Best new artist curse

You're referring to the "Best New Artist" curse!

The "Best New Artist" curse is a phenomenon where artists who win the Grammy Award for Best New Artist often struggle to maintain their success and momentum in the music industry. This curse has been observed in several artists who have won the award over the years.

Some examples of artists who have been affected by the "Best New Artist" curse include:

  1. Milli Vanilli (1990): The duo's Grammy win was later revoked due to a lip-syncing scandal, but even if they hadn't been disqualified, their career was already on the decline.
  2. Sheryl Crow (1995): Despite her initial success, Crow's subsequent albums didn't achieve the same level of commercial success as her debut.
  3. Lauryn Hill (1999): Hill's solo debut album "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" was a critical and commercial success, but she struggled to follow it up with another hit album.
  4. Norah Jones (2003): Jones' debut album "Come Away With Me" was a huge success, but her subsequent albums didn't quite match its commercial success.
  5. Sam Smith (2015): Smith's debut album "In the Lonely Hour" was a huge success, but their subsequent albums have not achieved the same level of success.
  6. Alessia Cara (2018): Cara's debut album "Know-It-All" was a moderate success, but her subsequent albums have not achieved the same level of commercial success.

There are a few theories as to why the "Best New Artist" curse might exist:

  1. Pressure to repeat success: Winning the Grammy for Best New Artist can put a lot of pressure on an artist to repeat their initial success, which can be difficult to do.
  2. Expectations vs. reality: The Grammy win can create unrealistic expectations about an artist's future success, leading to disappointment when they don't meet those expectations.
  3. Over-saturation: The Grammy win can lead to over-exposure, making it difficult for an artist to maintain their momentum and avoid burnout.
  4. Lack of creative freedom: The pressure to produce another hit album can lead to a lack of creative freedom, causing an artist to feel stifled and uninspired.

It's worth noting that not all artists who win the Best New Artist award are affected by the curse, and some have gone on to have long and successful careers.