oh and theres a special tonight on cbs that will have the big 5 catagories, and a bunch of musical performances