Special Report
Bing Predicts: Who Will Win the Grammys
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The Grammy Awards often surprise and shock audiences with unexpected winners and losers. For example, few had predicted that Adele would beat Beyonce for Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year at last year’s ceremony, prompting outrage and disappointment among many who follow the awards.
The 60th annual Grammy Awards – which will be held on January 28 at Madison Square Garden – include a number of hotly contested categories, ensuring that this year will be no different. To get a better idea as to who might grab the gilded gramophone, Bing Predicts has calculated the predicted winners in 15 of the awards’ major categories.
Click here to see who will win the Grammys.
In some categories, Bing’s predicted winners are heavily favored. Alessia Cara is expected to win Best New Artist almost twice as much as Julia Michaels, the second-most likely winner. There’s a similar scenario in the Best R&B Song category, where Bruno Mars’ “That’s What I Like” is predicted to dominate with 49% odds compared with Childish Gambino’s “Redbone,” the next highest favored, at 16%.
Other categories are more competitive. For instance, Kendrick Lamar’s “HUMBLE.” is only slightly favored to win Record of the Year over Jay-Z’s “The Story of O.J.” The competition for Best Pop Performance is also quite close, with Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” favored just slightly over Lady Gaga’s “Million Reasons.”
This year’s Grammys have enjoyed widespread publicity because of the heavy representation of hip hop and rap artists among the nominees, in what some view as the Grammys finally embracing the genre and its immense popularity. Bing expects a hip hop win in the Record of the Year and Song of the Year categories. However, hip hop isn’t expected to do as well in the Album of the Year or Best New Artist categories.
1. Album of the Year
> Predicted winner: “24K Magic” – Bruno Mars (33% odds)
> Also likely: “Damn.” – Kendrick Lamar (26% odds)
> In the running: “4:44” – Jay-Z (19% odds)
> Dark horse: “Melodrama” – Lorde (18% odds)
> Long shot: “Awaken, My Love!” – Childish Gambino (4% odds)
Bruno Mars third studio album “24K Magic” is expected to take home the coveted Album of the Year award. The album boasts a number of hugely popular singles, including “That’s What I Like,” “Versace on the Floor,” and “Finesse.” Mars has won five Grammy Awards.
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2. Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
> Predicted winner: “Despacito” – Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber (32% odds)
> Also likely: “Feel It Still” – Portugal. The Man (26% odds)
> In the running: “Something Just Like This” – The Chainsmokers and Coldplay (23% odds)
> Dark horse: “Thunder” – Imagine Dragons (15% odds)
> Long shot: “Stay” – Zedd and Alessia Cara (4% odds)
Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito,” featuring Daddy Yankee, has already won at the 18th Annual Latin Grammy Awards Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Urban Fusion/Performance, and Best Short Form Music Video. A version of the song featuring Justin Bieber is now favored to take home the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance award at the 60th Grammy Awards. The song also tied Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day,” for the most weeks – 16 – at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
3. Best Pop Performance
> Predicted winner: “Shape of You” – Ed Sheeran (30% odds)
> Also likely: “Million Reasons” – Lady Gaga (28% odds)
> In the running: “What About Us” – Pink (24% odds)
> Dark horse: “Praying” – Kesha (15% odds)
> Long shot: “Love So Soft” – Kelly Clarkson (3% odds)
While Ed Sheeran did not win the award for Song of the Year last year – his one nomination – he is slightly favored to take home the award for Best Pop Performance this year for his work on “Shape of You.” Lady Gaga’s “Million Reasons,” which lagged behind “Shape of You” on the charts, is also a hot contender for this award with a 28% chance of winning. Female vocalists dominate this category.
4. Best Pop Vocal Album
> Predicted winner: “Divide” – Ed Sheeran (29% odds)
> Also likely: “Joanne” – Lady Gaga (27% odds)
> In the running: “Rainbow” – Kesha (20% odds)
> Dark horse: “Kaleidoscope” – Coldplay (11% odds)
> Long shot: “Evolve” – Imagine Dragons (9% odds)
In addition to Best Pop Performance, Ed Sheeran has also been nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album this year. Similarly, Bing Predicts slightly favors Sheeran to win over Lady Gaga. Sheeran’s album “÷” has sold 2 million copies, while Gaga’s “Joanne” has sold 1 million, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.
