ADELE TOPS BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES

Honoring the acts experiencing the greatest level of success in terms of popularity over the past year, the 2012 Billboard Music Awards nominees have just been revealed.

Shortly removed from a dominant effort at this year's GRAMMYs, it comes as little surprise to see Adele topping all contenders with a total of eighteen nominations.

The "Rolling In the Deep" singer is vying for prizes such as Top Female Artist, Top Pop Song and Top Pop Album, as well as the grand prize of Top Artist - which boasts a highly competitive field of fellow multi-nominated acts including Lady Gaga, Lil Wayne, Katy Perry and Rihanna.

With confirmed performances to be offered up by Justin Bieber and Carrie Underwood, the winners will be announced live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 20th.

CLICK HERE for The complete list of 2012 Billboard Music Awards nominees

NICKI MINAJ ADDRESSES SELLING OUT BY MAKING POP SONGS

Nicki Minaj explains that she's just adding on to her brand and isn't turning her back on her Hip Hop roots.

Nicki Minaj created a stir with the release of her past few records, most recently confusing her Hip Hop fan base with the pop-friendly "Starships. " During an interview with Hot 97's Funkmaster Flex, the Young Money rapstress explained that she hopes people know that she's smart enough to calculate each move.

"I would hope that people know at this point that I'm smart enough to know what I'm doing all the time. But I guess they still kind of waiver. I always intended on putting out something urban after 'Starships,' because I knew 'Starships' was a monster. I didn't feel the pressure. To be honest, I feel really, really good. I feel that Hip Hop cares enough that they have something to say. I remember when I was hoping that someone had something to say about me on the radio, or cared enough."

Nicki, who also premiered her Lil Wayne-assisted cut "Roman Reloaded," said that the pop songs have more reach than her urban songs and that she's not going to apologize for making music for the masses.

"Maybe it would be a problem if I couldn't deliver records like 'Roman Reloaded,' but I can. I write my own lyrics. Once again, I write my own lyrics. So it's never a problem. Whatever I feel, I can write, I can create it. So I'm good. I think people sometimes get blown away by the magnitude of the pop stuff, because the pop stuff, it reaches everywhere and then I feel like my Hip Hop fans or Hip Hop culture starts getting a little bit afraid that I'm going to leave. But this is who I am. I'm not going to change - I'm just adding on to my brand. And if you don't understand that, then it's probably why you don't travel and you don't see the world and I probably can't even have a conversation with you anymore."

MADONNA ACCUSED OF PLAGIARISM

It's has been claimed Madonna's latest single has been plagiarized from a track by a Brazilian musician.

Brazilian musician, Joao Brasil has claimed the chorus of Give Me All Your Luvin', which Madonna performs with Nicki Minaj and M.I.A., is a copy of his own tune L.O.V.E. Banana. Brasil’s record company executives and legal team are now weighing whether to take court action.

Brasil claims to be a staunch Madonna fan saying she is his heroine "I still don't understand what happened. I'm a huge fan of hers. If it's plagiarism, then even better" and is adamant that he doesn't want to sue her. Brasil said personally I don't want to do anything. The last thing I need in my life is a fight with Madonna.

CATHOLIC LEAGUE FIRES NICKI MINAJ FOR DRAGGING THE ‘POPE’ TO THE GRAMMYS (VIDEO)

She might not have won any awards on Sunday, February 12, 2012, but new age hip-hop artiste Nicki Minaj sure did get a lot of attention at the 54th Grammy Awards where she delivered a rather provocative performance.

Minaj came dressed to the Grammy’s in a large Versace designed red robe with a man dressed like the Pope. As if that wasn’t enough – levitated, spoke in tongues and acted possessed with the man on stage.

That’s not all; during the performance a short video clip was played on the screens for the audience at the Staples Centre, LA and viewers back home to watch – The clip was a re-enactment of the 1971 ‘demonic possession and exorcism’ movie The Exorcist.

The problem is, she seems to have bitten more than she can chew as the Catholic League have fired out at her asking if she might be possessed.

The Catholic league is not just unhappy with Minaj but also the Recording Academy, organizers of the awards.

‘Whether Minaj is possessed is surely an open question, but what is not in doubt is the irresponsibility of The Recording Academy. Never would they allow an artist to insult Judaism or Islam.’ Catholic League President Bill Donohue said in the press release titled Is Nicki Minaj Possessed?

‘It’s bad enough that Catholics have to fight for their rights vis-a-vis a hostile administration in Washington without also having to fend off attacks in the entertainment industry. The net effect, however, will only embolden Catholics, as well as their friends in other faith communities’, Donohue continued.

Minaj is not new to controversies; and her new video ‘Stupid Hoe’ was only recently banned by BET because of its ‘explicit contents’.

COMMON BRINGS OUT STEVIE WONDER DURING POST-GRAMMY PERFORMANCE

Com Sense got a little help from Stevie, who tributed Whitney Houston during his performance.

Last night, Common brought out Stevie Wonder during a post-Grammy Awards performance at the Conga Room at L.A. Live in Los Angeles, California.

While performing "The People," Com spit the line, "At the Grammy's, though they tried to India.Arie me / Got back stage, and I bumped into Stevie," upon which the veteran singer came out on stage. He freestyled over a breakbeat, later segueing into "My Cherie Amour" and tributing Whitney Houston with a rendition of "I Wanna Dance With Somebody."

