There had been massive support and well wishes for Burna Boy (left) to bring home the Grammy but veteran artiste Angelique Kidjo (right) ended up with the award. Photos: AFP
The hopes of thousands of Nigerian music fans for a second Grammy for the country this year have been dashed as Angelique Kidjo has beaten Burna Boy to the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album.
Burna Boy had been nominated in the category for his acclaimed album ‘African Giant’.
Although he was up against seasoned Angelique Kidjo, Nathalie Joachim with Spektral Quartet, Bokanté & Metropole Orkest Conducted By Jules Buckley and, Altin Gün, many fans were certain this would be his year.
It wasn’t to be as the Recording Academy opted to hand Kidjo her fourth Best Contemporary World Music Album gong for her album “Celia”.
Congrats Best World Music Album winner – ‘Celia’ @angeliquekidjo
Kidjo who sings in more than five languages and whose career has spanned almost four decades was gracious in receiving the award and dedicated it to Burna Boy.
“This is for Burna Boy,” she said, lifting up her award to cheers, and declaring the “African Giant” as part of the new generation of African musicians that are changing the global perception of Africa and its music.
A win for Burna would have made it the second time a Nigerian would be returning home with the Grammy plaque. Sikiru Adepoju is the only Nigerian to have won a Grammy. He won it in 2009 with the “Global Drum Project” a collaborative album with Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain, and Giovanni Hidalgo.
Burna Boy had trended virtually throughout last week as fans, anticipating the awards, took to social media to express their love and support for him.
News that he did not win the award caused another social media frenzy. Check out what some fans had to say below:
Although he didn’t win the #GRAMMYAwards2020, I am very proud of the recognition that @burnaboy has received on the world stage today. Angelique Kidjo dedicating her win to him is the definition of grace and class. Burna is just 28. He will come again. Una know say him special.
Burna Boy didn’t win the Grammy, so what? He is a living legend, the African Giant. He will come back stronger and better. Long live King Burna 🦍🦍🦍🦍🦍🦍🦍 #Burnaboypic.twitter.com/6KEOBREiJH
All respect to Angelique Kidjo’s career longevity and global impact, but wish Burna boy won tonight. Love that she dedicated the album to Burna boy and the new generation of African artists taking the world by storm and taking Africa’s music to the world #GRAMMYAwards2020
Y'all claiming Burna was robbed, Angelique Kidjo deserved that award.#GRAMMYs is a US award, now look & compare the difference btw "Celia" & "African Giant" on the US Billboard Chart.
— if my tweet pain you, drink sniper (@Sakpo007) January 27, 2020
Grammy or not, Burna being nominated with a legend/mentor like Angelique Kidjo is a big win for him. Still The African Giant. 🦍 #GRAMMYLivepic.twitter.com/Vj8Bs5Zefu
As sad as it is that Burna boy didn't win the Grammy, let's dead that narrative of Grammy cheating Africans because Angelique Kidjo is African or Burna boy getting robbed because do you know who TF Angelique Kidjo is?
Best World Music Album Nominees “Gece” — Altin Gün “Celia” — Angelique Kidjo (Winner) “What Heat” — Bokanté & Metropole Orkest; Jules Buckley “African Giant” — Burna Boy “Fanm D’ayiti” — Nathalie Joachim with Spektral Quartet
The Grammy awards got underway Sunday with superstars Lizzo, Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X primed for glory — as grief over the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant cast a pall on music’s marquee night in Los Angeles.
Sorrow casts a shadow over the show held at the Staples Center — the same venue where the basketball icon led the city’s Lakers to multiple championships.
Dozens of people, many of them in tears, gathered near the arena to mourn the 41-year-old Bryant, who died Sunday in a helicopter crash in the hills west of the California metropolis. Flags were flying at half-mast.
The evening nevertheless still promises rollicking performances from the trio of Grammy frontrunners, as well as tributes to the veteran rockers Aerosmith and the late rapper Nipsey Hussle.
Early prizes handed out at the pre-gala event went to Lady Gaga, who won two for her soundtrack for the hit film “A Star Is Born,” and Beyonce, who nabbed the prize for best music film for “Homecoming.”
“Rest in peace Kobe, we love you,” Steve Pamon, a “Homecoming” director, said in accepting the trophy.
Overnight country-rap sensation Lil Nas X, up for six awards, snagged his first Grammy for the music video of his smash earworm “Old Town Road.”
“Um, thank you!” the bubbly 20-year-old told the audience with a wide smile glimmering below his white 10-gallon hat.
Eilish’s debut studio album won its first award of the night in the engineering categories.
Pop’s new guard is poised to usher in a new era — but scandal backstage has threatened to tarnish the glitz.
Just days before the gala, the Recording Academy’s suspended CEO Deborah Dugan — the first woman to lead the embattled institution behind the Grammys — filed an explosive discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
She says she was suspended after raising concerns over sexual harassment, voting irregularities and other misconduct within the Academy — one of music’s most influential organizations, but one long accused of favoritism and a lack of diversity.
Dugan also alleged that her predecessor, Neil Portnow, had raped a foreign female musician — an allegation he has rejected as “ludicrous and untrue.”
‘We need transparency’
The backstage storm has threatened to cloud the Grammy celebration, despite a diverse slate of nominees that celebrates a mix of established and budding stars.
On Saturday night at the annual pre-Grammy gala hosted by industry legend Clive Davis, hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs railed at the Academy.
“Black music has never been respected by the Grammys to the point that it should be,” Combs told a star-studded audience as he was honored as an industry icon, according to Variety.
“We need transparency, we need diversity.”
The magnetic Lizzo, 31, is poised to be this year’s queen bee, leading the Grammy pack with eight nominations, including in all the top four categories (album, record and song of the year plus best new artist).
Lil Nas X, the 18-year-old goth-leaning pop iconoclast Eilish and the enigmatic 22-year-old R&B prodigy H.E.R. are also formidable contenders.
The establishment’s newcomers will square off against veteran powerhouses including Ariana Grande and Beyonce, as well as alt-leaning acts Lana Del Rey, Bon Iver and Vampire Weekend.
Often remembered as much for its performances as its winners, the Grammys will feature Lizzo, Eilish and Grande, along with a genre-blending rendition of “Old Town Road” that will feature K-pop sensation BTS, country star Billy Ray Cyrus and the eclectic DJ Diplo, among others.
Artists including John Legend, Meek Mill and DJ Khaled — all up for Grammys this year — will perform a tribute to Hussle, who was shot dead last year and is up for three posthumous awards.
The British country-soul revivalist Yola, up for four Grammys including the prestigious best new artist prize, said she’s still soaking in all the glamour.
Upon learning of her nominations, the bluesy singer with a big voice told AFP on Friday that she “cried for days.”
“It was hilarious and emotional and I’m just so thrilled to be here,” she said.
(FILES) In this file photo taken on February 07, 2019 Nipsey Hussle performs onstage at the Warner Music Pre-Grammy Party at the NoMad Hotel in Los Angeles. Matt Winkelmeyer / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP
Grammy-nominated rapper Nipsey Hussle was shot dead in the US city of Los Angeles Sunday, sparking an outpouring of grief from fellow celebrities as the city’s mayor blamed “senseless gun violence.”
Local media reported Hussle, 33, was shot in front of his own clothing store Sunday afternoon at close range, by a man who fled in a getaway car.
“Our hearts are with the loved ones of Nipsey Hussle and everyone touched by this awful tragedy,” LA Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted.
A police spokesman told AFP the suspected shooter remained at large. Two other people were wounded.
“L.A. is hurt deeply each time a young life is lost to senseless gun violence,” Garcetti said.
The Los Angeles Times reported the shooting was “likely planned and gang-related.”
‘Gone 2 Soon’
The Grammy-nominated rapper found minor commercial success but was highly revered among his peers, and his shock death triggered an outpouring of tributes from hip hop royalty.
“Gone 2 soon,” rapper Snoop Dogg posted on Instagram. “I’m so sad right now I’ll just reflect on the good times we had.”
Superstar Rihanna posted that “this doesn’t make any sense!
“My spirit is shaken by this! Dear God may His spirit Rest In Peace and May You grant divine comfort to all his loved ones! I’m so sorry this happened to you @nipseyhussle.”
Outside his clothing store, a crowd gathered behind yellow police tape, and a grief-stricken woman clasped her hand over her mouth.
At least one cartridge case lay on the ground, near a black ball cap.
Long part of the underground rap circuit, Hussle struggled to find fame but began selling his own mixtapes, which rap king Jay-Z once bought 100 of for $100 each.
Hours before his death Hussle — whose youth was intertwined with Los Angeles gang culture — tweeted: “Having strong enemies is a blessing.”
Hussle’s “Victory Lap” scored a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album at this year’s ceremony.
It was his first formal album, which dropped after six years of teasing but ultimately lost the honour to rap’s woman of the moment Cardi B.
Megastar Drake also posted his condolences, saying: “My whole energy is just at a low right now hearing this.”
“You were a real one to your people and the rest of us,” Drake wrote. “Rest easy my g.”
Born Ermias Asghedom, Hussle was seen by many in Los Angeles as a lynchpin of the community, redistributing his earnings into the violence-plagued neighbourhoods he came from.
The artist was involved in a project to reclaim the California city’s southern districts for the black residents who made it sing.
“Hussle had a vision of a neighbourhood built for and by the sons and daughters of South L.A.,” said city councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson in a statement following news of the rapper’s death.
“During his life, he moved from shadows into the bright hope of freedom and community revitalization.”
Hussle was open about his early years in the notorious Crips gang, telling the Los Angeles Times newspaper in 2018: “We dealt with death, with murder.”
“It was like living in a war zone, where people die on these blocks and everybody is a little bit immune to it,” he said.
“I guess they call it post-traumatic stress when you have people that have been at war for such a long time.”
