Special Report

50 Most Popular 2018 Grammy Nominees

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Awards season is upon us, and after the activism and serious nature of the Golden Globes, it’s time to get ready for the the Grammys. The 60th annual Grammy Awards ceremony will be held on Jan. 28 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, returning to the Big Apple after a 15-year run in Los Angeles.

The Grammy Awards honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency, and overall excellence in the recording industry. And whether your favorite artist is nominated or not, the award show itself includes many memorable performances to keep viewers engaged. Who can forget Sting, Ziggy and Damian Marley, Bruno Mars, and Rihanna’s tribute to reggae legend Bob Marley in 2013?

To identify the most popular nominees, 24/7 Wall St. created an index measuring the popularity of artists nominated for Grammy Awards this year.

Click here to see the most popular 2018 Grammy nominees.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.

Craig Barritt / Getty Images

50. Jerry Seinfeld
> Facebook likes: 1,037,731
> Spotify followers: 16,126
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 1

Best Comedy Album

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Route66 / Shutterstock.com

49. Leonard Cohen
> Facebook likes: 2,410,182
> Spotify followers: 741,098
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 2

Best Rock Performance
Best American Roots Performance

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images for Stagecoach

48. Gregg Allman
> Facebook likes: 594,100
> Spotify followers: 54,512
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 2

Best American Roots Song
Best Americana Album

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

47. Kehlani
> Facebook likes: 565,141
> Spotify followers: 1,078,541
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 1

Best R&B Performance

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Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.com

46. Hans Zimmer
> Facebook likes: 2,244,819
> Spotify followers: 1,040,704
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 2

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media

Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

45. Little Big Town
> Facebook likes: 2,196,779
> Spotify followers: 764,423
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 2

Best Country Duo / Group Performance
Best Country Album

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Michael Buckner / Getty Images

44. Glen Campbell
> Facebook likes: 352,768
> Spotify followers: 91,117
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 1

Best American Roots Performance

Theo Wargo / Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

43. Lin-Manuel Miranda
> Facebook likes: 1,028,744
> Spotify followers: 76,676
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 2

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
Best Song Written for Visual Media

Chris Jackson / Getty Images

42. Bruce Springsteen
> Facebook likes: 5,503,968
> Spotify followers: 1,327,085
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 1

Best Spoken Word Album

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Kimberly White / Getty Images for Breakthrough Prize

41. Seth MacFarlane
> Facebook likes: 1,795,209
> Spotify followers: 31,003
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 1

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

Andrew H. Walker / Getty Images

40. Avenged Sevenfold
> Facebook likes: 17,100,252
> Spotify followers: 1,851,678
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 1

Best Rock Song

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Jason Koerner / Getty Images

39. Luis Fonsi
> Facebook likes: 13,596,173
> Spotify followers: 1,368,005
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 3

Record of the Year
Song of the Year
Best Pop Duo / Group Performance

Twocoms / Shutterstock.com

38. Pharrell Williams
> Facebook likes: 10,651,572
> Spotify followers: 2,002,509
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 3

Best R&B Song
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media

Christopher Polk / Getty Images

37. Kelly Clarkson
> Facebook likes: 14,640,020
> Spotify followers: 2,343,867
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 1

Best Pop Solo Performance

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Daniel Boczarski / Getty Images for Wizard World

36. Carrie Fisher
> Facebook likes: 528,429
> Spotify followers: 167
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 1

Best Spoken Word Album

Ira Bostic / Shutterstock.com

35. Kevin Hart
> Facebook likes: 23,880,261
> Spotify followers: 171,816
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 1

Best Comedy Album

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pasphotography / Shutterstock.com

34. Kenny Chesney
> Facebook likes: 6,613,550
> Spotify followers: 1,410,452
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 1

Best Country Album

Christopher Polk / Getty Images

33. 6LACK
> Facebook likes: 282,518
> Spotify followers: 597,603
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 2

Best Urban Contemporary Album
Best Rap / Sung Performance

Rick Diamond / One Voice: Somos Live! / Getty Images

32. Daddy Yankee
> Facebook likes: 30,172,030
> Spotify followers: 4,270,512
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 3