THE COMPLETE LIST OF 2012 GRAMMYS WINNERS

It was a night filled with music and memories of the late Whitney Houston at the 2012 Grammy Awards held at Staples Center on Sunday (February 12) in Los Angeles.

The big winner of the night was Adele, who picked up six awards: Album of the Year (21), Record of the Year (“Rolling in the Deep”), Song of the Year (“Rolling in the Deep”), Best Pop Solo Performance (“Someone Like You”), Best Pop Vocal Album (21), and Best Short Form Music Video (“Rolling in the Deep”).

Below is the complete winners list from the 2012 Grammy Awards…

Album of the Year – Adele, 21

Record of the Year – Adele, “Rolling in the Deep”

Song of the Year – Adele, “Rolling in the Deep”

Best New Artist – Bon Iver

Best Pop Solo Performance – Adele, “Someone Like You”

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance – Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse, “Body and Soul”

Best Pop Instrumental Album – Booker T. Jones, The Road From Memphis

Best Pop Vocal Album – Adele, 21

Best Dance Recording – Skrillex, “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites”

Best Dance/Electronica Album – Skrillex, Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album – Tony Bennett & Various Artists, Duets II

Best Rock Performance – Foo Fighters, “Walk”

Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance – Foo Fighters, “White Limo”

Best Rock Song – Foo Fighters, “Walk”

Best Rock Album – Foo Fighters, Wasting Light

Best Alternative Music Album – Bon Iver, Bon Iver

Best R&B Performance – Corinne Bailey Rae, “In This Love”

Best Traditional R&B Performance – Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona, “Fool For You”

Best R&B Song – “Fool For You” (Performed by Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona)

Best R&B Album – Chris Brown, F.A.M.E.

Best Rap Performance – Kanye West & Jay-Z, “Otis”

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration – Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie, “All Of The Lights”

Best Rap Song – “All Of The Lights” (Performed by Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie)

Best Rap Album – Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Best Country Solo Performance – Taylor Swift, “Mean”

Best Country Duo/Group Performance – The Civil Wars, “Barton Hollow”

Best Country Song – Taylor Swift, “Mean”

Best Country Album – Lady Antebellum, Own The Night

Best Spoken Word Album – Betty White, If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won’t)

Best Comedy Album – Louis C.K., Hilarious

Best Musical Theater Album – The Book of Mormon

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media – Boardwalk Empire: Volume 1

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media – Alexandre Desplat, The King’s Speech

Best Song Written For Visual Media – Tangled, “I See The Light”

Best Historical Album – Paul McCartney, Band On The Run

Best Short Form Music Video – Adele, “Rolling in the Deep”

Best Long Form Music Video – Foo Fighters, Foo Fighters: Back And Forth

PHOTOS: GRAMMY AWARDS 2012 FASHION - BEST AND WORST RED CARPET DRESSES

The 2012 Grammy gala will undoubtedly be remembered as the saddest story, due to the death of award-winning Whitney Houston, whose departure has been filled with sorrow to the music industry

The artists began to march down the red carpet Sunday at the 54th Grammy Awards 2012 , but The black became the common denominator in the clothing of celebrities who arrive at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Stars like Val KilmerVal Kilmer, Cindy Lauper, Adele, Bruno Mars and others expressed their regret at the death of Whitney in this way.

Adele, who arrived wearing a shiny black dress three quarters sleeve, with a belt that showed her waist , Osboune Kelly looked pretty with a beautiful gold dress with one strap ,Taylor SwiftTaylor Swift also looked lovely in a gold dress with open back

While the worst dressed Jennifer Lopez could be the worst dressed for the Grammy sharing with Katy Perry who wore turquoise blue dress with same color in her hair.

LIL WAYNE SENDS SHOTS AT JAY-Z & KANYE WEST AT PRE-GRAMMY PARTY

Lil Wayne continues doling out not-so-subtle shots at Jay-Z and Kanye West's group, The Throne.

It seems as though Lil Wayne still hasn't move on from Jay-Z's "Baby money" line from the Watch the Throne song "H.A.M. ," as he is still firing shots at Jay-Z and Kanye West.

At the Cash Money Pre-Grammy party, Lil Wayne tossed a few bars out for the crowd: "I met a bad red bone, I took the bitch home / I asked her what she want to watch, she said surely not The Throne."

Lil Wayne and Jay-Z have been sending thinly-veiled shots back and forth for years, but when Jay-Z's line on "H.A.M." suggested that Baby - Bryan "Birdman" Williams - exaggerated his wealth, Lil Wayne took particular umbrage to the line.

Even though Wayne previously responded on "It's Good ," Jay has yet to return fire, simply acknowledging that beef is part of the sport of Hip Hop.

BREAKING NEWS: FEMI KUTI WILL NOT ATTEND THE GRAMMYS

This year’s Grammy Awards, the 54th edition of the show, is set to showcase several of the world’s most recognizable stars, and reward those who have made their mark in music across the world, from the U.S, Asia & Europe, through to Africa.

However, when the show goes down on Sunday February 12, one nominee who will not be gracing the hugely anticipated event is Nigerian Afrobeat singer, Femi Kuti.

