Grammy Awards 2016: Winning Best New Artist Category Can Be a Career ‘Kiss of Death’
"I feel sorry for everyone who's gotten it," one winner says.
— -- Some big artists who’ve won Grammy Awards in the Best New Artist category have seen their careers fall by the wayside, leading some to believe the Best New Artist trophy is not always the most reliable predictor of music industry longevity.
Jazz singer Esperanza Spalding beat out a 17-year-old upstart by the name of Justin Bieber in 2011.
Debbie Boone took home the trophy in 1978, beating out the band Foreigner, which would go on to sell 80 million records.
Milli Vanilli won in 1990. Their lip-syncing scandal broke just eight months later and their careers were over.
The Starland Vocal Band won the best new artist Grammy in 1977 for the song “Afternoon Delight,” their now-classic anthem of love.
"That was basically the kiss of death," band member Taffy Danoff told VH1 in a "100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders" special. "I feel sorry for everyone who's gotten it since."
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Other winners in the category have gone on to be superstars, including Adele, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey and Amy Winehouse.
The nominees for Best New Artist at tonight's 2016 Grammys are Meghan Trainor, Courtney Barnett, James Bay, Sam Hunt and Tori Kelly.
