New York (AFP)
American singer Lizzo topped the list with eight Grammy nominations, the awards of the American music industry, according to the list unveiled Wednesday.
Thirty-one-year-old real-life artist Melissa Viviane Jefferson leads the other two revelations of the year, singer Billie Eilish and rapper Lil Nas X, with six nominations each.
Lizzo and Billie Eilish (17) were both nominated in the four queen categories, recording of the year (for production), song of the year (for writing), album of the year and best new artist.
This is a new wind that could blow on the Grammys, whose nominations were dominated by two artists who have broken this year, even if they have been in the circuit for several years.
They also embody two styles far apart from each other. On one side Lizzo the bubbly black young woman, with colorful clips and shouts of voice, the other Billie Eilish, the white teen and his dark universe, his voice soft and heady.
The two artists also represent, each in their own way, the mix of musical genres.
This promotion is a blessing for the Recording Academy, the representative body of music professionals in the United States.
Regularly criticized, the organization had initiated a series of reforms to promote the diversity of its members and the Grammy charts.
This year, the list of nominations is dominated by women, with besides Lizzo and Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande (5 nominations), Beyoncé and the singer HER have also done well.
As for Lil Nas X, improbable hero of 2019 with his hit "Old Town Road", he is also a representative of diversity, as one of the very few rappers to have declared openly homosexual.
The ceremony will take place on January 26 in Los Angeles.
© 2019 AFP