We end the Best New Artist season where it all began for the podcast: the Grammys. We're talking today about the 67th Grammy Awards' "big 4" categories, plus a couple of wildcards -- and along the way, the American need for underdogs, nominations of encouragement, Mark's "Folkmore" playlist, Uncanny George Valley nightmares, couples skate, and a purse dog named Aristotle. Grab an electric clarinet and join us! (Throw the clarinet in the garbage first. THEN join us.)

Intro and outro by David Gregory Byrne; for more information, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

• Nominations list at Grammys.com
• Episode 1: Heavy D and the Boyz, "Now That We've Found Love"
• Record Of The Year Showdown, Episode 1: 1959-1974
• The "Now and Then" video
• Episode 224: Dua Lipa, "Levitating"
• (allegedly) shirts are on sale at Exhibit B. rn
• "Chappell Roan Confronts The Sickness Of Modern Fandom"
• Episode 166: Taylor Swift ft. The Dixie Chicks, "Soon You'll Get Better"
• Best New Artist Breakdown 07: 2009-2016
• The "Die With A Smile" video
• Record Of The Year Showdown, Episode 4: 2007-2022
• Doechii's Tiny Desk concert
• The "Tailor Swif" video
• Emma Pittman and Brody Grant sing "Hopeless War"

It's the Best New Artist Breakdown season finale, featuring a MASTAS greatest-hits line-up, the return of sprung rhythm, grand unifying complaints about breakthrough categories, Elt Zeppelin, and how to evolve past Wolfman Jack in pop-music discovery. Do we agree with the Grammys' most recent BNA choices? Have we decided how to tackle the 2025 nominees? Should jerks win awards? Come spook the Recording Academy herd with us!

Intro and outro by Laura Barger and Jack Baldelli; for more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

• • Ms. Warwick "roasts" Chance The Rapper
  • Episode 68: "Stay" Title Bout
  • Episode 247: Julia Michaels, "All Your Exes"
  • MB's Top 10 Songs of 2024 at The Lost Songs Project
  • Episode 224: Dua Lipa, "Levitating"
  • Record Of The Year Showdown, Episode 4: 2007-2022
  • Do Call It A Comeback, Episode 3: The NEXT Next 15
  • Episode 189: Yola, "Faraway Look"
  • NPR's Stephen Thompson on Ingrid Andress's upsetting anthem
  • Phoebe Bridgers in The New Yorker

  • Single 19: Favorite Discoveries on NPR's Women+ Song List

Our penultimate Best New Artist Breakdown moves into the teens; we're talking about Amy Clonehouses, lost anthems of lady rage, gold-watch nominations, the Overton window of band-name ludicrosity, and much more. Grab those Kendrick Lamar seminar syllabi and have a listen!

Intro and outro by Andrew Byrne; for more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas.

SHOW NOTES

• • Episode 107: Bond-Movie Songs, Ranked
  • Duffy's return to social media after her ordeal
  • Episode 166: Taylor Swift ft. The Dixie Chicks, "Soon You'll Get Better"
  • Episode 182: The Stills, "Changes Are No Good"
  • Episode 74: Four By Pink
  • Pop Goes The Actor 4: '80s Movie Gents
  • Episode 68: "Stay" Title Bout
  • Episode 14: Bastille, "Pompeii"