Kuti’s sister Yeni tells us via SMS that Femi, who’s nominated in the Best World Music Category, is not shunning the awards as is being reported, but that the afrobeat giant would not be attending the awards because ‘he would be too disappointed if he goes and he doesn’t win’.

Femi’s nomination is for his album ‘Africa for Africa’, released under the Knitting Factory Records imprint.

Despite Femi’s opinion, though, Yeni, who was a dancer in Femi’s positive Force band, before stepping down to manage the New Afrikan Shrine on a day-to-day, says she hopes he wins. She told our reporter, this evening, that the duo of Kenny Ogungbe and Dayo Adeneye of Kennis Music, who will be attending the event, have kindly agreed to accept the award on his behalf, should the Afrobeat singer win.

Femi Kuti, son of late Afro Beat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, received his first Grammy nomination in 2003 under the best world music album category, with his ‘Fight to Win’ album. He lost out to Panamanian Ruben Blades. He also recorded another nomination in 2010 but US banjo player Bela Fleck eventually walked away with the award.

His recent nomination sees him up against Latin/Roots music band AfroCubism, South African male choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and Malian band Tinariwen.

This year, the total number of categories for the Grammys was cut from 109 to 78 after a major overhaul last year.

DIDDY--- GRAMMY AFTER PARTY TICKETS .... $50, 000 A POP

If you wanna party with Diddy at the Playboy Mansion, you better be freakin' LOADED -- because TMZ has learned, tickets for the rapper's post-Grammys after party top out around $50,000 each.

The cheapest ticket is a slightly more affordable $1,500 and they go up from there -- $15,000, $25,000 ... all the way up to $50,000 -- depending on what services you may require at the black tie affair.

Sources connected with the party promoters tell TMZ, the $50,000 Monster Cabana ticket gets you 2 cabanas, VIP admission for 20 people, buffet dinner, open bar, free bottle service ... and 15 dedicated female promotional models.

Thankfully, it's all for a good cause -- the party's proceeds will go to benefit the Angelwish Foundation for children afflicted by HIV/AIDS.

LL COOL J TO HOST 2012 GRAMMY AWARDS

Seven years with no official host, veteran US rapper, James Todd Smith a.k.a LL Cool J is set to anchor the 54th annual Grammy Awards, which will air on February 12, 2012.

LL Cool J, who is a two-time Grammy winner himself, says he is thrilled to be ‘part of music’s biggest night’ and describes his hosting of the show as a ‘dream come true’.

The 44-year-old has hosted ‘The Grammy Nominations Concert Live’ since its inception in 2008 and this will be his first time hosting the Grammy Awards telecast. Previous hosts of the Grammys are TV host Jon Stewart (2001) and rapper-actor Queen Latifah (2005).

Some of the artists slated to perform are; Kelly Clarkson, Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj and Jason Aldean.

Top nominees are Adele and Kanye West. Nigerian Afrobeat maestro Femi Kuti is also nominated for the third time in the ‘World Music Category’.

NICKI MINAJ TO PERFORM AT THE 2012 GRAMMY AWARDS

The Harajuku Barbie will grace the stage during the event. Nicki Minaj has been tapped to perform at the 2012 Grammy Awards.

The first-time Grammy performer has been added to a lineup that already includes Bruno Mars, Foo Fighters, Taylor Swift, Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson. The Young Money rapstress is also nominated for Best New Artist and Best Rap Album for Pink Friday.

The event is scheduled to take place live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on Sunday, February 12th at 8 p.m.

J. COLE SAYS HE WAS PREPARED FOR LETDOWN WITH GRAMMY NOMINATIONS

The Roc Nation rapper says that he didn't expect to get nominated for Best New Artist.

J. Cole was recently honored alongside The Band Perry, Skrillex, Nicki Minaj and Bon Iver for Best New Artist at the 2012 Grammys, but he didn't expect to get the nod. During an interview with LA Times' Pop & Hiss, the Roc Nation rapper explained his surprise in learning of his nomination and that if he doesn't take home the gramophone, he won't catch any feelings.

"I wasn’t thinking people had seen what I had done, so I had already kind of prepared myself for the letdown. But it caught me off guard," he said. "It would be incredible to win. That’s an understatement … since I didn’t even expect to get nominated. But I’m not walking in there with the attitude that I’m the guy [to beat]. But if I won, I’d know why. And if I didn’t win, I’d understand."

He also spoke on why he thinks his debut album Cole World: The Sideline Story struck a chord with mainstream audiences. Cole was unsure if his fans would actually purchase the album, leaving him on edge.

"I don’t think it was one thing. I think it was a combination of putting out quality projects like mixtapes that sounded like albums. We only call them mixtapes because they are free. And I’ve been touring for two and a half years straight. I just put the album out two months ago. I already had a strong foundation of fans, I just wasn’t sure that they would buy the album."

BILLBOARD NAMES ADELE 'ARTIST OF THE YEAR'

Billboard Magazine has named UK singer and song writer Adele Laurie Blue Adkins professionally known as Adele as the ‘Artist of the Year’ for the year 2011.

Adele’s second album, 21, was the best-selling of the year with 4.8M copies sold. Her song ‘Rolling in the deep’ was adjudged the most popular song with alongside pop singers LMFAO‘s ‘Party Rock Anthem’.

