The Grammys have a unique eligibility period — October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017 — which may be part of the reason there appears to be a late surge of high-profile music releases this season. Entertainment Weekly reports that Sam Smith will release new music on September 8, the same day Kelly Clarkson is scheduled to perform on “Today,” reportedly in support of her own new single. They follow Taylor Swift, who just dropped “Look What You Made Me Do” on August 25 along with a music video that premiered at the MTV VMAs on August 27. All three of them have contended in the general field at the Grammys before and could return.
Sam Smith broke through in 2014 with his debut album “In the Lonely Hour,” which won him four Grammys including Best New Artist and Record and Song of the Year for his breakthrough single “Stay with Me.” Then in 2015 he recorded “Writing’s on the Wall,” the theme from the James Bond film “Spectre,” which pulled off an upset by winning Smith an Oscar for Best Original Song. It’s been two years since we’ve heard new music from him.
Kelly Clarkson rose to fame as the first ever winner of FOX’s “American Idol” in 2002. Then she became the first “Idol” alum to win a Grammy, claiming Best Female Pop Vocal and Best Pop Album for “Breakaway” in 2006. She won Best Pop Album again in 2013 for “Stronger.” She has yet to win in the general field, but she was nominated for Record of the Year in 2013 for “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You).”
But Smith and Clarkson aren’t alone. September will also see new album releases by Foo Fighters (“Concrete and Gold,” September 15), Fergie (“Double Dutchess,” September 22), Miley Cyrus (“Younger Now,” September 29), and Demi Lovato (“Tell Me You Love Me,” September 29), among others. What do you think of the upcoming glut of music releases? Discuss these and more with your fellow music fans in our forums.
