The “top categories” – the dozen or so that get any attention from civilians – reflect which names got the biggest push at radio, on MTV and at retail. Big pushes have big budgets.

Now, the major labels recently announced they promise – really, really promise this time, mommy – to stop bribing everyone in sight to play their records.

That only happened during the summer. So, you have to wonder how many nominations of the mediocre albums and songs in the big categories were the direct result of “gifts” of plasma TVs, European vacations, clean coke, and all-expenses visits to amateur night at the Frisky Kitty.

Or maybe you don’t have to wonder.