Adele, 23, is the first recipient of the Brit Awards ‘Critics’ Choice’ and was named the number one predicted breakthrough act of 2008 in an annual BBC poll of music critics, Sound of 2008. Since her debut album, 19, Adele has received much recognition both commercially and critically.

The album debuted at number one on the Billboard charts and has been certified four times platinum in the UK. Her career in the US was boosted by a viewer record–breaking Saturday Night Live episode in late 2008. At the 2009 Grammy Awards, Adele won the awards for ‘Best New Artist’ and ‘Best Female Pop Vocal Performance’.

Adele has six nominations in the forthcoming 54th annual Grammy Awards which is set to  take place on February 12, 2012 at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles.

NICKI MINAJ SPEAKS ON GRAMMY NOMINATIONS, SOPHOMORE ALBUM

The Young Money rapstress explains what it means to get a nod from the Recording Academy.

Nicki Minaj was recently honored with a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist for the 2012 ceremony, set to take place in February. During an interview with the Associated Press, the Young Money rapstress spoke on receiving the nod and what it means for her fans to be recognized for her hard work.

"I don’t ever expect to win those type of things but it’s good to be recognized and it’s good for girls to see that you could do whatever type of music you want to do and you can be recognized on a big scale," she said. "It feels crazy, like, who would have thought that? I was just chillin’ out in Southside Jamaica, Queens rapping, New York City. Never. I never would have imagined that, but it’s a blessing and I always say hard work pays off. Don’t be lazy. I’m racist against lazy people. I wish they did not exist in this world."

She also touched on her sophomore album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, scheduled to hit stores on February 14, 2012. Unlike her debut Pink Friday, Nicki says she feels more comfortable not trying to force herself to cater to any one person.

"My ability to trust my first instinct... With recording my sophomore album, things are happening so much easier now because I was over-thinking on the first album. I was giving people what I thought they needed and what I needed my reputation to be. And now, it’s like I don’t care what you think. I’m going to do what I do for my core fans. If you like it, then you like it. And if you don’t, bye."

KANYE WEST SPEAKS ON ALBUM OF THE YEAR NOMINATION SNUB FOR 2012 GRAMMYS

'Ye blames getting snubbed for "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" on dropping two albums during the qualifying period.

Jay-Z and Kanye West hit United Center in Chicago, Illinois last night for their second consecutive concert in the city. During the gig, ‘Ye took a moment to address his album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy getting overlooked for an Album of the Year nod at the 2012 Grammy Awards, as well as a Record of the Year nomination.

“Something I figured out earlier today - because you know, everybody came to me last night like, ‘Congratulations!’ because you know I’m leading the Grammy nominations this year. Like we always do it this time,” he said. “But, people focus, they say, ‘You ain’t got Album of the Year or Record of the Year.’ But I figured out, that’s my fault for dropping Watch the Throne and Dark Fantasy the same year. I should have just spaced it out a little bit more. But don’t worry, because me and Hov gon’ keep on making shit.”

Kanye led the Grammy nominees with a whopping seven nominations, while songstress Adele earned a close six.

2012 GRAMMY AWARD NOMINATIONS (COMPLETE LIST)

The 2012 Grammy Awards will be presented on February 12 from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. Winners are chosen from the nominees by voting from the 12,000 Recording Academy members. On November 30 four of the 78 categories were announced on live television as a part of the Grammy Nomination Concert.

The Grammy Awards honours the best in music each year as a part of a week long celebration that includes a gala event to honour the MusiCares Person of the Year. The 2012 MusiCares recipient is Barbra Streisand.

Earlier this year the Recording Academy shortened the nominee list from 109 categories to only 78; combining many categories and eliminating some specialty categories.

Nominees for the 54th annual Grammy Awards are…
Record of the Year:
”Rolling in the Deep” by Adele
”Holocene” by Bon Iver
”Grenade” by Bruno Mars
”The Cave” by Mumford & Sons
”Firework” by Katy Perry

Album of the Year:
”21” by Adele
”Washing Light” by the Foo Fighters
”Born this Way” by Lady Gaga
”Doo-Wops & Hooligans” by Bruno Mars
”Loud” by Rihanna

Song of the Year: (a songwriter’s award)
”All of the Lights” written by Jeff Bhasker, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter, and Kanye West
”The Cave” written by Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford, and Country Winston
”Grenade” written by Brody Brown, Claude Kelly, Philip Lawrence, Air Levine, Bruno Mars, and Andrew Wyatt

“Holocene” written by Justin Vemon
”Rolling in the Deep” written by Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth

Best New Artist:
The Band Perry
Bon Iver
J. Cole
Nicki Minaj
Skrillex

Best Pop Solo Performance:
”Someone Like You” by Adele
”You and I” by Lady Gaga
”Grenade” by Bruno Mars
”Firework” by Katy Perry
”F***in’ Perfect” by Pink

Best Pop Duo or Group Performance:
”Body and Soul” by Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse
”Dearest” by The Black Keys
”Paradise” by Coldplay
”Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster the People
”Moves Like Jagger” by Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera

Best Pop Instrumental Album:
”Wish Upon a Star” by Jenny Oaks Baker
”E Kahe Malie by Daniel Ho
”The Road from Memphis” by Booker T. Jones
”Hello Tomorrow” by Dave Koz
”Setzer Goes Instru-Mental” by Brian Setzer