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5. Best R&B Album
> Predicted winner: “24K Magic” – Bruno Mars (53% odds)
> Also likely: “Let Love Rule” – Ledisi (16% odds)
> In the running: “Feel the Real” – Musiq Soulchild (14% odds)
> Dark horse: “Gumbo” – PJ Morton (11% odds)
> Long shot: “Freudian” – Daniel Caesar (6% odds)
In addition to being expected to take home the Album of the Year award, Bruno Mars is forecast to win Best R&B Album for his “24K Magic.” According to Bing Predicts, odds are 53% Mars will win in this category, significantly greater odds that the second-most likely winner – Ledisi’s “Let Love Rule” – which has 16% odds.
6. Best R&B Performance
> Predicted winner: “That’s What I Like” – Bruno Mars (45% odds)
> Also likely: “Get You” – Daniel Caesar ft. Kali Uchis (18% odds)
> In the running: “High” – Ledisi (17% odds)
> Dark horse: “The Weekend” – SZA (15% odds)
> Long shot: “Distraction” – Kehlani (5% odds)
The Best R&B Performance is one of six awards Bruno Mars is nominated for this year, and one of four he is predicted to win. There is an undeniable appeal to Mars’ performance – both on record and in person. According to Billboard, Mars has grossed $200 million on his 24K Magic World Tour.
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7. Best R&B Song
> Predicted winner: “That’s What I Like” – Bruno Mars (49% odds)
> Also likely: “Redbone” – Childish Gambino (16% odds)
> In the running: “First Began” – PJ Morton (15% odds)
> Dark horse: “Supermodel” – SZA (14% odds)
> Long shot: “Location” – Khalid (6% odds)
Bruno Mars is greatly favored to win Best R&B Song for his hit single “That’s What I Like,” with a 49% likelihood of taking home the award. The second most likely winner is rapper Childish Gambino for his song “Redbone,” with 16% odds. “That’s What I Like” spent 24 weeks in the top five of Billboard’s Hot 100 chart – one of only five songs to ever accomplish this feat.
8. Best Rap Album
> Predicted winner: “DAMN.” – Kendrick Lamar (34% odds)
> Also likely: “4:44” – Jay-Z (22% odds)
> In the running: “Laila’s Wisdom” – Rapsody (20% odds)
> Dark horse: “Flower Boy” – Tyler, The Creator (19% odds)
> Long shot: “Culture” – Migos (5% odds)
Kendrick Lamar’s critically acclaimed fourth studio album “DAMN.” is expected to take home Best Rap Album with 34% odds. The younger Lamar is facing stiff competition from the more established Jay-Z, who is second most likely to win with 22% odds. Jay-Z has an impressive Grammy history, having earned 21 wins and 74 nominations. For comparison, Lamar has seven wins and 29 nominations.
9. Best Rap Performance
> Predicted winner: “HUMBLE.” – Kendrick Lamar (38% odds)
> Also likely: “Bodak Yellow” – Cardi B (31% odds)
> In the running: “4:44” – Jay-Z (16% odds)
> Dark horse: “Bad and Boujee” – Migos ft. Lil Uzi Vert (11% odds)
> Long shot: “Bounce Back” – Big Sean (4% odds)
Kendrick Lamar’s “HUMBLE.” has earned four Grammy nominations this year: Record of the Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Music Video. The song, which is Lamar’s first No. 1 single, has sold over 1 million copies. The second most likely winner is Cardi B for her song “Bodak Yellow,” which has 31% odds to win.
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10. Best Rap Song
> Predicted winner: “HUMBLE.” – Kendrick Lamar (28% odds)
> Also likely: “Bodak Yellow” – Cardi B (27% odds)
> In the running: “Chase Me” – Danger Mouse ft. Run the Jewels and Big Boi (25% odds)
> Dark horse: “the Story of O.J.” – Jay-Z (15% odds)
> Long shot: “Sassy” – Rapsody (5% odds)
Kendrick Lamar is a 1 point favorite over Cardi B to win Best Rap Song. The Compton, California native has been nominated for a Grammy 29 times and won the gramophone trophy seven times. Lamar received his first Grammy nomination in 2013 and took home his first Grammys for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song for “I” the next year. Cardi B is nominated for her song “Bodak Yellow.” Also in the running is Danger Mouse featuring Run the Jewels and Big Boi for the song “Chase Me.”