Members of The Soweto Gospel Choir perform during a rehearsal at the Scout’s Hall in Rosebank, Johannesburg on February 21, 2019. WIKUS DE WET / AFP
When the Soweto Gospel Choir was named as winner of the Grammy for Best World Music Album, it earned the ensemble a place in the music history books.
Announced by Questlove, drummer from the US hip hop band The Roots, the award sparked an explosion of excitement among the South African singers.
“He was almost stuttering, like: ‘And the winner is Fr- Fr- Freedom, Sss- Soweto Gospel Choir,’ then we jumped up! Like he took long, man,” chuckled choirmaster Shimmy Jiyane.
“I screamed my lungs out,” admits choir member Mary Mulovhedzi.
“Then the ululating came, the Sowetans (in us) just came out — we couldn’t hold back.”
What earned them the award was their album “Freedom” — a 12-track tribute to Nelson Mandela released to mark the 100th year of his birth.
It was the choir’s third Grammy in its 17-year existence, adding to accolades which include an Emmy and a debut album called “Voices From Heaven” which reached No. 1 on Billboard’s World Music Chart.
“Freedom” gives a modern twist to so-called struggle songs — campaigning music rooted in South Africa’s apartheid past, when the black majority were subjugated by the white minority.
“It’s a story in a way of what happened during those days,” bass singer Mulalo Mulovhedzi told AFP.
The album draws inspiration “from the freedom fighters of 1976,” he said, referring to a linchpin year in the fight against apartheid — the Soweto uprising.
“The whole idea (was) that we have to go back to Soweto, where freedom started.”
‘Food for the soul’
Soweto — a shortened form referring to the South West Townships on the edge of Johannesburg — became a worldwide symbol of resistance.
And it is where the group has been based since it was founded in 2002.
Much of the choir’s captivating sound is composed and arranged in indigenous South African languages including Zulu, Xhosa and even Afrikaans.
Yet some of their biggest audiences are in Europe and America.
“When we sing, it’s as if people understand us, so that’s music — it’s universal and it’s spiritual and has the power to restore,” explains musical director Diniloxolo Ndlakuse, dressed in bright traditional costume.
Songs in local dialects transcend the language barrier and touch audiences, choir members say.
“When we do ‘Jikijela ngamatje’, when we cry and show emotions, the audience is crying,” Jiyane says.
“You must remember that music is food for the soul.
“It heals you, even if you don’t understand what I say… you get to be there with me.”
The ensemble, which counts 52 members, has graced prestigious foreign venues including Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House and the Royal Festival Hall in London.
Raw and proud
Back in Johannesburg, the rhythmic sound of feet and hands tapping in unison fills the hall where the choir members practise their routines.
Two rows of about 20 men and women between the ages of 24 and 50 harmonise backed by a djembe, a skin-covered drum.
Because of its surging popularity, the group has split into three identical units to meet the insatiable global demand for its performances.
“Some of our singers are not musically trained. So what we do is we learn by ear,” Jiyane says.
“That’s the rawness of it and that’s the simplicity.”
The brightly-dressed singers have collaborated with several international acts including Celine Dion and Chance The Rapper, and also worked with Peter Gabriel on the song “Down To Earth” from the 2008 sci-fi blockbuster “Wall-E”.
The track went on to win a Grammy in the Best Movie Song category.
Mulovhedzi, whose late father David co-founded the group, says the group’s sound has evolved “because of the experience… of the collaborations with other artists”.
But choirmaster Jiyane insists their signature sounds are “simple” and unchanged.
“It’s something that is raw, it’s something that is proudly South African and it’s something that comes from the streets of Soweto.”
Here is a full list of winners for the Grammy Awards, which were handed out on Sunday in Los Angeles.
Country star Kacey Musgraves won the top prize of the night, Album of the Year, for her “Golden Hour.”
1. Record Of The Year Award to the Artist and to the Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s) and/or Mixer(s) and mastering engineer(s), if other than the artist.
I LIKE IT Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin Invincible, JWhiteDidIt, Craig Kallman & Tainy, producers; Leslie Brathwaite, Kuk Harrell, Evan LaRay & Simone Torres, engineers/mixers; Colin Leonard, mastering engineer
THE JOKE Brandi Carlile Dave Cobb & Shooter Jennings, producers; Tom Elmhirst & Eddie Spear, engineers/mixers; Pete Lyman, mastering engineer
THIS IS AMERICA – WINNER Childish Gambino Donald Glover & Ludwig Goransson, producers; Derek “MixedByAli” Ali, Riley Mackin & Shaan Singh, engineers/mixers; Mike Bozzi, mastering engineer
GOD’S PLAN Drake Boi-1Da, Cardo & Young Exclusive, producers; Noel Cadastre, Noel “Gadget” Campbell & Noah Shebib, engineers/mixers; Chris Athens, mastering engineer
SHALLOW Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper Lady Gaga & Benjamin Rice, producers; Brandon Bost & Tom Elmhirst, engineers/mixers; Randy Merrill, mastering engineer
ALL THE STARS Kendrick Lamar & SZA Al Shux & Sounwave, producers; Sam Ricci & Matt Schaeffer, engineers/mixers; Mike Bozzi, mastering engineer
ROCKSTAR Post Malone Featuring 21 Savage Louis Bell & Tank God, producers; Louis Bell, Lorenzo Cardona, Manny Marroquin & Ethan Stevens, engineers/mixers; Mike Bozzi, mastering engineer
THE MIDDLE Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey Grey, Monsters & Strangerz & Zedd, producers; Grey, Tom Norris, Ryan Shanahan & Zedd, engineers/mixers; Mike Marsh, mastering engineer 2. Album Of The Year Award to Artist(s) and to Featured Artist(s), Songwriter(s) of new material, Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s), Mixer(s) and Mastering Engineer(s) credited with at least 33% playing time of the album, if other than Artist.
INVASION OF PRIVACY Cardi B Leslie Brathwaite & Evan LaRay, engineers/mixers; Belcalis Almanzar & Jorden Thorpe, songwriters; Colin Leonard, mastering engineer
BY THE WAY, I FORGIVE YOU Brandi Carlile Dave Cobb & Shooter Jennings, producers; Dave Cobb & Eddie Spear, engineers/mixers; Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth, songwriters; Pete Lyman, mastering engineer
H.E.R. H.E.R. Darhyl “Hey DJ” Camper Jr, David ‘Swagg R’Celious’ Harris, H.E.R., Walter Jones & Jeff Robinson, producers; Miki Tsutsumi, engineer/mixer; Darhyl Camper Jr & H.E.R., songwriters; Dave Kutch, mastering engineer
BEERBONGS & BENTLEYS Post Malone Louis Bell & Post Malone, producers; Louis Bell & Manny Marroquin, engineers/mixers; Louis Bell & Austin Post, songwriters; Mike Bozzi, mastering engineer
DIRTY COMPUTER Janelle Monáe Chuck Lightning & Janelle Monáe Robinson & Nate “Rocket” Wonder, producers; Mick Guzauski, Janelle Monáe Robinson & Nate “Rocket” Wonder, engineers/mixers; Nathaniel Irvin III, Charles Joseph II, Taylor Parks & Janelle Monáe Robinson, songwriters; Dave Kutch, mastering engineer
GOLDEN HOUR – WINNER Kacey Musgraves Ian Fitchuk, Kacey Musgraves & Daniel Tashian, producers; Craig Alvin & Shawn Everett, engineers/mixers; Ian Fitchuk, Kacey Musgraves & Daniel Tashian, songwriters; Greg Calbi & Steve Fallone, mastering engineers
BLACK PANTHER: THE ALBUM, MUSIC FROM AND INSPIRED BY (Various Artists) Kendrick Lamar, featured artist; Kendrick Duckworth & Sounwave, producers; Matt Schaeffer, engineer/mixer; Kendrick Duckworth & Mark Spears, songwriters; Mike Bozzi, mastering engineer
3. Song Of The Year
A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.
ALL THE STARS Kendrick Duckworth, Solána Rowe, Al Shuckburgh, Mark Spears & Anthony Tiffith, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar & SZA)
BOO’D UP Larrance Dopson, Joelle James, Ella Mai & Dijon McFarlane, songwriters (Ella Mai)
GOD’S PLAN Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, Ron LaTour, Matthew Samuels & Noah Shebib, songwriters (Drake)
IN MY BLOOD Teddy Geiger, Scott Harris, Shawn Mendes & Geoffrey Warburton, songwriters (Shawn Mendes)
THE JOKE Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth, songwriters (Brandi Carlile)
THE MIDDLE Sarah Aarons, Jordan K. Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Marcus Lomax, Kyle Trewartha, Michael Trewartha & Anton Zaslavski, songwriters (Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey)
SHALLOW Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando & Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper)
THIS IS AMERICA – WINNER Donald Glover, Ludwig Goransson & Jeffery Lamar Williams, songwriters (Childish Gambino)
4. Best New Artist
An artist will be considered for Best New Artist if their eligibility year release/s achieved a breakthrough into the public consciousness and notably impacted the musical landscape.
CHLOE X HALLE
LUKE COMBS
GRETA VAN FLEET
H.E.R.
DUA LIPA – WINNER
MARGO PRICE
BEBE REXHA
JORJA SMITH POP
5. Best Pop Solo Performance
For new vocal or instrumental pop recordings. Singles or Tracks only.
COLORS Beck
HAVANA (LIVE) Camila Cabello
GOD IS A WOMAN Ariana Grande
JOANNE (WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU’RE GOIN’?) – WINNER Lady Gaga
BETTER NOW Post Malone
6. Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
For new vocal or instrumental duo/group or collaborative pop recordings. Singles or Tracks only.
FALL IN LINE Christina Aguilera Featuring Demi Lovato
DON’T GO BREAKING MY HEART Backstreet Boys
‘S WONDERFUL Tony Bennett & Diana Krall
SHALLOW – WINNER Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
GIRLS LIKE YOU Maroon 5 Featuring Cardi B
SAY SOMETHING Justin Timberlake Featuring Chris Stapleton
THE MIDDLE Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey
7. Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new traditional pop recordings.