Best Pop vocal Album:
”21” by Adele
”The Lady Killer” by Cee Lo Green
”Born this Way” by Lady Gaga
”Doo-Wops & Hooligans” by Bruno Mars
”Loud” by Rihanna

Best Dance Recording:
”Raise Your Weapon” by Deadmau5 and Greta Svabo Bech
”Barbra Streisand” by Duck Sauce
”Sunshine” by David guetta and Avicii
”Call Your Girlfriend” by Robyn
”Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” by Skrillex
”Save the World” by Sedish House Mafia

Best Dance or Electronica Album:
”Zonoscope” by Cut Copy
”4X4=12” by Deadmau5
”Nothing but the Best” by David Guetta
”Body Talk, Pt. 3” by Robyn
”Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” by Skrillex

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album:
”Duets II” by Tony Bennett
”The Gift” by Susan Boyle
”In Concert on Broadway” by Harry Connick Jr.
”Music is Better than Words” by Seth MacFarlane
”What Matters Most – Barbra Streisand Sings the Lyrics of Alan and Marilyn Bergman” by Barbra Streisand

Best Rock Performance:
”Every Teardrop is a Waterfall” by Coldplay
”Down by the Water” by The Decemberists
”Walk” by the Foo Fighters
”The Cave” by Mumford & Sons
”Lotus Flower” by Radiohead

Best Hard Rock or Metal Performance:
”On the Backs of Angels” by Dream Theater
”White Limo” by the Foo Fighters
”Curl of the Burl” by Mastodon
”Public Enemy No. 1” by Megadeth
”Blood in My Eyes” by Sum 41

Best Rock Song: (a songwriters award”
”The Cave” written by Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford, and Country Winston
”Down by the Water” written by Colin Meloy
”Every Teardrop is a Waterfall” written by Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin
”Lotus Flower” written by Colin Greenwood, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O’Brien, Phil Selway, and Thom Yorke
”Walk” by the Foo Fighters

Best Rock Album:
”Rock ‘N’ Roll Party Honoring Les Paul” by Jeff Beck
”Wasting Light” by the Foo Fighters
”Come Around Sundown” by the Kings of Leon
”I’m with You” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers
”The Whole Love” by Wilco

Best Alternative Music Album:
”Bon Iver” by Bon Iver
”Codes and Keys” by Death Cab for Cutie
”Torches” by Foster the People
”Circuital” by My Morning Jacket
”The King of Limbs” by Radiohead

Best R&B Performance:
”Far Away” by Marsha Ambrosius
”Pieces of Me” by Ledisi
”Not My Daddy” by Kelly Price and Stokley
”Is this Love” by Corine Bailey Rae
”You Are” by Charlie Wilson

Best Traditional R&B Performance:
”Sometimes I Cry” by Eric Benet
”Fool for You” by Cee Lo Green and Melanie Fiona
”Radio Message” by R. Kelly
”Good Man” by Raphael Saadiq
”Surrender” by Betty Wright and The Roots

Best R&B Song: (a songwriters award)
”Far Away” written by Marsha Ambrosius, Sterling Simms, and Justin Smith
”Fool for You” written by Cee Lo Green and Jack Splash
”Not My Daddy” written by Kelly Price
”Pieces of Me” written by Charles Harmon, Claude Kelly, and Ledisi Young
”You Are” written by Dennis Bettis, Carl M. Days Jr., Wirlie Morris, Charlie Wilson, and Mahin Wilson

Best R&B Album:
”F.A.M.E.” by Chris Brown
”Second Chance” by El DeBarge
”Love Letter” by R. Kelly
”Pieces of Me” by Ledisi
”Kelly” by Kelly Price

Best Rap Performance:
”Look at Me Now” by Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, and Busta Rhymes
”Otis” by Jay-Z and Kanye West
”The Show Goes On” by Lupe Fiasco
”Moment 4 Life” by Nicki Minaj and Drake
”Black and Yellow” by Wiz Khalifa

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration:
”Party” by Beyonce and Andre 3000
”I’n on One” by DJ Khaled, Drake, Rick Ross and Lil Wayne
”I Need a Doctor” by Dr. Dre, Eminem, and Skylar Grey
”What’s My Name?” by Rihanna and Drake
”Motivation” by Kelly Rowland and Lil Wayne
”All of the Lights” by Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi, and Fergie

Best Rap Song: (a songwriters award)
”All of the Lights” written by Jeff Bhasker, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter and Kanye West
”Black and Yellow” written by Mikkel eriksen, tor Erik Hermansen, and Cameron Thomaz
”I Need a Doctor” written by Andre Young, Marshall Matters III, Alexander grant, and Skylar Grey
”Look at Me Now” written by Jean Baptiste, Chris Brown, Ryan Buendia, Trevor Smith, Dwayne Carter Jr. and Wesley Pentz
”Otis” written by Shawn Carter and Kanye West
”The Show Goes On” written by Dustin William Brower, Jonathon Keith Brown, Daniel Johnson, Kane, and Wasalu Muhammad Jaco

Best Rap Album:
”Watch the Throne” by Jay-Z and Kanye West
”The Carter IV” by Lil Wayne
”Lasers” by Lupe Fiasco
”Pink Friday” by Nicki Minaj
”My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” by Kanye West