11. Best Rock Album
> Predicted winner: “Hardwired…To Self-Destruct” – Metallica (45% odds)
> Also likely: “Villains” – Queens of the Stone Age (26% odds)
> In the running: “The Stories We Tell Ourselves” – Nothing More (14% odds)
> Dark horse: “A Deeper Understanding” – The War on Drugs (10% odds)
> Long shot: “Emperor of Sand” – Mastodon (5% odds)
The Los Angeles-based heavy metal legend band Metallica is the favorite at 45% odds to win Best Rock Album with the album “Hardwired…To Self-Destruct” over Queens of the Stone Age “Villains.” Metallica, formed in 1981, was first nominated for a Grammy in 1988. Overall, the band has been nominated for a Grammy 18 times and won eight awards.
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12. Best Rock Performance
> Predicted winner: “Run” – Foo Fighters (35% odds)
> Also likely: “You Want It Darker” – Leonard Cohen (28% odds)
> In the running: “Go to War” – Nothing More (17% odds)
> Dark horse: “The Promise” – Chris Cornell (15% odds)
> Long shot: “No Good” – Kaleo (5% odds)
Veteran rockers Foo Fighters are the odds-on favorite to win Best Rock Song. The Seattle, Washington-based group has been nominated 27 times and won 10 Grammy gilded gramophones. The late Leonard Cohen, whose has been nominated for three Grammys and won one, is also in the running for his song “You Want It Darker” with odds of winning of 28%.
13. Best Rock Song
> Predicted winner: “Run” – Foo Fighters (36% odds)
> Also likely: “Atlas, Rise!” – Metallica (30% odds)
> In the running: “Go to War” – Nothing More (18% odds)
> Dark horse: “Blood in the Cut” – K.Flay (12% odds)
> Long shot: “The Stage” – Avenged Sevenfold (4% odds)
The Foo Fighters, formed in 1994, are the favorite to win Best Rock Song. According to Bing, heavy metal group Metallica will also contend for Best Rock Song with “Atlas, Rise!” with odds of 30%. Texas-based rock band Nothing More is also in the running with its song “Go to War” odds of 18%.
14. Record of the Year
> Predicted winner: “HUMBLE.” – Kendrick Lamar (31% odds)
> Also likely: “Despacito” – Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber (30% odds)
> In the running: “The Story of O.J.” – Jay-Z (22% odds)
> Dark horse: “24K Magic” – no Mars (14% odds)
> Long shot: “Redbone” – Childish Gambino (3% odds)
In a hotly contested category, “HUMBLE.” by Kendrick Lamar gets a 1-point nod from Bing over “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee and featuring Justin Bieber. The song was Lamar’s second No. 1 single on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. “HUMBLE.” has been nominated for four Grammys this year. Lamar has been nominated 29 times for a Grammy and won seven times.
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15. Song of the Year
> Predicted winner: “1-800-273-8255” – Logic ft. Alessia Cara and Khalid (31% odds)
> Also likely: “Despacito” – Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber (24% odds)
> In the running: “4:44” – Jay-Z (21% odds)
> Dark horse: “That’s What I Like” – Bruno Mars (20% odds)
> Long shot: “Issues” – Julia Michaels (4% odds)
“1-800-273-8255,” performed by Logic and featuring Alessia Cara and Khalid, takes its title from the phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The song is the favorite in for Song of the Year with odds of winning of 31%. Other strong contenders are “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee and featuring Justin Bieber (24% odds) and “4:44” by Jay-Z (21% odds).
16. Best New Artist
> Predicted winner: Alessia Cara (43% odds)
> Also likely: Julia Michaels (22% odds)
> In the running: SZA (16% odds)
> Dark horse: Khalid (13% odds)
> Long shot: Lil Uzi Vert (6% odds)
Canadian-born Alessia Cara is the big favorite to win Best New Artist with her odds of winning the award at 43%. The 21-year-old Cara has been nominated for four Grammy awards this year. Julia Michaels is considered as the strongest competition for Cara. The 24-year-old Iowa native has been nominated for two Grammy Awards.
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