2015 Grammy Snubs & Surprises

The Biebs, who made a strong and surprising comeback this year, had two singles in contention for a Record of the Year nomination: his #1 smash “What Do You Mean?” and a top 10 hit on which he was featured, “Where Are Ü Now” by Skrillex and Diplo. Neither got a nom in that top category. “What Do You Mean?” was also passed over in the category of Best Pop Solo Performance. But “Where Are Ü Now” was nominated in the category of Best Dance Recording. Bieber has a history of snubs at the Grammys. Five years ago, he was nominated for Best New Artist, but lost to Esperanza Spalding. Maybe Bieber’s current hit, “Sorry,” will get some Grammy love next year.

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“Really Love” received a Record of the Year nom, beating out such higher-profile works as Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush.” “Really Love” was a middling R&B hit, but it hasn’t even cracked the Hot 100.

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The country superstar’s Kill the Lights was a #1 album on both the pop and country charts. But it was passed over for an Album of the Year nom. Despite three #1 albums, Bryan has yet to receive a nom in that top category. Even worse, the album was passed over for a nom for Best Country Album.

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This superstar trio introduced “FourFiveSeconds” on last year’s Grammys. Despite that high-profile send-off, the song failed to land a Record or Song of the Year nom. It was also passed over for a nom for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

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The Australian artist received a nom for Best New Artist. Her debut album, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, was critically acclaimed, but has yet to climb above #20 on the Billboard 200. She beat out such highly touted artists as Leon Bridges, Hozier, and Elle King. The album was also nominated for Best Alternative Music Album.

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The female-fronted group received an Album of the Year nom for Sound & Color. It edged out high-profile albums by Don Henley and James Taylor, as well as the highly-touted Broadway cast album to Hamilton. The album was also nominated for Best Alternative Music Album.

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The rapper had three top 10 hits during 2015, including the megahit “Trap Queen.” But he was passed over for a Best New Artist nom. Fetty was nominated in the new artist category at both the BET Awards and the VMAs, a sign of his broad appeal. But he’s not a natural fit for the Grammys. “Trap Queen” was, however, nominated for Best Rap Performance.

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The singer was passed over for a Best New Artist nom, even though her sassy alternative rock radio hit “Ex’s & Oh’s” was a top 10 hit during the voting period.

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Stapleton’s first solo album, Traveller, received an Album of the Year nomination. The album, though widely admired, was just a modest seller until Nov. 4, when it won big at the CMA Awards and subsequently shot to #1. The album was also nominated for Best Country Album.

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The rapper had two #1 albums during the year – one on his own and one with Future. Neither received an Album of the Year nom. Though Drake has amassed five #1 albums over the years, he has yet to break into that top category. But Drake’s solo album, If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late, was nominated for Best Rap Album. Note: Drake’s late-in-the-year smash “Hotline Bling” wasn’t entered for Record or Song of the Year, so its non-nomination is not a surprise.

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Last year, the Irish singer’s “Take Me to Church” was nominated for Song of the Year. This year, with the release of his debut album, he finally became eligible for Best New Artist. Alas, no nomination. The likely problem: Hozier hasn’t landed another pop hit since “Take Me to Church,” raising the possibility, at least, that he could be a one-hit wonder. Worse, Hozier was passed over for a nom for Best Rock Album.

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The Australian soul quartet’s “Breathing Underwater” is nominated for Best R & B Performance. The quartet received public endorsements from both Prince and Questlove via Twitter.

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The English group’s previous album, Babel, won the Grammy for Album of the Year three years ago. Their follow-up, Wilder Mind, wasn’t even nominated in that top category. Worse, it was passed over for a nom for Best Rock Album.

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“Shut Up and Dance, "one of the year’s biggest hits, was passed over for Record and Song of the Year noms. The group was also passed over for a Best New Artist nom. Worse, an acoustic version of the smash was passed over for a nom for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

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Everybody knew the Compton-based rapper would do well in the nominations, of course. The surprise was the extent of his sweep. He received 11 nominations, more even than Taylor Swift and the Weeknd, who were runners-up with seven noms each. Lamar had the most nominations by anyone in a single year in this decade, topping even Eminem, who scored 10 five years ago.

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