LOVE IS HERE TO STAY Tony Bennett & Diana Krall
MY WAY – WINNER Willie Nelson
NAT “KING” COLE & ME Gregory Porter
STANDARDS (DELUXE) Seal
THE MUSIC…THE MEM’RIES…THE MAGIC! Barbra Streisand 8. Best Pop Vocal Album For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal pop recordings.
CAMILA Camila Cabello
MEANING OF LIFE Kelly Clarkson
SWEETENER – WINNER Ariana Grande
SHAWN MENDES Shawn Mendes
BEAUTIFUL TRAUMA P!nk
REPUTATION Taylor Swift DANCE/ELECTRONIC MUSIC 9. Best Dance Recording For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances. Vocal or Instrumental. Singles or tracks only.
NORTHERN SOUL Above & Beyond Featuring Richard Bedford Above & Beyond & Andrew Bayer, producers; Above & Beyond, mixers
ULTIMATUM Disclosure (Featuring Fatoumata Diawara) Guy Lawrence & Howard Lawrence, producers; Guy Lawrence, mixer
LOSING IT Fisher Paul Nicholas Fisher, producer; Kevin Grainger, mixer
ELECTRICITY – WINNER Silk City & Dua Lipa Featuring Diplo & Mark Ronson Jarami, Alex Metric, Riton & Silk City, producers; Josh Gudwin, mixer
LUNE ROUGE TOKiMONSTA CONTEMPORARY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
11. Best Contemporary Instrumental Album For albums containing approximately 51% or more playing time of instrumental material. For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new recordings.
THE EMANCIPATION PROCRASTINATION Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah
STEVE GADD BAND – WINNER Steve Gadd Band
MODERN LORE Julian Lage
LAID BLACK Marcus Miller
PROTOCOL 4 Simon Phillips ROCK 12. Best Rock Performance For new vocal or instrumental solo, duo/group or collaborative rock recordings.
FOUR OUT OF FIVE Arctic Monkeys
WHEN BAD DOES GOOD – WINNER Chris Cornell
MADE AN AMERICA THE FEVER 333
HIGHWAY TUNE Greta Van Fleet
UNCOMFORTABLE Halestorm 13. Best Metal Performance For new vocal or instrumental solo, duo/group or collaborative metal recordings.
CONDEMNED TO THE GALLOWS Between The Buried And Me
HONEYCOMB Deafheaven
ELECTRIC MESSIAH – WINNER High On Fire
BETRAYER Trivium
ON MY TEETH Underoath 14. Best Rock Song A Songwriter(s) Award. Includes Rock, Hard Rock and Metal songs. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.
BLACK SMOKE RISING Jacob Thomas Kiszka, Joshua Michael Kiszka, Samuel Francis Kiszka & Daniel Robert Wagner, songwriters (Greta Van Fleet)
JUMPSUIT Tyler Joseph, songwriter (Twenty One Pilots)
MANTRA Jordan Fish, Matthew Kean, Lee Malia, Matthew Nicholls & Oliver Sykes, songwriters (Bring Me The Horizon)
RATS Tom Dalgety & A Ghoul Writer, songwriters (Ghost) 15. Best Rock Album For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new rock, hard rock or metal recordings.
RAINIER FOG Alice In Chains
M A N I A Fall Out Boy
PREQUELLE Ghost
FROM THE FIRES – WINNER Greta Van Fleet
PACIFIC DAYDREAM Weezer
ALTERNATIVE
16. Best Alternative Music Album Vocal or Instrumental.
TRANQUILITY BASE HOTEL + CASINO Arctic Monkeys
COLORS – WINNER Beck
UTOPIA Björk
AMERICAN UTOPIA David Byrne
MASSEDUCTION St. Vincent R&B 17. Best R&B Performance For new vocal or instrumental R&B recordings.
LONG AS I LIVE Toni Braxton
SUMMER The Carters
Y O Y Lalah Hathaway
BEST PART – WINNER H.E.R. Featuring Daniel Caesar
FIRST BEGAN PJ Morton 18. Best Traditional R&B Performance For new vocal or instrumental traditional R&B recordings.
BET AIN’T WORTH THE HAND – WINNER (TIE) Leon Bridges
DON’T FALL APART ON ME TONIGHT Bettye LaVette
HONEST MAJOR.
HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE – WINNER (TIE) PJ Morton Featuring Yebba
MADE FOR LOVE Charlie Wilson Featuring Lalah Hathaway 19. Best R&B Song A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.
BOO’D UP – WINNER Larrance Dopson, Joelle James, Ella Mai & Dijon McFarlane, songwriters (Ella Mai)
COME THROUGH AND CHILL Jermaine Cole, Miguel Pimentel & Salaam Remi, songwriters (Miguel Featuring J. Cole & Salaam Remi)
FEELS LIKE SUMMER Donald Glover & Ludwig Goransson, songwriters (Childish Gambino)
LONG AS I LIVE Paul Boutin, Toni Braxton & Antonio Dixon, songwriters (Toni Braxton) 20. Best Urban Contemporary Album For albums containing at least 51% playing time of newly recorded contemporary vocal tracks derivative of R&B.
EVERYTHING IS LOVE – WINNER The Carters
THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT Chloe x Halle
CHRIS DAVE AND THE DRUMHEDZ Chris Dave And The Drumhedz
WAR & LEISURE Miguel
VENTRILOQUISM Meshell Ndegeocello 21. Best R&B Album For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new R&B recordings.
SEX & CIGARETTES Toni Braxton
GOOD THING Leon Bridges
HONESTLY Lalah Hathaway
H.E.R. – WINNER H.E.R.
GUMBO UNPLUGGED (LIVE) PJ Morton RAP 22. Best Rap Performance For a Rap performance. Singles or Tracks only.
BE CAREFUL Cardi B
NICE FOR WHAT Drake
KING’S DEAD – WINNER (TIE) Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future & James Blake
BUBBLIN – WINNER (TIE) Anderson .Paak
SICKO MODE Travis Scott, Drake, (Big Hawk) & Swae Lee 23. Best Rap/Sung Performance For a solo or collaborative performance containing both elements of R&B melodies and Rap.
LIKE I DO Christina Aguilera Featuring Goldlink
PRETTY LITTLE FEARS 6lack Featuring J. Cole
THIS IS AMERICA – WINNER Childish Gambino
ALL THE STARS Kendrick Lamar & SZA
ROCKSTAR Post Malone Featuring 21 Savage
24. Best Rap Song
A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.
GOD’S PLAN – WINNER Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, Ron LaTour, Matthew Samuels & Noah Shebib, songwriters (Drake)
KING’S DEAD Kendrick Duckworth, Samuel Gloade, James Litherland, Johnny McKinzie, Axel Morgan, Mark Spears, Travis Walton, Nayvadius Wilburn & Michael Williams II, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future & James Blake)
LUCKY YOU R. Fraser, G. Lucas, M. Mathers, M. Samuels & J. Sweet, songwriters (Eminem Featuring Joyner Lucas)
SICKO MODE Khalif Brown, Rogét Chahayed, BryTavious Chambers, Mike Dean, Mirsad Dervic, Kevin Gomringer, Tim Gomringer, Aubrey Graham, Chauncey Hollis, Jacques Webster, Ozan Yildirim & Cydel Young, songwriters (Travis Scott, Drake, (Big Hawk) & Swae Lee)
WIN K. Duckworth, A. Hernandez, J. McKinzie, M. Samuels & C. Thompson, songwriters (Jay Rock) 25. Best Rap Album For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new rap recordings.
INVASION OF PRIVACY – WINNER Cardi B
SWIMMING Mac Miller
VICTORY LAP Nipsey Hussle
DAYTONA Pusha T
ASTROWORLD Travis Scott COUNTRY 26. Best Country Solo Performance For new vocal or instrumental solo country recordings.
WOULDN’T IT BE GREAT? Loretta Lynn
MONA LISAS AND MAD HATTERS Maren Morris
BUTTERFLIES – WINNER Kacey Musgraves
MILLIONAIRE Chris Stapleton
PARALLEL LINE Keith Urban 27. Best Country Duo/Group Performance For new vocal or instrumental duo/group or collaborative country recordings.
SHOOT ME STRAIGHT Brothers Osborne
TEQUILA – WINNER Dan + Shay
WHEN SOMEONE STOPS LOVING YOU Little Big Town
DEAR HATE Maren Morris Featuring Vince Gill
MEANT TO BE Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line 28. Best Country Song A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.
BREAK UP IN THE END Jessie Jo Dillon, Chase McGill & Jon Nite, songwriters (Cole Swindell)
DEAR HATE Tom Douglas, David Hodges & Maren Morris, songwriters (Maren Morris Featuring Vince Gill)
I LIVED IT Rhett Akins, Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley & Ben Hayslip, songwriters (Blake Shelton)
SPACE COWBOY – WINNER Luke Laird, Shane McAnally & Kacey Musgraves, songwriters (Kacey Musgraves)
TEQUILA Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds & Dan Smyers, songwriters (Dan + Shay)
WHEN SOMEONE STOPS LOVING YOU Hillary Lindsey, Chase McGill & Lori McKenna, songwriters (Little Big Town) 29. Best Country Album For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new country recordings.
UNAPOLOGETICALLY Kelsea Ballerini
PORT SAINT JOE Brothers Osborne
GIRL GOING NOWHERE Ashley McBryde
GOLDEN HOUR – WINNER Kacey Musgraves
FROM A ROOM: VOLUME 2 Chris Stapleton NEW AGE
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 10: Kacey Musgraves (L) and Shane McAnally, winners of the Best Country Song award for ‘Space Cowboy, pose in the press room during the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy/AFP Alberto E. Rodriguez / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP
30. Best New Age Album For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal or instrumental new age recordings.
HIRAETH Lisa Gerrard & David Kuckhermann
BELOVED Snatam Kaur
OPIUM MOON – WINNER Opium Moon
MOLECULES OF MOTION Steve Roach
MOKU MALUHIA – PEACEFUL ISLAND Jim Kimo West JAZZ 31. Best Improvised Jazz Solo For an instrumental jazz solo performance. Two equal performers on one recording may be eligible as one entry. If the soloist listed appears on a recording billed to another artist, the latter’s name is in parenthesis for identification. Singles or Tracks only.
