The year 2024 was an energetic one in music, from BRAT summer to a Pink Pony Club fall and the 67th Grammy awards showed who really stood out. 

Beyonce’s Cowboys vs Taylor’s Poets 

Despite the long list of nominees, the Album of the Year award was realistically between two of music’s biggest powerhouses: Taylor Swift and Beyonce. Last night The Recording Academy finally gave Beyonce her flowers for Cowboy Carter. It is her first award in this category and a rather historical win as she is the first black woman to win the title since Lauryn Hill in 1999. Although, many feel she did not deserve the win, since she won Best Country Album earlier in the night.

Fort Lauderdale High School students tuned in and shared their opinions.

Macy Martin (12) believes that the awards were not purely given based on talent but more as a push toward diversity as she mentioned the CEO of the Recording Academy, Harvey Mason Jr.’s, speech in the beginning of the night. “He brought up the fact that the Academy has pledged to focus on more women and people of color this award season and I think this is really what this stems from.”

Not so “Casual”

Popstar Chappell Roan won Best New Artist and called out record labels in her speech, “I would demand that labels and the industry would offer a livable wage and health care, especially to developing artists […] Labels, we got you, but do you got us?”

Roan is known for advocating for musicians whether it’s regarding privacy or livable wages so this came as no surprise. She proved that she deserved this win since she actively does something not many artists do: speak up about mistreatment in the industry. 

“I think it was really brave of her to say something not a lot of nepo babies would say because they just don’t have to worry about these things. In an interview years ago she made a promise to call out the industry if she won a Grammy, and she stayed true to her promise.” Aspen Menemenci (11) when asked about the controversial moment.

A Win for L.A. 

Kendrick Lamar swept 5 awards for his diss track Not Like Us. In his speech he represented his hometown, “We’re gonna dedicate this one to the city […] Compton, Watts, Long Beach, Inglewood, Hollywood, out to the Valley, Pacoima, IE, San Bernardino, all that.” Lamar’s message was heartwarming as there was talk of the Award night being cancelled due to the fires.