Best Country Solo Performance:
”Dirt Road Anthem” by Jason Aldean
”I’m Gonna Love You Through It” by Martina McBride
”Honey Bee” by Blake Shelton
”Mean” by Taylor Swift
”Mama’s Song” by Carrie Underwood

Best Country Duo or Group Performance:
”Don’t You Wanna Stay” by Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson
”You and Tequila” by Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter
”Barton Hollow” by The Civil Wars
”Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not” by Thompson Square

Best Country Song: (a songwriters award”
”Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not” written by Jim Collins and David Lee Murphy
”God Gave Me You” written by Dave Barnes
”Just Fishin’” written by Casey Beathard, Monty Criswell and Ed Hill
”Mean” written by Taylor Swift
”Threaten Me with Heaven” written by Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Will Owsley and Dillon O’Brien
”You and Tequila” written by Matraca Berg and Deana Carter

Best Country Album:
”My Kinda Party” by Jason Aldean
”Chief” by Eric Church
”Own the Night” by Lady Antebellum
”Red River Blue” by Blake Shelton
”Here for a Good Time” by George Strait
”Speak Now” by Taylor Swift

Best New Age Album:
”Northern Seas” by Al Conti
Gaia by Michael Brant DeMaria
”Wind, Rock, Sea & Flame” by Peter Kater
”What’s it All About” by Pat Metheny
”Instrumental Oasis, Vol. 6” by Zamora

Best Improvised Jazz Solo:
”All or Nothing at All” by Randy Brecker
”You Are My Sunshine” by Ron Carter
”500 Miles High” by Chick Corea
”Work” by Fred Hersch
”Sonnymoon for Two” by Sonny Rollins

Best Jazz Vocal Album:
”Round Midnight” by Karrin Allyson
”The Mosaic Project” by Terri Lyne Carrington and Various Artists
”The Gate” by Kurt Elling
”American Road” by Tierney Sutton
”The Music of Randy Newman” by Roseanna Vitro

Best Jazz Instrumental Album:
”Bond: The Paris Sessions” by Gerald Clayton
”Forever” by Corea, Clarke and White
”Alone at the Vanguard” by Fred Hersch
”Bird Songs” by Joe Lovano and Us Five
”Road Shows Vol. 2” by Sonny Rollins
”Timeline” by the Yellowjackets

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album:
”The Jazz Ballad song Book” by Randy Brecker with the DR Big Band
”The Good Feeling” by the Christian McBride Big Band
”40 Acres and a Burro” by Arturo O’Farrill and The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
”Legacy” by the Gerald Wilson Orchestra
”Alma Adentro: The Puerto Rican Songbook” by Miguel Zenon

Best Gospel or Contemporary Christian Music Performance:
”Do Everything” by Steven Curtis Chapman
”Alive (Mary Magdalene) by Natalie Grant
”Your Love” by Brandon Heath
”Jesus” by Le’Andria Johnson
”I Lift My Hands” by Chris Tomlin

Best Gospel Song: (a songwriters award)
”Hello Fear” written by Kirk Franklin
”Sitting with Me” written by Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell, Gerald Haddon, and Tammi Haddon
”Spiritual” written by Donald Lawrence
”Trust Me” written by Richard Smallood
”Window” written by Canton Jones

Best Contemporary Christrian Music Song: (a songwriters award)
”Blessings” written by Laura Story
”Hold Me” written by Jamie Grace Harper, toby McKeehan, and Christopher Stevens
”I Lift My Hands” written by Louie Giglio, Matt Maher, and Chris Tomlin
”Strong Enough” written by Matthew West
”Your Love” written by Brandon Heath and Jason Ingram

Best Gospel Album:
”The Love Album” by Kim Burrell
”The Journey” by Andrae Crouch
”Hello Fear” by Kirk Franklin
”Something Big” by Mary Mary
”Angel & Chanelle Deluxe Edition” by Trin-I-Tee 5:7

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album:
”Ghosts Upon the Earth” by Gungor
”Leaving Eden” by Brandon Heath
”The Great Awakening” by Leeland
”What if We Were Real” by Mandisa
”Black & White” by Royal Tailor
”And if Our God is for Us…” by Chris Tomlin

Best Latin Pop, Rock, or Urban Album:
”Entren Los Que Quieran” by Calle 13
”Entre La Ciudad Y El Mar” by Gustavo Galindo
”Nuestra” by La Vida Boheme
”Not so Commercial” by the Los Amigos Invisibles
”Drama Y Luz” by Mana

Best Regional Mexican or Tejano Album:
”Becentenario” by Pepe Aguilar
”Orale” by the Mariachi Divas De Cindy Shea
”Amor A La Musica” by the Mariachi Los Arrieros Del Valle
”Eres Un Farsante” by Paquitaa La Del Barrio
”Huevos Rancheros” by Joan Sebastian

Best Banda or Norteno Album:
”Estare Mejor” by El Guero Y Su Banda Centenario
”Intocable 2011” by Intocable
”Los Tigres Del Norte and Friends” by Los tirgres Del Norte
”Arbol” by Los Tucanes De Tijuana
”No Vengo A Ver Si Puedo…Si Por Que Puedo Vengo” by Michael Salgado

Best Tropical Latin Album:
”Homenaje A Los Rumberos” by Edwin Bonilla
”The Last Mambo” by Cachao
”Mongorama” by Joe Rizo’s Mongorama