SOME OF THAT SUNSHINE Regina Carter, soloist Track from: Some Of That Sunshine (Karrin Allyson)
DON’T FENCE ME IN – WINNER John Daversa, soloist Track from: American Dreamers: Voices Of Hope, Music Of Freedom (John Daversa Big Band Featuring DACA Artists)
CADENAS Miguel Zenón, soloist Track from: Yo Soy La Tradición (Miguel Zenón Featuring Spektral Quartet)
32. Best Jazz Vocal Album For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal jazz recordings.
MY MOOD IS YOU Freddy Cole
THE QUESTIONS Kurt Elling
THE SUBJECT TONIGHT IS LOVE Kate McGarry, Keith Ganz, Gary Versace
IF YOU REALLY WANT Raul Midón With The Metropole Orkest Conducted By Vince Mendoza
THE WINDOW – WINNER Cécile McLorin Salvant 33. Best Jazz Instrumental Album For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new instrumental jazz recordings.
DIAMOND CUT Tia Fuller
LIVE IN EUROPE Fred Hersch Trio
SEYMOUR READS THE CONSTITUTION! Brad Mehldau Trio
STILL DREAMING Joshua Redman, Ron Miles, Scott Colley & Brian Blade
EMANON – WINNER The Wayne Shorter Quartet 34. Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new ensemble jazz recordings.
ALL ABOUT THAT BASIE The Count Basie Orchestra Directed By Scotty Barnhart
AMERICAN DREAMERS: VOICES OF HOPE, MUSIC OF FREEDOM – WINNER John Daversa Big Band Featuring DACA Artists
PRESENCE Orrin Evans And The Captain Black Big Band
ALL CAN WORK John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble
BAREFOOT DANCES AND OTHER VISIONS Jim McNeely & The Frankfurt Radio Big Band
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 10: Cécile McLorin Salvant (L) and Sullivan Fortner, winners of Best Jazz Vocal Album for ‘The Window,’ pose in the press room during the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Amanda Edwards/Getty Images/AFP
35. Best Latin Jazz Album For vocal or instrumental albums containing at least 51% playing time of newly recorded material. The intent of this category is to recognize recordings that represent the blending of jazz with Latin, Iberian-American, Brazilian, and Argentinian tango music.
HEART OF BRAZIL Eddie Daniels
BACK TO THE SUNSET – WINNER Dafnis Prieto Big Band
WEST SIDE STORY REIMAGINED Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band
CINQUE Elio Villafranca
YO SOY LA TRADICIÓN Miguel Zenón Featuring Spektral Quartet GOSPEL/CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC 36. Best Gospel Performance/Song This award is given to the artist(s) and songwriter(s) (for new compositions) for the best traditional Christian, roots gospel or contemporary gospel single or track.
YOU WILL WIN Jekalyn Carr; Allen Carr & Jekalyn Carr, songwriters
WON’T HE DO IT Koryn Hawthorne
NEVER ALONE – WINNER Tori Kelly Featuring Kirk Franklin; Kirk Franklin & Victoria Kelly, songwriters
CYCLES Jonathan McReynolds Featuring DOE; Jonathan McReynolds & Will Reagan, songwriters
A GREAT WORK Brian Courtney Wilson; Aaron W. Lindsey, Alvin Richardson & Brian Courtney Wilson, songwriters
37. Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song This award is given to the artist(s) and songwriter(s) (for new compositions) for the best contemporary Christian pop, Christian rap/hip-hop, or Christian rock single or track.
RECKLESS LOVE Cory Asbury; Cory Asbury, Caleb Culver & Ran Jackson, songwriters
YOU SAY – WINNER Lauren Daigle; Lauren Daigle, Jason Ingram & Paul Mabury, songwriters
JOY. for KING & COUNTRY; Ben Glover, Matt Hales, Stephen Blake Kanicka, Seth Mosley, Joel Smallbone, Luke Smallbone & Tedd Tjornhom, songwriters
GRACE GOT YOU MercyMe Featuring John Reuben; David Garcia, Ben Glover, MercyMe, Solomon Olds & John Reuben, songwriters
KNOWN Tauren Wells; Ethan Hulse, Jordan Sapp & Tauren Wells, songwriters 38. Best Gospel Album For albums containing at least 51% playing time of newly recorded, vocal, traditional or contemporary/R&B gospel music recordings.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD Jekalyn Carr
HIDING PLACE – WINNER Tori Kelly
MAKE ROOM Jonathan McReynolds
THE OTHER SIDE The Walls Group
A GREAT WORK Brian Courtney Wilson
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 10: Michael Christie, Sasha Cooke, Jessica E. Jones, Edward Parks, Garrett Sorenson, Wei Wu, and Elizabeth Ostrow, winners of Best Opera Recording for ‘Bates: The (R)evolution Of Steve Jobs,’ pose in the press room during the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Amanda Edwards/Getty Images/AFP AMANDA EDWARDS / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP
39. Best Contemporary Christian Music Album For albums containing at least 51% playing time of newly recorded, vocal, contemporary Christian music, including pop, rap/hip hop, or rock recordings.
LOOK UP CHILD – WINNER Lauren Daigle
HALLELUJAH HERE BELOW Elevation Worship
LIVING WITH A FIRE Jesus Culture
SURROUNDED Michael W. Smith
SURVIVOR: LIVE FROM HARDING PRISON Zach Williams 40. Best Roots Gospel Album For albums containing at least 51% playing time of newly recorded, vocal, traditional/roots gospel music, including country, Southern gospel, bluegrass, and Americana recordings.
UNEXPECTED – WINNER Jason Crabb
CLEAR SKIES Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
FAVORITES: REVISITED BY REQUEST The Isaacs
STILL STANDING The Martins
LOVE LOVE LOVE Gordon Mote LATIN 41. Best Latin Pop Album For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new Latin pop recordings.
PROMETO Pablo Alboran
SINCERA – WINNER Claudia Brant
MUSAS (UN HOMENAJE AL FOLCLORE LATINOAMERICANO EN MANOS DE LOS MACORINOS), VOL. 2 Natalia Lafourcade
2:00 AM Raquel Sofía
VIVES Carlos Vives
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 10: William Ferris, April Ledbetter, Steven Lance Ledbetter, and Michael Graves, winners of Best Historical Album for ‘Voices of Mississippi: Artists and Musicians Documented by William Ferris,’ pose in the press room during the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Amanda Edwards/Getty Images/AFP AMANDA EDWARDS / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP
42. Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new Latin rock, urban or alternative recordings.
CLAROSCURA Aterciopelados
COASTCITY COASTCITY
ENCANTO TROPICAL Monsieur Periné
GOURMET Orishas
AZTLÁN – WINNER Zoé 43. Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano) For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new regional Mexican (banda, norteño, corridos, gruperos, mariachi, ranchera and Tejano) recordings.
PRIMERO SOY MEXICANA Angela Aguilar
MITAD Y MITAD Calibre 50
TOTALMENTE JUAN GABRIEL VOL. II Aida Cuevas
CRUZANDO BORDERS Los Texmaniacs
LEYENDAS DE MI PUEBLO Mariachi Sol De Mexico De Jose Hernandez
¡MÉXICO POR SIEMPRE! – WINNER Luis Miguel 44. Best Tropical Latin Album For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new tropical Latin recordings.
PA’ MI GENTE Charlie Aponte
LEGADO Formell Y Los Van Van
ORQUESTA AKOKÁN Orquesta Akokán
PONLE ACTITUD Felipe Peláez
ANNIVERSARY – WINNER Spanish Harlem Orchestra AMERICAN ROOTS MUSIC 45. Best American Roots Performance For new vocal or instrumental American Roots recordings. This is for performances in the style of any of the subgenres encompassed in the American Roots Music field including Americana, bluegrass, blues, folk or regional roots. Award to the artist(s).
KICK ROCKS Sean Ardoin
SAINT JAMES INFIRMARY BLUES Jon Batiste
THE JOKE – WINNER Brandi Carlile
ALL ON MY MIND Anderson East
LAST MAN STANDING Willie Nelson 46. Best American Roots Song A Songwriter(s) Award. Includes Americana, bluegrass, traditional blues, contemporary blues, folk or regional roots songs. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.
ALL THE TROUBLE Waylon Payne, Lee Ann Womack & Adam Wright, songwriters (Lee Ann Womack)
BUILD A BRIDGE Jeff Tweedy, songwriter (Mavis Staples)
THE JOKE – WINNER Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth, songwriters (Brandi Carlile)
KNOCKIN’ ON YOUR SCREEN DOOR Pat McLaughlin & John Prine, songwriters (John Prine)
SUMMER’S END Pat McLaughlin & John Prine, songwriters (John Prine)
47. Best Americana Album For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal or instrumental Americana recordings.
BY THE WAY, I FORGIVE YOU – WINNER Brandi Carlile
THINGS HAVE CHANGED Bettye LaVette
THE TREE OF FORGIVENESS John Prine
THE LONELY, THE LONESOME & THE GONE Lee Ann Womack
ONE DROP OF TRUTH The Wood Brothers 48. Best Bluegrass Album For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal or instrumental bluegrass recordings.
PORTRAITS IN FIDDLES Mike Barnett
SISTER SADIE II Sister Sadie
RIVERS AND ROADS Special Consensus
THE TRAVELIN’ MCCOURYS – WINNER The Travelin’ McCourys
NORTH OF DESPAIR Wood & Wire 49. Best Traditional Blues Album For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal or instrumental traditional blues recordings.