Record of the Year
Song of the Year
Best Pop Duo / Group Performance

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s_bukley / Shutterstock.com

31. Foo Fighters
> Facebook likes: 11,992,119
> Spotify followers: 3,594,418
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 2

Best Rock Performance
Best Rock Song

Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images

30. Sam Hunt
> Facebook likes: 1,067,825
> Spotify followers: 956,087
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 2

Best Country Solo Performance
Best Country Song

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Gustavo Caballero / Getty Images for BET

29. Cardi B
> Facebook likes: 3,696,880
> Spotify followers: 1,108,581
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 2

Best Rap Performance
Best Rap Song

Mark Davis / Getty Images for Dick Clark Productions

28. Alessia Cara
> Facebook likes: 830,347
> Spotify followers: 2,189,606
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 4

Song of the Year
Best New Artist
Best Pop Duo / Group Performance
Best Music Video

Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for REVOLT TV

27. Childish Gambino
> Facebook likes: 1,362,217
> Spotify followers: 2,508,084
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 5

Record of the Year
Album of the Year
Best Traditional R&B Performance
Best R&B Song
Best Urban Contemporary Album

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Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images for BET

26. SZA
> Facebook likes: 377,088
> Spotify followers: 897,366
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 5

Best New Artist
Best R&B Performance
Best R&B Song
Best Urban Contemporary Album
Best Rap / Sung Performance

Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

25. Miranda Lambert
> Facebook likes: 8,516,940
> Spotify followers: 1,117,358
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 2

Best Country Solo Performance
Best Country Song

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Christian Bertrand / Shutterstock.com

24. Gorillaz
> Facebook likes: 9,979,986
> Spotify followers: 2,482,079
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 2

Best Dance Recording
Best Alternative Music Album

Christopher Polk / Getty Images for Coachella

23. Lorde
> Facebook likes: 6,634,587
> Spotify followers: 2,778,986
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 1

Album of the Year

Buda Mendes / Getty Images

22. Chris Cornell
> Facebook likes: 1,646,620
> Spotify followers: 461,669
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 1

Best Rock Performance

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Kevin Winter / Getty Images for CBS RADIO

21. Khalid
> Facebook likes: 371,227
> Spotify followers: 1,333,446
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 5

Song of the Year
Best New Artist
Best R&B Song
Best Urban Contemporary Album
Best Music Video

Mike Windle / Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

20. Chris Stapleton
> Facebook likes: 928,419
> Spotify followers: 565,689
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 3

Best Country / Solo Performance
Best Country Song
Best Country Album

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Sam Wasson / Getty Images for iHeartMedia

19. Kesha
> Facebook likes: 29,571,479
> Spotify followers: 2,638,396
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 2

Best Pop Solo Performance
Best Pop Vocal Album

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

18. Coldplay
> Facebook likes: 39,375,688
> Spotify followers: 9,670,589
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 2

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
Best Pop Vocal Album

Andreas Rentz / Getty Images for MTV

17. Lana Del Rey
> Facebook likes: 12,049,400
> Spotify followers: 5,634,663
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 1

Best Pop Vocal Album

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Theo Wargo / Getty Images for iHeartMedia

16. Logic
> Facebook likes: 1,475,687
> Spotify followers: 1,892,739
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 2

Best Music Video
Song Of The Year

Adam Bettcher / Getty Images for iHeartMedia

15. Calvin Harris
> Facebook likes: 14,139,838
> Spotify followers: 9,146,827
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 1

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical

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Slaven Vlasic / Getty Images for SoundCloud

14. Lil Uzi Vert
> Facebook likes: 881,473
> Spotify followers: 2,808,507
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 2

Best New Artist
Best Rap Performance

Ethan Miller / Getty Images

13. Jay-Z
> Facebook likes: 20,282,191
> Spotify followers: 3,498,291
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 8

Record of the Year
Album of the Year
Song of the Year
Best Rap Performance
Best Rap / Sung Performance
Best Rap Song
Best Rap Album
Best Music Video

David Becker / Getty Images for iHeartMedia

12. Migos
> Facebook likes: 2,311,800
> Spotify followers: 3,346,499
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 2

Best Rap Performance
Best Rap Album

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Neilson Barnard / Getty Images for DirecTV

