Portnow cited three reasons he believes this year's nominations appear to be more reflective of the most current forces in pop music: ongoing efforts by the academy to insure that its voting members are actively engaged in making music, the impact hip-hop and urban music continue to exert creatively and commercially, and the introduction this year of online voting for the nominations, which Portnow said reflects the reality of academy members' "schedules, which are pretty upside down."

Source: Los Angeles Times November 28, 2017 13:39 UTC