SOMETHING SMELLS FUNKY ‘ROUND HERE Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio
BENTON COUNTY RELIC Cedric Burnside
THE BLUES IS ALIVE AND WELL – WINNER Buddy Guy
NO MERCY IN THIS LAND Ben Harper And Charlie Musselwhite
DON’T YOU FEEL MY LEG (THE NAUGHTY BAWDY BLUES OF BLUE LU BARKER) Maria Muldaur 50. Best Contemporary Blues Album For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal or instrumental contemporary blues recordings.
PLEASE DON’T BE DEAD – WINNER Fantastic Negrito
HERE IN BABYLON Teresa James And The Rhythm Tramps
CRY NO MORE Danielle Nicole
OUT OF THE BLUES Boz Scaggs
VICTOR WAINWRIGHT AND THE TRAIN Victor Wainwright And The Train
51. Best Folk Album For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal or instrumental folk recordings.
WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND Joan Baez
BLACK COWBOYS Dom Flemons
RIFLES & ROSARY BEADS Mary Gauthier
WEED GARDEN Iron & Wine
ALL ASHORE – WINNER Punch Brothers 52. Best Regional Roots Music Album For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal or instrumental regional roots music recordings.
KREOLE ROCK AND SOUL Sean Ardoin
SPYBOY Cha Wa
ALOHA FROM NA HOA Na Hoa
NO ‘ANE’I – WINNER Kalani Pe’a
MEWASINSATIONAL – CREE ROUND DANCE SONGS Young Spirit REGGAE 53. Best Reggae Album For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new reggae recordings.
AS THE WORLD TURNS Black Uhuru
REGGAE FOREVER Etana
REBELLION RISES Ziggy Marley
A MATTER OF TIME Protoje
44/876 – WINNER Sting & Shaggy WORLD MUSIC 54. Best World Music Album For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal or instrumental World Music recordings.
DERAN Bombino
FENFO Fatoumata Diawara
BLACK TIMES Seun Kuti & Egypt 80
FREEDOM – WINNER Soweto Gospel Choir
THE LOST SONGS OF WORLD WAR II Yiddish Glory CHILDREN’S 55. Best Children’s Album For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new musical or spoken word recordings that are created and intended specifically for children.
ALL THE SOUNDS – WINNER Lucy Kalantari & The Jazz Cats
BUILDING BLOCKS Tim Kubart
FALU’S BAZAAR Falu
GIANTS OF SCIENCE The Pop Ups
THE NATION OF IMAGINE Frank & Deane
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 10: Spanish Harlem Orchestra, winners of Best Tropical Latin Album for ‘Anniversary,’ poses in the press room during the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Amanda Edwards/Getty Images/AFP AMANDA EDWARDS / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP
SPOKEN WORD 56. Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling)
ACCESSORY TO WAR (NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON & AVIS LANG) Courtney B. Vance
CALYPSO David Sedaris
CREATIVE QUEST Questlove
FAITH – A JOURNEY FOR ALL – WINNER Jimmy Carter
THE LAST BLACK UNICORN Tiffany Haddish COMEDY 57. Best Comedy Album For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new recordings.
ANNIHILATION Patton Oswalt
EQUANIMITY & THE BIRD REVELATION – WINNER Dave Chappelle
NOBLE APE Jim Gaffigan
STANDUP FOR DRUMMERS Fred Armisen
TAMBORINE Chris Rock MUSICAL THEATER 58. Best Musical Theater Album For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new recordings. Award to the principle vocalist(s) and the album producer(s) of 51% or more playing time of the album. The lyricist(s) and composer(s) of a new score are eligible for an Award if they have written and/or composed a new score which comprises 51% or more playing time of the album.
THE BAND’S VISIT – WINNER Etai Benson, Adam Kantor, Katrina Lenk & Ari’el Stachel, principal soloists; Dean Sharenow & David Yazbek, producers; David Yazbek, composer & lyricist (Original Broadway Cast)
CAROUSEL Renée Fleming, Alexander Gemignani, Joshua Henry, Lindsay Mendez & Jessie Mueller, principal soloists; Steven Epstein, producer (Richard Rodgers, composer; Oscar Hammerstein II, lyricist) (2018 Broadway Cast)
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR LIVE IN CONCERT Sara Bareilles, Alice Cooper, Ben Daniels, Brandon Victor Dixon, Erik Grönwall, Jin Ha, John Legend, Norm Lewis & Jason Tam, principal soloists; Andrew Lloyd Webber & Harvey Mason, Jr., producers (Andrew Lloyd-Webber, composer; Tim Rice, lyricist) (Original Television Cast)
MY FAIR LADY Lauren Ambrose, Norbert Leo Butz & Harry Hadden-Paton, principal soloists; Van Dean, David Lai & Ted Sperling, producers (Frederick Loewe, composer; Alan Jay Lerner, lyricist) (2018 Broadway Cast)
ONCE ON THIS ISLAND Phillip Boykin, Merle Dandridge, Quentin Earl Darrington, Hailey Kilgore, Kenita R. Miller, Alex Newell, Isaac Powell & Lea Salonga, principal soloists; Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty & Elliot Scheiner, producers (Stephen Flaherty, composer; Lynn Ahrens, lyricist) (New Broadway Cast) MUSIC FOR VISUAL MEDIA 59. Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media Award to the artist(s) and/or ‘in studio’ producer(s) of a majority of the tracks on the album. In the absence of both, award to the one or two individuals proactively responsible for the concept and musical direction of the album and for the selection of artists, songs and producers, as applicable. Award also goes to appropriately credited music supervisor(s).
CALL ME BY YOUR NAME (Various Artists) Luca Guadagnino, compilation producer; Robin Urdang, music supervisor
DEADPOOL 2 (Various Artists) David Leitch & Ryan Reynolds, compilation producers; John Houlihan, music supervisor
THE GREATEST SHOWMAN – WINNER Hugh Jackman (& Various Artists) Alex Lacamoire, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul & Greg Wells, compilation producers
LADY BIRD (Various Artists) Timothy J. Smith, compilation producer; Michael Hill & Brian Ross, music supervisors
STRANGER THINGS (Various Artists) Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer & Timothy J. Smith, compilation producers; Nora Felder, music supervisor
60. Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media Award to Composer(s) for an original score created specifically for, or as a companion to, a current legitimate motion picture, television show or series, video games or other visual media.
BLACK PANTHER – WINNER Ludwig Göransson, composer
BLADE RUNNER 2049 Benjamin Wallfisch & Hans Zimmer, composers
COCO Michael Giacchino, composer
THE SHAPE OF WATER Alexandre Desplat, composer
STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI John Williams, composer 61. Best Song Written For Visual Media A Songwriter(s) award. For a song (melody & lyrics) written specifically for a motion picture, television, video games or other visual media, and released for the first time during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.
ALL THE STARS Kendrick Duckworth, Solána Rowe, Alexander William Shuckburgh, Mark Anthony Spears & Anthony Tiffith, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar & SZA) Track from: Black Panther
MYSTERY OF LOVE Sufjan Stevens, songwriter (Sufjan Stevens) Track from: Call Me By Your Name
REMEMBER ME Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez, songwriters (Miguel Featuring Natalia Lafourcade) Track from: Coco
SHALLOW – WINNER Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando & Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper) Track from: A Star Is Born
THIS IS ME Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, songwriters (Keala Settle & The Greatest Showman Ensemble) Track from: The Greatest Showman COMPOSING/ARRANGING 62. Best Instrumental Composition A Composer’s Award for an original composition (not an adaptation) first released during the Eligibility Year. Singles or Tracks only.
BLUT UND BODEN (BLOOD AND SOIL) – WINNER Terence Blanchard, composer (Terence Blanchard)
CHRYSALIS Jeremy Kittel, composer (Kittel & Co.)
INFINITY WAR Alan Silverstri, composer (Alan Silvestri)
MINE MISSION John Powell & John Williams, composers (John Powell & John Williams)
THE SHAPE OF WATER Alexandre Desplat, composer (Alexandre Desplat)
63. Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella An Arranger’s Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.
BATMAN THEME (TV) Randy Waldman & Justin Wilson, arrangers (Randy Waldman Featuring Wynton Marsalis)
CHANGE THE WORLD Mark Kibble, arranger (Take 6)
MADRID FINALE John Powell, arranger (John Powell)
THE SHAPE OF WATER Alexandre Desplat, arranger (Alexandre Desplat)
STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER – WINNER John Daversa, arranger (John Daversa Big Band Featuring DACA Artists) 64. Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals An Arranger’s Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.
