Grammy predictions: Could Harry Styles and Silk Sonic be spoilers in Beyoncé and Adele's scheduled clash?

When it comes to the 2023 Grammys, it's easy to go ahead and see what we expect the final showdown on February 3 between the two top competitors - Adele and Beyoncé. Because, yes, in the first three general categories, it's probably going to be a close contest that runs the gamut from A to B, so to speak…almost a direct sequel to the 2017 Grammy Awards race, in which "25" was opposite "Lemonade." Maybe the big question is, will this movie have the same ending, with Adele apologizing to Bey for beating her up, yet again?

But there's a long way to go before that and considerable suspense that eight other artists go on fill the 10 available slots in the album, record and song of the year categories. (The Recording Academy increased the number of places by eight at the last minute last year, only in these divisions.) The only other virtual certainties in these three categories are Harry Styles and Silk Sonic, neither of which can be completely considered as ultimate. winners, if voting members decide they don't even want to have to choose between all that great diva energy

And the only major category in which absolutely nothing is acquired and where there is no of clear precursors is best new artist. With Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo as early findings for this honor in recent years, it's slightly refreshing to return to a time when it's hard to say for sure that someone is even a lock for this category, let alone one. a winner who can be called before the initial candidates have even been voted on. Predicting anything to do with a new artist isn't as simple as A-B-C - with our apologies to Gayle, who might go on to win it all, or even go unnominated, in a year as unpredictable as this.

First round voting out of the thousands of candidates in the initial ballot takes place from October 22 to November 21 . 5, so expect a lot of official or covert FYC campaigns right before the US midterms. Next, we'll find out who's really going to have a happy Thanksgiving and/or prepare for another psychological battle, when the nominations are revealed on November 15.

Here are Variety's picks at the top of the four general categories, with lists of the top 15 contenders we I think the bottom 10 will be eliminated from … even if we protect the bets by naming 10 more challengers in each division. (In the meantime, if you're wondering where Drake and The Weeknd are, remember that both protested the Grammys last year by refraining from submitting their work; their feelings haven't changed this year.)

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

15 Platoon Leaders:

Adele, "30"

Beyoncé, "Renaissance"

Silk Sonic, "An Evening with Silk Sonic"

Harry Styles, "Harry's House"

Kendrick Lamar, "Mr. Morale and Big Steps”

Bad Bunny, "Un Verano Sin Ti"

Lizzo, "Special"

Brandi Carlile, "In Those Silent Days"

Soundtrack, "Encanto"

Rosalía, "Motomami"

Future, "I never loved you"

Taylor Swift, "Red (Taylor's Version)"

Steve Lacy, "Gemini Rights"

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, "Raise the Roof"