Grammy album of the year: Olivia Dean and Olivia Rodrigo seen as early frontrunners

Left · 2Two entertainment-trade columns published on 7 October name Olivia Rodrigo and Olivia Dean as the early frontrunners for album of the year at the Grammys. 1 2 Left · 1The Hollywood Reporter's Lexy Perez says the big-name releases from Taylor Swift, Harry Styles and Bruno Mars have not turned out to be frontrunners for the big prizes, so the spotlight has moved to the two Olivias. 1 Left · 1It describes both as previous best new artist winners who are "beloved across multiple genres". It contrasts Rodrigo's "You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love" (released in June, rock-leaning, with a younger fan base) with Dean's "The Art of Loving" (R&B-leaning, with a more mature audience). 1

Left · 1The Hollywood Reporter calls both "sure things" for album of the year nominations, with a possible slight edge to Rodrigo because her album is built as a top-to-bottom story of a relationship. It says Rodrigo may benefit from recency, while Dean's album has staying power, still in the top 10 after a full year. 1 Left · 1Variety's Chris Willman says some bettors are already laying odds on either Olivia to take the lead, but his column hedges on which one. He writes that a Dean-versus-Rodrigo contest is "very possibly" where the race ends up, and promises a fuller case for each nearer the ceremony. 2 Left · 1Variety gives the calendar: voting opens to Recording Academy members on 12 October and runs 10 days, nominations come on 16 November, and the ceremony is on 7 February. It notes the top categories have been cut from 10 nominees to eight. 2

Left · 2Both columns say several prominent men are out of contention. BTS withdrew their album in protest at a new K-pop or Asian pop category, and Drake is not submitting. Variety concludes that, barring a Noah Kahan surprise, a man is unlikely to win any of the top four categories. 1 2 Left · 2The columns also discuss other likely album contenders. They name Swift's "The Life of a Showgirl" (called a near-certain nominee by Variety), Mars's "The Romantic", Raye, Kahan, Rosalía, Phoebe Bridgers and Ella Langley's "Dandelion". They differ on Styles and Madonna: The Hollywood Reporter calls Styles the "odd man out" and thinks Madonna may make the cut, while Variety calls nominations for both a nail-biter. 1 2 Left · 2On the other top categories, The Hollywood Reporter expects both Olivias in record and song of the year, with Dean's "Man I Need" a favourite. It suggests Swift may enter "The Fate of Ophelia" for record and "I Knew It, I Knew You" for song. Variety says Swift's real narrative lies in those categories, where she has never won. 1 2

Left · 2Both pieces are opinion forecasts, not reports of voting, and the nominations had not been announced when they were published. 2 1