IT WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR Matt Rollings & Kristin Wilkinson, arrangers (Willie Nelson)
JOLENE Dan Pugach & Nicole Zuraitis, arrangers (Dan Pugach)
MONA LISA Vince Mendoza, arranger (Gregory Porter)
SPIDERMAN THEME – WINNER Mark Kibble, Randy Waldman & Justin Wilson, arrangers (Randy Waldman Featuring Take 6 & Chris Potter) PACKAGE 65. Best Recording Package
BE THE COWBOY Mary Banas, art director (Mitski)
LOVE YOURSELF: TEAR Doohee Lee, art director (BTS)
MASSEDUCTION – WINNER Willo Perron, art director (St. Vincent)
THE OFFERING Qing-Yang Xiao, art director (The Chairman)
WELL KEPT THING Adam Moore, art director (Foxhole) 66. Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package
APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION (LOCKED N’ LOADED BOX) Arian Buhler, Charles Dooher, Jeff Fura, Scott Sandler & Matt Taylor, art directors (Guns N’ Roses)
I’LL BE YOUR GIRL Carson Ellis, Jeri Heiden & Glen Nakasako, art directors (The Decemberists)
PACIFIC NORTHWEST ’73-74′: THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS Lisa Glines, Doran Tyson & Roy Henry Vickers, art directors (Grateful Dead)
SQUEEZE BOX: THE COMPLETE WORKS OF “WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC – WINNER Meghan Foley, Annie Stoll & Al Yankovic, art directors (“Weird Al” Yankovic)
TOO MANY BAD HABITS Sarah Dodds & Shauna Dodds, art directors (Johnny Nicholas) NOTES 67. Best Album Notes
ALPINE DREAMING: THE HELVETIA RECORDS STORY, 1920-1924 James P. Leary, album notes writer (Various Artists)
4 BANJO SONGS, 1891-1897: FOUNDATIONAL RECORDINGS OF AMERICA’S ICONIC INSTRUMENT Richard Martin & Ted Olson, album notes writers (Charles A. Asbury)
THE 1960 TIME SESSIONS Ben Ratliff, album notes writer (Sonny Clark Trio)
THE PRODUCT OF OUR SOULS: THE SOUND AND SWAY OF JAMES REESE EUROPE’S SOCIETY ORCHESTRA David Gilbert, album notes writer (Various Artists)
TROUBLE NO MORE: THE BOOTLEG SERIES VOL. 13 / 1979-1981 (DELUXE EDITION) Amanda Petrusich, album notes writer (Bob Dylan)
VOICES OF MISSISSIPPI: ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS DOCUMENTED BY WILLIAM FERRIS – WINNER David Evans, album notes writer (Various Artists) HISTORICAL
68. Best Historical Album
ANY OTHER WAY Rob Bowman, Douglas Mcgowan, Rob Sevier & Ken Shipley, compilation producers; Jeff Lipton & Maria Rice, mastering engineers (Jackie Shane)
AT THE LOUISIANA HAYRIDE TONIGHT… Martin Hawkins, compilation producer; Christian Zwarg, mastering engineer (Various Artists)
BATTLEGROUND KOREA: SONGS AND SOUNDS OF AMERICA’S FORGOTTEN WAR Hugo Keesing, compilation producer; Christian Zwarg, mastering engineer (Various Artists)
A RHAPSODY IN BLUE – THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF OSCAR LEVANT Robert Russ, compilation producer; Andreas K. Meyer & Rebekah Wineman, mastering engineers (Oscar Levant)
VOICES OF MISSISSIPPI: ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS DOCUMENTED BY WILLIAM FERRIS – WINNER William Ferris, April Ledbetter & Steven Lance Ledbetter, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer (Various Artists) PRODUCTION, NON-CLASSICAL 69. Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical An Engineer’s Award. (Artists names appear in parentheses.)
ALL THE THINGS THAT I DID AND ALL THE THINGS THAT I DIDN’T DO Ryan Freeland & Kenneth Pattengale, engineers; Kim Rosen, mastering engineer (The Milk Carton Kids)
COLORS – WINNER Julian Burg, Serban Ghenea, David “Elevator” Greenbaum, John Hanes, Beck Hansen, Greg Kurstin, Florian Lagatta, Cole M.G.N., Alex Pasco, Jesse Shatkin, Darrell Thorp & Cassidy Turbin, engineers; Chris Bellman, Tom Coyne, Emily Lazar & Randy Merrill, mastering engineers (Beck)
EARTHTONES Robbie Lackritz, engineer; Philip Shaw Bova, mastering engineer (Bahamas)
HEAD OVER HEELS Nathaniel Alford, Jason Evigan, Chris Galland, Tom Gardner, Patrick “P-Thugg” Gemayel, Serban Ghenea, John Hanes, Tony Hoffer, Derek Keota, Ian Kirkpatrick, David Macklovitch, Amber Mark, Manny Marroquin, Vaughn Oliver, Chris “TEK” O’Ryan, Morgan Taylor Reid & Gian Stone, engineers; Chris Gehringer & Michelle Mancini, mastering engineers (Chromeo)
VOICENOTES Manny Marroquin & Charlie Puth, engineers; Dave Kutch, mastering engineer (Charlie Puth) 70. Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical A Producer’s Award. (Artists names appear in parentheses.)
BOI-1DA • Be Careful (Cardi B) (T) • Diplomatic Immunity (Drake) (S) • Friends (The Carters) (T) • God’s Plan (Drake) (S) • Heard About Us (The Carters) (T) • Lucky You (Eminem Featuring Joyner Lucas) (T) • Mob Ties (Drake) (T) • No Limit (G-Eazy Featuring A$AP Rocky & Cardi B) (S)
LARRY KLEIN • All These Things (Thomas Dybdahl) (S) • Anthem (Madeleine Peyroux) (A) • The Book Of Longing (Luciana Souza) (A) • Can I Have It All (Thomas Dybdahl) (S) • Junk (Hailey Tuck) (A) • Look At What We’ve Done (Thomas Dybdahl) (S) • Meaning To Tell Ya (Molly Johnson) (A)
LINDA PERRY • Harder Better Faster Stronger (Willa Amai) (S) • Served Like A Girl (Music From And Inspired By The Documentary Film) (Various Artists) (A) • 28 Days In The Valley (Dorothy) (A)
KANYE WEST • Daytona (Pusha T) (A) • Kids See Ghosts (Kids See Ghosts) (A) • K.T.S.E. (Teyana Taylor) (A) • Nasir (Nas) (A) • Ye (Kanye West) (A)
PHARRELL WILLIAMS – WINNER • Apes*** (The Carters) (T) • Man Of The Woods (Justin Timberlake) (A) • No One Ever Really Dies (N.E.R.D) (A) • Stir Fry (Migos) (T) • Sweetener (Ariana Grande) (A)
71. Best Remixed Recording A Remixer’s Award. (Artists names appear in parentheses for identification.) Singles or Tracks only.
AUDIO (CID REMIX) CID, remixer (LSD)
HOW LONG (EDX’S DUBAI SKYLINE REMIX) Maurizio Colella & Christian Hirt, remixers (Charlie Puth)
ONLY ROAD (COSMIC GATE REMIX) Olaf Diekmann & Claus Terhoeven, remixers (Gabriel & Dresden Featuring Sub Teal)
WALKING AWAY (MURA MASA REMIX) – WINNER Alex Crossan, remixer (Haim) PRODUCTION, IMMERSIVE AUDIO
72. Best Immersive Audio Album For vocal or instrumental albums in any genre. Must be commercially released on DVD-Audio, DVD-Video, SACD, Blu-Ray, or burned download-only/streaming-only copies and must provide a new surround mix of four or more channels. Award to the surround mix engineer, surround producer (if any) and surround mastering engineer (if any).
EYE IN THE SKY – 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION – WINNER Alan Parsons, surround mix engineer; Dave Donnelly, PJ Olsson & Alan Parsons, surround mastering engineers; Alan Parsons, surround producer (The Alan Parsons Project)
FOLKETONER Morten Lindberg, surround mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer (Anne Karin Sundal-Ask & Det Norske Jentekor)
SEVEN WORDS FROM THE CROSS Daniel Shores, surround mix engineer; Daniel Shores, surround mastering engineer; Dan Merceruio, surround producer (Matthew Guard & Skylark)
SYMBOL Prashant Mistry & Ronald Prent, surround mix engineers; Darcy Proper, surround mastering engineer; Prashant Mistry & Ronald Prent, surround producers (Engine-Earz Experiment) PRODUCTION, CLASSICAL 73. Best Engineered Album, Classical An Engineer’s Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.)
BATES: THE (R)EVOLUTION OF STEVE JOBS Mark Donahue & Dirk Sobotka, engineers; Mark Donahue, mastering engineer (Michael Christie, Garrett Sorenson, Wei Wu, Sasha Cooke, Edward Parks, Jessica E. Jones & Santa Fe Opera Orchestra)
JOHN WILLIAMS AT THE MOVIES Keith O. Johnson & Sean Royce Martin, engineers; Keith O. Johnson, mastering engineer (Jerry Junkin & Dallas Winds)
LIQUID MELANCHOLY – CLARINET MUSIC OF JAMES M. STEPHENSON Bill Maylone & Mary Mazurek, engineers; Bill Maylone, mastering engineer (John Bruce Yeh)
SHOSTAKOVICH: SYMPHONIES NOS. 4 & 11 – WINNER Shawn Murphy & Nick Squire, engineers; Tim Martyn, mastering engineer (Andris Nelsons & Boston Symphony Orchestra)
VISIONS AND VARIATIONS Tom Caulfield, engineer; Jesse Lewis, mastering engineer (A Far Cry) 74. Producer Of The Year, Classical A Producer’s Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.)
