Oh yeah, I totally agree about the symbolic wins and noms. I was kind of getting at two things - one is that a symbolic nom might not have fit into the pop realm this year because pop is going through a pretty big and interesting evolution at the moment. I'm speculating that they only squeeze in symbolic noms when the category also doesn't have as many strong stand outs.
My other speculation - again big speculation here - is maybe she was left off as a statement of symbolism. Maybe behind all the press TSwift is generating, other artists and industry insiders are not on her side? Several artists make a large portion of the post-performance income by starting their own labels, elevating new artists, producing, etc. By siding with the idea that artist doesn't have to honor active contracts they might see an immediate and/or long term threat to their personal income and investments. I think the industry has largely moved away from the somewhat predatory contracts of the 80's and 90's. Labels don't hold the absolute power they once did. But allowing artists to break existing contacts outside of courtrooms based on success and public opinion, well that sets a different precedent. It's one that might not be heavily agreed with.
This is all getting a little tin-hat conspiracy theory at this point. I could be WAY off base. Also not trying to start a big TSwift vs label discussion. We should move that to a TSwift thread if we're going to have it. I'm just saying I see a couple potential reasons why she might have been left off some of the big 4 awards. If Lover was a better album, then it would be more unusual. But (in my eyes) it felt like a back slide for TSwift and any baggage at all feels like enough to keep it out of the top ranking noms.
www.billboard.com
