Rap has taken over the Spotify Charts and now the genre has dominated the Grammys.

Shockingly, Ed Sheeran’s massive selling “Divide” did not get an Album of the Year nod, neither did albums by Gaga or Kesha. Rather, the Grammys went mostly for R&B and rap: Jay Z, Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar and Childish Gambino, who is really the actor Donald Glover.

Rather, all the pop stars including Gaga, Sheeran, Pink, Kelly Clarkson, and Kesha have been pushed down to to best vocal category.

“How the Grammys became the R&B/Hip Hop Awards will be the subject of much discussion at Black Rock today. Their traditional country nominee is absent, which for CBS is a disaster. The only pop singer who scored an Album of the Year nod was Lorde, the 20 year New Zealand singer whose “Melodrama” album not much of a hit compared to her previous outing.

Kendrick Lamar, Glover, Bruno Mars and Jay Z also took up most of the Record and Song of the Year categories even though almost none of that music is not what is typically thought of for those categories. I’ll bet a lot of pop, rock and R&B stars are in shock right now. Ed Sheeran and his team must be having Xanax omelettes.

Again, for older skewing CBS and producer Ken Erlich, this will be a challenge. This is not the show they want. Having no country nominees in the main categories is heart-attack inducing.

There were no nominations for singles released before the September 30th deadline by pop superstars Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, and so on. Swift will not be performing “Look What You Made Me Do” with Right Said Fred. Cyrus won’t be singing “Malibu.”

For Jay Z, this must be quite a celebration. He wanted the Grammys at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. That didn’t happen. Instead, he will be a huge part of the Madison Square Garden show. Stunning.”

Indie pop songstress and KOAR favorite Sulene is back with a new single Something New that comes off the forthcoming Reimagined EP. From handling lead guitar duties for lead frontman Nate Ruess of the band .fun to Betty Who, the Berklee grad has quickly made a name for herself. For good reason, she’s amazingly talented.

Originally from South Africa but now residing in Brooklyn, Sulene kicked off with the Strange EP which quickly became a blog favorite and landing in Spotify’s New Music Friday.
sulene@sulene.com

Jazz Mino’s cover of the 90’s hit Crush found its way on Spotify’s ‘Chilled Pop Hits’ Playist along with several others. The London based pop artist last made waves with the pop/tropical house track Footprints which also landed Spotify’s New Music Friday. Known for her live show and having supported Lianne La Havas and The Noissettes, the electro queen has it all covered from her live sessions on BBC, and a Record of The Day feature.
info@lumin-media.com

Santa Cruz based JINCO dropped his latest track “Haven’t Said” feat. Jake Herring. He just wrapped up a back-to-back tour throughout Australia, New Zealand and India and will perform this years NYE Festival in San Diego along with Tiesto and Dillon Francis. In 2016, his first release “I Wonder” clocked over 8 million plays while his second release, “Tokyo” generated over 15 million plays. Check it out!
ilya@pendulumpr.com

(Sissel Steyaert Photography)

Pavlove, a Belgian indie rock act release the new single ‘Give Me All You’ve Got’. Already picked up by Radio 1, on the third listen, you’ll love the song. The indie band draws inspiration from the 60’s as well as various bands like Tame Impala, and Unknown Mortal Orchestra.

The new single follows their 2016 debut EP. Their first single ‘Because Of You’ and music video was nicely streamed and was featured in ‘Charlie en Hannah’s Grand Night Out’, closing movie of Film Fest Ghent 2017.
yelke@notmybabymusic.be, pavloveofficial@gmail.com