BLANTON ALSPAUGH – WINNER • Arnesen: Infinity – Choral Works (Joel Rinsema & Kantorei) • Aspects Of America (Carlos Kalmar & Oregon Symphony) • Chesnokov: Teach Me Thy Statutes (Vladimir Gorbik & PaTRAM Institute Male Choir) • Gordon, R.: The House Without A Christmas Tree (Bradley Moore, Elisabeth Leone, Maximillian Macias, Megan Mikailovna Samarin, Patricia Schuman, Lauren Snouffer, Heidi Stober, Daniel Belcher, Houston Gran Opera Juvenile Chorus & Houston Grand Opera Orchestra) • Haydn: The Creation (Andrés Orozco-Estrada, Betsy Cook Weber, Houston Symphony & Houston Symphony Chorus) • Heggie: Great Scott (Patrick Summers, Manuel Palazzo, Mark Hancock, Michael Mayes, Rodell Rosel, Kevin Burdette, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Nathan Gunn, Frederica von Stade, Ailyn Pérez, Joyce DiDonato, Dallas Opera Chorus & Orchestra) • Music Of Fauré, Buide & Zemlinsky (Trio Séléné) • Paterson: Three Way – A Trio Of One-Act Operas (Dean Williamson, Daniele Pastin, Courtney Ruckman, Eliza Bonet, Melisa Bonetti, Jordan Rutter, Samuel Levine, Wes Mason, Matthew Treviño & Nashville Opera Orchestra) • Vaughan Williams: Piano Concerto; Oboe Concerto; Serenade To Music; Flos Campi (Peter Oundjian & Toronto Symphony Orchestra)
DAVID FROST • Beethoven: Piano Sonatas, Volume 7 (Jonathan Biss) • Mirror In Mirror (Anne Akiko Meyers, Kristjan Järvi & Philharmonia Orchestra) • Mozart: Idomeneo (James Levine, Alan Opie, Matthew Polenzani, Alice Coote, Nadine Sierra, Elza van den Heever, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorus) • Presentiment (Orion Weiss) • Strauss, R.: Der Rosenkavalier (Sebastian Weigle, Renée Fleming, Elīna Garanča, Erin Morley, Günther Groissböck, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorus)
ELIZABETH OSTROW • Bates: The (R)evolution Of Steve Jobs (Michael Christie, Garrett Sorenson, Wei Wu, Sasha Cooke, Edward Parks, Jessica E. Jones & Santa Fe Opera Orchestra) • The Road Home (Joshua Habermann & Santa Fe Desert Chorale)
JUDITH SHERMAN • Beethoven Unbound (Llŷr Williams) • Black Manhattan Volume 3 (Rick Benjamin & Paragon Ragtime Orchestra) • Bolcom: Piano Music (Various Artists) • Del Tredici: March To Tonality (Mark Peskanov & Various Artists) • Love Comes In At The Eye (Timothy Jones, Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio, Jeffrey Sykes, Anthony Ross, Carol Cook, Beth Rapier & Stephanie Jutt) • Meltzer: Variations On A Summer Day & Piano Quartet (Abigail Fischer, Jayce Ogren & Sequitur) • Mendelssohn: Complete Works For Cello And Piano (Marcy Rosen & Lydia Artymiw) • New Music For Violin And Piano (Julie Rosenfeld & Peter Miyamoto) • Reich: Pulse/Quartet (Colin Currie Group & International Contemporary Ensemble)
RUGGLES, STUCKY & HARBISON: ORCHESTRAL WORKS David Alan Miller, conductor (National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic)
SCHUMANN: SYMPHONIES NOS. 1-4 Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor (San Francisco Symphony)
SHOSTAKOVICH: SYMPHONIES NOS. 4 & 11 – WINNER Andris Nelsons, conductor (Boston Symphony Orchestra) 76. Best Opera Recording Award to the Conductor, Album Producer(s) and Principal Soloists.
ADAMS: DOCTOR ATOMIC John Adams, conductor; Aubrey Allicock, Julia Bullock, Gerald Finley & Brindley Sherratt; Friedemann Engelbrecht, producer (BBC Symphony Orchestra; BBC Singers)
BATES: THE (R)EVOLUTION OF STEVE JOBS – WINNER Michael Christie, conductor; Sasha Cooke, Jessica E. Jones, Edward Parks, Garrett Sorenson & Wei Wu; Elizabeth Ostrow, producer (The Santa Fe Opera Orchestra)
LULLY: ALCESTE Christophe Rousset, conductor; Edwin Crossley-Mercer, Emiliano Gonzalez Toro & Judith Van Wanroij; Maximilien Ciup, producer (Les Talens Lyriques; Choeur De Chambre De Namur)
STRAUSS, R.: DER ROSENKAVALIER Sebastian Weigle, conductor; Renée Fleming, Elīna Garanča, Günther Groissböck & Erin Morley; David Frost, producer (Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; Metropolitan Opera Chorus)
VERDI: RIGOLETTO Constantine Orbelian, conductor; Francesco Demuro, Dmitri Hvorostovsky & Nadine Sierra; Vilius Keras & Aleksandra Keriene, producers (Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra; Men Of The Kaunas State Choir) 77. Best Choral Performance Award to the Conductor, and to the Choral Director and/or Chorus Master where applicable and to the Choral Organization/Ensemble.
CHESNOKOV: TEACH ME THY STATUTES Vladimir Gorbik, conductor (Mikhail Davydov & Vladimir Krasov; PaTRAM Institute Male Choir)
KASTALSKY: MEMORY ETERNAL Steven Fox, conductor (The Clarion Choir)
MCLOSKEY: ZEALOT CANTICLES – WINNER Donald Nally, conductor (Doris Hall-Gulati, Rebecca Harris, Arlen Hlusko, Lorenzo Raval & Mandy Wolman; The Crossing)
RACHMANINOV: THE BELLS Mariss Jansons, conductor; Peter Dijkstra, chorus master (Oleg Dolgov, Alexey Markov & Tatiana Pavlovskaya; Symphonieorchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks; Chor Des Bayerischen Rundfunks)
SEVEN WORDS FROM THE CROSS Matthew Guard, conductor (Skylark) 78. Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance For new recordings of works with chamber or small ensemble (twenty-four or fewer members, not including the conductor). One Award to the ensemble and one Award to the conductor, if applicable.
ANDERSON, LAURIE: LANDFALL – WINNER Laurie Anderson & Kronos Quartet
BEETHOVEN, SHOSTAKOVICH & BACH The Danish String Quartet
BLUEPRINTING Aizuri Quartet
STRAVINSKY: THE RITE OF SPRING CONCERTO FOR TWO PIANOS Leif Ove Andsnes & Marc-André Hamelin
VISIONS AND VARIATIONS A Far Cry 79. Best Classical Instrumental Solo Award to the Instrumental Soloist(s) and to the Conductor when applicable.
BARTÓK: PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2 Yuja Wang; Simon Rattle, conductor (Berliner Philharmoniker)
BIBER: THE MYSTERY SONATAS Christina Day Martinson; Martin Pearlman, conductor (Boston Baroque)
BRUCH: SCOTTISH FANTASY, OP. 46; VIOLIN CONCERTO NO. 1 IN G MINOR, OP. 26 Joshua Bell (The Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields)
GLASS: THREE PIECES IN THE SHAPE OF A SQUARE Craig Morris
KERNIS: VIOLIN CONCERTO – WINNER James Ehnes; Ludovic Morlot, conductor (Seattle Symphony) 80. Best Classical Solo Vocal Album Award to: Vocalist(s), Collaborative Artist(s) (Ex: pianists, conductors, chamber groups) Producer(s), Recording Engineers/Mixers with 51% or more playing time of new material.
ARC Anthony Roth Costanzo; Jonathan Cohen, conductor (Les Violons Du Roy)
THE HANDEL ALBUM Philippe Jaroussky; Artaserse, ensemble
SONGS OF ORPHEUS – MONTEVERDI, CACCINI, D’INDIA & LANDI – WINNER Karim Sulayman; Jeannette Sorrell, conductor; Apollo’s Fire, ensembles 81. Best Classical Compendium Award to the Artist(s) and to the Album Producer(s) and Engineer(s) of over 51% playing time of the album, if other than the artist.
FUCHS: PIANO CONCERTO ‘SPIRITUALIST’; POEMS OF LIFE; GLACIER; RUSH – WINNER JoAnn Falletta, conductor; Tim Handley, producer
GOLD The King’s Singers; Nigel Short, producer
THE JOHN ADAMS EDITION Simon Rattle, conductor; Christoph Franke, producer
JOHN WILLIAMS AT THE MOVIES Jerry Junkin, conductor; Donald J. McKinney, producer
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: PIANO CONCERTO; OBOE CONCERTO; SERENADE TO MUSIC; FLOS CAMPI Peter Oundjian, conductor; Blanton Alspaugh, producer 82. Best Contemporary Classical Composition A Composer’s Award. (For a contemporary classical composition composed within the last 25 years, and released for the first time during the Eligibility Year.) Award to the librettist, if applicable.
BATES: THE (R)EVOLUTION OF STEVE JOBS Mason Bates, composer; Mark Campbell, librettist (Michael Christie, Garrett Sorenson, Wei Wu, Sasha Cooke, Edward Parks, Jessica E. Jones & Santa Fe Opera Orchestra)
DU YUN: AIR GLOW Du Yun, composer (International Contemporary Ensemble)
HEGGIE: GREAT SCOTT Jake Heggie, composer; Terrence McNally, librettist (Patrick Summers, Manuel Palazzo, Mark Hancock, Michael Mayes, Rodell Rosel, Kevin Burdette, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Nathan Gunn, Frederica von Stade, Ailyn Pérez, Joyce DiDonato, Dallas Opera Chorus & Orchestra)
MAZZOLI: VESPERS FOR VIOLIN Missy Mazzoli, composer (Olivia De Prato) MUSIC VIDEO/FILM 83. Best Music Video Award to the artist, video director, and video producer.
APES*** The Carters Ricky Saiz, video director; Mélodie Buchris, Natan Schottenfels & Erinn Williams, video producers
THIS IS AMERICA – WINNER Childish Gambino Hiro Murai, video director; Ibra Ake, Jason Cole & Fam Rothstein, video producers
I’M NOT RACIST Joyner Lucas Joyner Lucas & Ben Proulx, video directors; Joyner Lucas, video producer
PYNK Janelle Monáe Emma Westenberg, video director; Justin Benoliel & Whitney Jackson, video producers
MUMBO JUMBO Tierra Whack Marco Prestini, video director; Sara Nassim, video producer 84. Best Music Film For concert/performance films or music documentaries. Award to the artist, video director, and video producer.
LIFE IN 12 BARS Eric Clapton Lili Fini Zanuck, video director; John Battsek, Scooter Weintraub, Larry Yelen & Lili Fini Zanuck, video producers
WHITNEY (Whitney Houston) Kevin Macdonald, video director; Jonathan Chinn, Simon Chinn & Lisa Erspamer, video producers
QUINCY – WINNER Quincy Jones Alan Hicks & Rashida Jones, video directors; Paula DuPré Pesmen, video producer
ITZHAK Itzhak Perlman Alison Chernick, video director; Alison Chernick, video producer
THE KING (Elvis Presley) Eugene Jarecki, video director; Christopher Frierson, Georgina Hill, David Kuhn & Christopher St. John, video producers
Clarance Avant (L) and President and CEO of The Recording Academy Neil Portnow onstage during the Pre-GRAMMY Gala and GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Clarence Avant at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 9, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. Frazer Harrison / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP
The music world will hit the red carpet on Sunday for the Grammys, with a wider selection of nominees — led by hip-hop royalty and a bevy of talented women — up for the top prizes.