Best Americana Album:
”Emotional Jukebox” by Linda Chomey
”Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down” by Ry Cooder
”Hard Bargain” by Emmylou Harris
”Ramble at the Ryman” by Levon Helm
”Blessed” by Lucinda Williams

Best Bluegrass Album:
”Paper Airplane” by Alison Kraus and Union Station
”Read and Rhyme: Bluegrass Songs by Robert Hunter & Jim Lauderdale” by Jim Lauderdale
”Rare Bird Alert” by Steve Martin and the Sheep Canyon Rangers
”Old Memories: The Songs of Bill Monroe” by The Del McCoury Band
”A Mother’s Prayer” by Ralph Stanley
”Sleep with One Eye Open” by chris Thile and Michael Daves

Best Blues Album:
”Low Country Blues” by Gregg Allman
”Roadside Attractions” by Marcia Ball
”Man in Motion” by Warren Haynes
”The Reflection” by Keb Mo
”Revelator” by the Tedeschi trucks Band

Best Folk Album:
”Barton Hollow” by The Civil Wars
”I’ll Never Get Out of this World Alive” by Steve Earle
”Helplessness Blues” by the Fleet Foxes
”Ukulele Songs” by Eddie Vedder
”The Harrow & The Harvest” by Gillian Welch

Best regional Roots Music Album:
”Can’t Sit Down” by C. J. Cherier
”Wao Akua – The Forest of the Gods” by George Kahumcku, Jr.
”Rebirth of New Orleans” by the Rebirth Brass Band
”Grand Isle” by Steve Riley and the Mamouu Playboys
”Not Just Another Polka” by Jimmy sturr and His Orchestra

Best Reggae Album:
”Harlem-Kingston Express Live!” by Monty Alexander
”Reggae Knights” by Isreal Vibration
”Revelation Pt. 1: The Root of Life” by Stephen Marley
”Wild and Free” by Ziggy Marley
”Summer in Kingston” by Shaggy

Best World Music Album:
”AfroCubism” by AfroCubism
”Africa for Africa” by Femi Kuti
”Songs from a Zulu Farm” by Ladysmith Black Mambazo
”Tassili” by Tinariwen

Best Children’s Album:
”All About Bullies…Big and Small” by Various Artists
”Are We there Yet?” by The Papa Hugs Band
”Fitness Rock & Roll” by Miss Amy
”GulfAlive” by The Banana Plant
”I Love: Tom T. Hall’s Songs of fox Hollow” by Various Artists

Best Spoken Word Album:
”Bossypants” by Tina Fey
”Fab Fan Memories – The Beatles Bond” by Various Artists
”Hamlet” by Dan Donohue and Various Artists – Oregon Shakespeare Festival
”If You Ask Me (and of Course You Won’t)” by Betty White
”The Mark of Zorro” by Val Kilmer and Cast

Best Comedy Album:
”Alpocalypse” by “Weird Al” Yankovic
”Finest Hour” by Patton Oswalt
”Hilarious” by Louis C.K.
”Kathy Griffin: 50 and Not Pregnant” by Kathy Griffin
”Turtleneck & Chain” by The Lonely Island

Best Musical Theater Album:
”Anything Goes”
”The Book of Mormon”
”How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media”
”Boardwalk Empire: Volume 1” by Various Artists
”Burlesque” by Christina Aguilera
”Glee: The Music, Volume 4” by the Cast of “Glee”
”Tangled” by Various Artists
”True Blood: Volume 3”

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media:
”Black Swan” composed by Clint Mansell
”Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” composed by Alexandre Desplat
”The King’s Speech” composed by Alexandre Desplat
”The Shrine” composed by Ryan Shore
”Tron Legacy” composed by Daft Punk

Best Song Written for Visual Media:
”Born to be Somebody” from “Never Say Never” written by Diane Warren
”Christmastime is Killing Us” from the “Family Guy” written by Ron Jones, Seth MacFarlane, and Danny Smith
”I See the Light” from “Tangled” written by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater

Best Song Written for Visual Media:
”So Long” from “Winnie the Pooh” written by Zooey Deschanel
”Where the River Goes” from “Footloose” written by Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, Drew Pearson, and Anne Preven
”You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me” from “Burlesque” written by Diane Warren

Best Instrumental Composition:
”Falling Men” composed by John Lollenbeck
”Hunting Wabbits 3” composed by Gordon Goodwin
”I Talk to The Trees” composed by Randy Brecker
”Life in Eleven” composed by Bela Fleck and Howad Levy
”Timeline” composed by Russell Ferrante

Best Instrumental Arrangement:
”All or Nothing at All” arranged by Peter Jensen
”In the Beginning” arranged by Clare Fischer
”Nasty Dance” arranged by Bob Brookmeyer
”Rhapsody in Blue” arranged by Gordon Goodwin
”Song Without Words” arranged byCarlos Franzetti

Best Instrumental Arrangement with Accompanying Vocals:
”Ao Mar” arranged by Vince Mendoza
”Moon Over Bourbon Street” arranged by Rob Mathes
”On Broadway” arranged by Kevin Axt, Ray Brinker, Trey Henry, Christian Jacob, and Tierney Sutton
”Who Can I Turn To” arranged by Jorge Calandrelli
”The Windmills of Your Mind” arranged by William A. Ross