11. Imagine Dragons
> Facebook likes: 13,239,988
> Spotify followers: 6,957,325
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 2

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
Best Pop Vocal Album

Yulia Grigoryeva / Shutterstock.com

10. Metallica
> Facebook likes: 37,320,657
> Spotify followers: 5,116,168
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 1

Best Rock Song

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Kevin Winter / Getty Images for Latin Recording Academy

9. Shakira
> Facebook likes: 103,993,655
> Spotify followers: 7,431,811
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 1

Best Latin Pop Album

Christian Bertrand / Shutterstock.com

8. Kendrick Lamar
> Facebook likes: 8,771,570
> Spotify followers: 7,027,566
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 7

Record of the Year
Album of the Year
Best Rap Performance
Best Rap / Sung Performance
Best Rap Song
Best Rap Album
Best Music Video

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

7. Lady Gaga
> Facebook likes: 60,448,780
> Spotify followers: 4,065,840
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 2

Best Pop Solo Performance
Best Pop Vocal Album

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Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

6. Taylor Swift
> Facebook likes: 73,827,172
> Spotify followers: 8,984,407
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 2

Best Country Song
Best Song written for Visual Media

JStone / Shutterstock.com

5. Beyoncé
> Facebook likes: 63,886,203
> Spotify followers: 10,512,362
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 1

Best Rap / Sung Performance

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Kevin Winter / Getty Images for iHeartMedia

4. Bruno Mars
> Facebook likes: 57,567,779
> Spotify followers: 9,657,310
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 6

Record of the Year
Album of the Year
Song of the Year
Best R&B Performance
Best R&B Song
Best R&B Album

Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com

3. Justin Bieber
> Facebook likes: 78,616,268
> Spotify followers: 16,568,466
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 3

Record of the Year
Song of the Year
Best Pop Duo / Group Performance

Christopher Polk / Getty Images for NARAS

2. Rihanna
> Facebook likes: 81,235,648
> Spotify followers: 17,196,244
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 1

Best Rap / Sung Performance

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yakub88 / Shutterstock.com

1. Ed Sheeran
> Facebook likes: 18,064,013
> Spotify followers: 16,314,925
> 2018 Grammy nominations: 2

Pop Solo Performance
Best Pop Vocal Album

The Grammy nominations in 2018 were announced on Nov. 28, 2017. Jay-Z received the most nominations with eight, followed by Kendrick Lamar with seven, and Bruno Mars with six. SZA is the top female nominee with five nominations.

The Grammys recognize the talent of musicians in many genres, including pop, rock, R&B, jazz, classical, musical theater, and more. There are also Grammy categories for producers, engineers, sound mixers, and technicians behind the music.

A Grammy Award is a milestone for many artists, symbolizing critical success. To be nominated for a Grammy, let alone win the award, means the artist has garnered recognition. Such an achievement enhances the artist’s reputation as well as his or her value in an industry dependent on networking and social capital.

While many musical artists dream of winning a Grammy, some musical legends dream of winning their 10th, 20th, or even 30th Grammy Award.

The Grammys also boost sales of songs performed at the awards show. When British singer Sam Smith won four Grammys in 2015, digital sales of his song “Stay with Me” — which he performed at the ceremony — leaped 721%, according to Nielsen Music Connect. Data from Nielsen’s Music Connect showed his Facebook Likes and Twitter followers climbed 44% and 70%, respectively.

To identify the Most Popular Grammy Nominee, 24/7 Wall St. created an index of four datasets measuring the popularity of artists nominated for a Grammy Award. The index includes the number of Facebook likes, number of Spotify followers, Wikipedia page views in 2017, and the number of albums an artist has on the Top Billboard 200 Albums in 2017 for each of the 500+ Grammy Award nominees.

Facebook likes, Spotify followers, and daily average Wikipedia page views were given a full weight in the index. The number of albums in the Top Billboard 200 Albums in 2017 was given a one-third weight, while the highest placement of an artist’s album on the chart was given two-thirds weight. Facebook and Spotify data are current as of Jan. 10, 2018. Wikipedia page views are calculated for the past year (Jan. 9, 2017 to Jan. 9, 2018).

 

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