The Grammy's 'Best New Artist' Nominees

09:41

January 24, 2014

The six trophies for Adele are displayed backstage at the 54th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, February 12, 2012. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images)

The Grammy Awards ceremony is this Sunday, and there are five hopefuls in the Best New Artist category. Kasey Musgraves, Ed Sheeran, James Blake, Kendrick Lamar and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis are all nominated.

Los Angeles Times pop music writer Mikael Wood thinks Macklemore & Ryan Lewis will win handily.

"He's virtually a lock, he upholds a lot of traditional Grammy values and I think he's a safe choice as a rapper," Wood tells Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson. But he wishes they wouldn't. "The guy for me is so sanctimonious the way he comes on in [Thrift Shop]."

Wood would prefer to see Kendrick Lamar or Kasey Musgraves win. Despite their very different styles of music, he feels they both have a fresh take on a classic genre.

Guest

Mikael Wood, covers pop music for the Los Angeles Times. He tweets @mikaelwood.

This segment aired on January 24, 2014.