The televised bash in Los Angeles, which kicks off at 5:00 pm (0100 GMT Monday) at the Staples Center, is not without controversy, as the Recording Academy grapples with how to embrace diversity in its ranks.
For the second consecutive year, black hip-hop artists are leading the pack — but observers are still wondering if nominations success can translate into wins.
Rapper Kendrick Lamar — who won a Pulitzer Prize for his album “DAMN.” but has yet to snare a Grammy for Album of the Year — earned eight nods while Canadian rapper Drake snagged seven.
Women artists scored nominations in all of the top categories, after being largely muted a year ago: rapper Cardi B, pop diva Lady Gaga, pop futurist Janelle Monae and folk rocker Brandi Carlile are among the frontrunners.
In the Best New Artist category, six of the eight nominees are women.
– Grande backs out –
But controversy was threatening the gala before it even began, with a number of superstars declining to take part in the show’s glitzy concert portion.
Untouchable pop star Ariana Grande — who dropped her highly anticipated album “Thank U, Next” just before the Grammys — slammed producer Ken Ehrlich over her decision not to perform, suggested he was “lying” about her readiness.
Drake, Lamar and Childish Gambino — the rap alter-ego of actor Donald Glover — have also all turned down performance offers, and it was not clear if they would even attend.
This year, Academy voters did pass on nominating perennial favourites like Taylor Swift for the top three prizes of Album, Record and Song of the Year, relegating pop stars who reigned in years prior to lesser categories.
– Praise for women ‘overdue’ –
Women are also hoping to get their due after the head of the Recording Academy — which includes more than 13,000 music professionals — told them last year to “step up” if they wanted to do better on Grammys night.
The brazen comment drew outrage and prompted the executive, Neil Portnow, to say he would resign when his contract expires this summer.
This year, five of the eight Album of the Year nominations went to female artists: Cardi B, Carlile, Monae, R&B prodigy H.E.R. and country star Kacey Musgraves.
Lady Gaga scooped up five nominations including for both Record and Song of the Year for her heart-pounding hit “Shallow,” which she performed in the film “A Star Is Born” with co-star Bradley Cooper.
Songstress Alicia Keys is set to host Sunday’s ceremony — the first woman to do so in 14 years.
She vowed this year’s performances would be the “sickest” yet and feature of-the-moment stars like Lady Gaga and Cardi B as well as icons like country legend Dolly Parton and disco icon Diana Ross, who will take the stage for a Motown tribute.
A performance honouring the legacy of the late “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin is also expected.
Keys told CBS news this year’s greater representation from women was “far overdue.”
She hailed the importance “particularly for women to have our seat at the table, to represent the fact that we are so here and so incredible and we are the creators of our music.”
“There’s a great respect that is deserved to women and you will see that live embodied on Sunday.”
James Ingram, a Grammy winner known for his soulful R&B hits, has died, his friends and colleagues said Tuesday. He was 66 years old.
“I have lost my dearest friend and creative partner James Ingram to the Celestial Choir,” performer Debbie Allen tweeted. “He will always be cherished, loved and remembered for his genius, his love of family and his humanity.”
A native of the US state of Ohio, Ingram launched his music career with the band Revelation Funk and later played keyboard for soul pioneer Ray Charles.
His rise to fame came after he lent his smooth vocals to the songs “Just Once” and “One Hundred Ways” on an album recorded by industry legend Quincy Jones.
Ingram earned three Grammy nominations for the works, including Best New Artist, winning for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in 1981.
(FILES) In this file photo taken on April 22, 2008, singers James Ingram and Patti Austin perform onstage at the ASCAP Pied Piper award celebration in honor of Quincy Jones at the Nokia Theatre in New York City. Ingram, a Grammy winner known for his soulful R&B hits, has died, his friend and colleague said on January 29, 2019. He was 66 years old. Brad Barket / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP
With Jones, he also co-wrote Michael Jackson’s hit “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing).”
“There are no words to convey how much my <3 aches,” tweeted Jones. “With that soulful, whisky sounding voice, James was simply magical.”
“He was, & always will be, beyond compare.”
Over his career, Ingram was nominated for 14 Grammys along with two Golden Globes and two Oscars, one for his duet with singer Patti Austin, “How Do you Keep the Music Playing?” that was featured in the movie “Best Friends.”
Ingram also joined singer Linda Ronstadt to perform the song “Somewhere Out There” from the 1986 animated musical adventure film “An American Tail,” which sees a family of Jewish Russian mice flee to the United States.
He also collaborated with high-profile artists including Donna Summer, Viktor Lazlo and Natalie Cole.
“Ingram’s rich voice and masterful songwriting has made a lasting impact on the music industry,” the Recording Academy, the organization behind the Grammys, said in a statement. “Our thoughts go out to his loved ones during this difficult time.”
Three-time Grammy Award-winning band Maroon 5 was named Sunday as the headline act of next month’s Super Bowl 53 half-time show, a performance that has aroused controversy and protest petitions.
The league and pop music band announced they will perform in the National Football League championship spectacle on February 3 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
They will be joined by Atlanta native Big Boi and Grammy-nominated rapper Travis Scott.
Maroon 5 had been long rumoured to be playing the feature slot on one of the most watched US television shows of any year.
But it comes after more than 75,000 people signed an online petition for the band not to play the Super Bowl to support Colin Kaepernick, the former NFL quarterback who started kneeling protests during pre-game US anthem performances as a way to protest racial and social injustice and police brutality.
Kaepernick, a former star for the San Francisco 49ers, has not played in the league since 2016. He filed a grievance against the NFL and club owners last year, claiming they have conspired not to hire him.
US President Donald Trump made the kneeling protest a major issue, calling anyone who did it a “son of a bitch” and saying they should be fired.
Other artists reportedly turned down the halftime show in support of Kaepernick.
Billboard reported Sunday, citing unnamed sources, that Scott signed on to perform only after the NFL agreed to join him in donating to a social justice cause.
Past Super Bowl performers have included Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Katy Perry, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, The Who, Prince, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, U2 and Michael Jackson.
The soundtrack of Marvel’s “Black Panther” propelled rap superstar Kendrick Lamar to the front of this year’s Grammy pack with eight nominations, closely followed by fellow rapper Drake who scored seven, organizers said Friday.
Women performers also made their mark in the top categories after being largely snubbed a year ago, with rapper Cardi B, pop diva Lady Gaga and folk-rock singer Brandi Carlile all nabbing key nominations for music’s top awards.
Six of the eight 2019 nominees for Best New Artist are women.
After last year’s show sparked a major backlash, the Recording Academy created a diversity task force responding to criticism that the show was consistently too male and too white, and ultimately expanded four of the top categories from five nominees to eight.
Hip-hop dominated across the board for a second year running — though last year, rap mogul Jay-Z racked up the most nominations but left empty-handed, and Lamar was shut out of the general categories.
Thanks to the blockbuster film “Black Panther,” Lamar — whose album “DAMN.” made him the first rapper to win a Pulitzer Prize for music — once again has a chance to win the coveted Album of the Year prize after three prior losses.
His song from the Marvel superhero movie’s soundtrack, “All the Stars,” is also in the running for both Record of the Year, which recognizes the overall performance of a song, and Song of the Year, which awards songwriting.
Canadian rapper Drake meanwhile got love from the academy across the top categories for his album “Scorpion” and hit “God’s Plan.”
The leading nominees will face stiff competition on February 10 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles from fellow rappers Cardi B and Childish Gambino — as well as Lady Gaga, who snared nominations in both of those top categories for her hit “Shallow,” performed with co-star Bradley Cooper in the film “A Star Is Born.”
Women top the list
In May, the head of the Recording Academy — which includes more than 13,000 music professionals — said he would step aside when his contract expires near year, amid outrage after he said women artists should “step up.”
Then in June, it announced an expansion from five to eight of the 2019 nominee fields for Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist.
The move did appear to have a positive effect for female artists, with five of the Album of the Year nominees going to women: Cardi B, Carlile, R&B singer Janelle Monae, R&B prodigy H.E.R. and country songstress Kacey Musgraves.
Carlile — a folk-rock singer known for her bluesy, dynamic voice — earned six nominations, including three across the major categories.
And Cardi B — the 26-year-old rapper from New York’s Bronx neighborhood whose “Bodak Yellow” catapulted her to runaway success — scored five, including two of the most prestigious.
Her saucy summer hit “I Like It” — which features Puerto Rican Latin trap artist Bad Bunny and Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin — is among those up for Record of the Year.
But last year’s Grammy snub of bilingual mega-hit “Despacito” in the Record of the Year and Song of the Year categories has critics skeptical that a non-English track, no matter how popular, can score a major award.
Among this year’s major snubs, Jay-Z and his pop queen wife Beyonce were left out of the top categories despite acclaim for their joint project “Everything is Love.”
The Carters did get nominations for Best Urban Contemporary Album, Best R&B Performance and Best Music Video.
Perennial favourite Taylor Swift appeared to fall out of grace, however, earning just one nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album for “Reputation.”
The Recording Academy announced on Tuesday that the 60th anniversary of the music show will be held at New York’s Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2018.
The news came with a video by Spike Lee featuring the director, along with a host of iconic musicians, as they recount New York’s history with music.
The Grammys were last held in New York in 2003. It has since been at the Staples Center in Los Angeles for the last 14 years.
The Grammy Awards are headed to New York City.