Best Recording Package:
Todd Gallopo for “Chickenfoot III”
Sarah and Shauna Dodds for “Good Luck & True Love”
Jonathan Dagan for “River and Homes”
Vincent Morisset for Scenes from the Suburbs”
Virgil Abloh for “Watch the Throne”

Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package:
Donald Twain and Zachariah Wildwood for “The King of Limbs”
Dave Bett and Michelle Holme for “The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story”
Matt Taylor and Ellen Wakayama for “25th Anniversary Music Box”
James Spindler for “25 Years”
David Gorman for “Wingless Angels – Deluxe Edition”

Best Album Notes:
Neil Diamond for “The Band Years 1966-1968”
Ted Olson and tony Russell for “The Bristol Sessions, 1927-1928: The Big Bang of Country Music”
Ken Shipley for “Complete Mythology”
Adam Machado for “Hear Me Howling!: blues, Ballads & Beyond as recorded by the San Francisco Bay by Chris Strachwitz in the 1960’s”
Alec Palao for “The Music City Story: Street Corner Doo Wop, Raw R&B and Soulful Sounds from Berkeley, California 1950-75”

Best Historical Album:
”Band on the Run” – Paul McCartney Archive Collection – Deluxe Edition
”The Bristol Sessions, 1927-1928: the Big Bang of Country Music”
”Complete Mythology”
“Hear Me Howling!: blues, Ballads & Beyond as recorded by the San Francisco Bay by Chris Strachwitz in the 1960’s”
”Young Man with the Big Beat: The Complete ’56 Elvis Presley Masters”

Best Non Classical Engineered Album:
Brandon Bell, Gary Paczosa, Sangwook “sunny” Nam , and Doug Sax for “Follow Me Down”
Matt Andrews and Stephen Marcussen for “The Harrow & The Harvest”
Rich Breen, Frank Filipetti, and Bob Ludwig for “Music is Better than Words”
Kevin Killen, Brendan Muldowney, and John Shyloski for “The Next Right Thing”
Mike Shipley and Brad Blackwood for “Paper Airplane”

Non Classical Producer of the Year:
Danger Mouse
Paul Epworth
The Smeezingtons
Ryan Tedder
Butch Vig

Best Non Classical Remixed Recording:
Sonny Moore for “Cinema” by Skrillex
Afrojack for “Collide” by Afrojack
Photek for “End of Line” by Photek
Abel Aguilera and Ralphi Rosario for “Only Girl (in the World) by Rihanna
Deadmau5 for “Rope” by the Foo Fighters

Best Surround Sound Album:
”An Evening with Dave Grusin” engineered by Frank Filipetti and Eric Schilling
”Grace for Drowning” engineered by Paschal Byrne and Steven Wilson
”Kind” engineered by Morten Lindberg
”Layla and other Assorted Love Songs” (Super Deluxe Edition) engineered by Elliot Scheiner, Bob Ludwig, and Bill Levenson
”Spohr: String Sextet in C Major, Op. 140 and Nonet in F Major, Op. 31” engineered by Andreas Spreer

Best Engineered Classical Album:
”Aldridge: Elmer Gantry” engineered by Byeong-Joon Hwang, John Newton, and Jesse Lewis
”Glazunov: Complete Concertos” engineered by Richard King
”Makey: Lonely Motel – Music from Slide” engineered by Tom Lazarus, Bill Maylone, and Joe Lambert
”Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 3 & 4” engineered by Arne Akselberg
”Weinberg: Symphony No 3 & Suite No.4 from ‘The Golden Key’” engineered by Torbjorn Samuelsson

Classical Producer of the Year:
Blanton Alspaugh
Manfed Eicher
David Frost
Peter Rutenberg
Judith Sherman

Best Orchestral Performance:
”Bowen: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2” by the BBC Philharmonic
”Brahms: Symphony No. 4” by the Los Angeles Philharmonic
”Haydn: Symphonies...

AFROBEAT LEGEND FEMI KUTI GRABS THIRD GRAMMY AWARD NOMINATION

Afrobeat singer Femi Kuti has been nominated at the 54th edition of the prestigious Grammy Awards.

Femi picked up his third ever nomination in the World Music Category for his ‘Africa for Africa‘ album last night Wednesday, November 30, 2011 when the list was unveiled at the ‘Grammy Nominations Concert Live!!‘ in Los Angeles, US.

In 2003, Femi, eldest son of late Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti picked up his first ever Grammy Award nomination but lost out to Panamanian salsa singer Rubén Blades. He similarly lost in 2010 when he was nominated in the same category. US banjo player Bela Fleck walked away with the award.

His recent nomination sees him up against Latin/Roots music band AfroCubism, South African male choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and Malian band Tinariwen.

Femi has vowed not to attend the Grammys again after losing out the first time he was nominated. Femi disclosed then that he regret attending the prestigious event.

Last year, he said;

"When I arrived at the red carpet, nobody came for me, my record company didn't come, I felt stupid and so I knew I could not win. I sacked my manager, a French man, and they sacked me too. The journey back home was very long. I felt sad. Since then I vowed never to attend the Grammy Awards again.

My father never went for any awards, and where they presented him an award, he didn't go personally and when they brought the award to him, he would send them back with the award. One day, I was at the World Music Awards and I brought the awards, he said did I send you? You better take it back. As I grew older, I understood what he was saying then."