Grammy cabal

GETTING TIMBERLAKED: With the first round of Grammy ballots now turned in, it’s time for the backroom caucuses to discuss, dissect and select the all-important nominations for the major categories. The voting so far by the membership is merely a guide for the Grammy cabal to choose their favorites, whether it be this year’s equivalent of Esperanza Spalding—who was unknown to most in the music business until she was named Best New Artist in 2011—or Herbie Hancock’s River: The Joni Letters, which stunned everyone when it was awarded the 2008 Grammy for Album of the Year, or Sara Bareilles, who received a totally unexpected nom in the same category this year. Inquiring minds want to know what unlikely candidates will be plucked from obscurity this time around, who’s going to get Timberlaked, so to speak, and who’ll be punished for doing the AMAs. And while we’re on the subject, why does performing on the AMAs move the needle so little? (11/19a)