Grammy Awards 2016: Will Taylor Swift reach a new record for wins?
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Will Taylor Swift make history at this year鈥檚 Grammy Awards?聽
At the 2016 Grammys, Swift is nominated for, among other prizes, the album of the year Grammy, along with such contenders as Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, Alabama Shakes, and Chris Stapleton.
Swift previously won album of the year for her 2008 work 鈥淔earless.鈥
If she takes the prize this time, Swift will be the first female artist to head up her album and win twice. Will she do so?
The critics think so.聽 wrote of the category, 鈥淭his one鈥檚 going to 鈥1989,鈥 one of the decade鈥檚 most ubiquitous albums.鈥 agreed, writing, 鈥淭hat album not only marked a transition 鈥 one of the most successful of all time 鈥 for Swift, but it sold tremendously well, launched seven hit singles and a massive, star-studded world tour 鈥 all while Swift took down Apple for not paying musicians and stood her ground against Spotify. Those musicians who aren't paid, along with indie artists, will be throwing their support to her for album of the year.鈥
Some feel differently.聽 wrote, 鈥淚 think the choice is an easy one. Kendrick Lamar is one of the most revolutionary artists that has broken out in a long time.鈥 went with a different pick, writing that 鈥渢he Brittany Howard-fronted Alabama Shakes will win voters over.鈥澛
History could be made in a different category: if Lamar wins the Grammy award for best song of the year for his track 鈥淎lright,鈥 he would be the first rapper to do so. However, all four writers picked other songs as more likely to take the prize.
As for Swift, whether or not she does set a record at the Grammys and become the only female artist to win the record of the year prize twice for her own work (and not for, say, lending guest vocals on another artist's album), she remains an artist who has combined awards attention and blockbuster sales, not always two qualities that go hand-in-hand.
Swift鈥檚 鈥1989鈥 became the biggest-selling album of 2014, the year of its release, and came in second for 2015, behind only the smash hit Adele album 鈥25.鈥澛
What other current artists who have achieved Grammys success also do well in sales?
Band U2 is one of the acts who have won , and their albums are聽still performing well on the charts. Their 2014 album 鈥淪ongs of Innocence鈥 made the top 10 of the Billboard 200 chart, which looks at album sales.聽
However, this marks a decline for the group 鈥 as noted by , many of the band鈥檚 past albums have debuted at number one.
As for other big Grammys winners, Jay-Z's 2013 album 鈥淢agna Carta 鈥 Holy Grail鈥 reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart, and his wife Beyonc茅聽has also combined an impressive set of Grammys with commercial success. Her 2013 self-titled album reached number one.聽
Kanye West is also another critically acclaimed artist whose sales are impressive. He has won some of the most Grammys of any artist and his 2013 album 鈥淵eezus鈥 came in at number one on the Billboard 200.
The 2016 Grammys will air on Feb. 15.