JAY Z LEADS IN 56th

ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS NOMINATIONS

The CEO of RCA Records and world renowned rapper Shawn Carter leads the nomination pack for this year's grammy award ceremony with nine (9) nominations, he is closely followed by Same Love crooners Macklemore n Ryan Lewis the hormosexual duo, Kendrick Lamar, Justin Timberlake, Pharell Williams each with seven (7) nominations
When the Recording Academy revealed nominations for the
56th Grammy Awards Friday night, the hip-hop duo was
named in seven categories, including for best new artist, song
of the year and album of the year.
"Seven is unbelievable," Lewis told CNN. "We came here
hoping for one."

Check the full nominations list on
http://www.grammy.com/nominees

English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, who was also
nominated for best new artist, said in a CNN interview that
he'd rather Macklemore & Lewis win the Grammy. "They've
achieved so much this year in popular culture," Sheeran said.
"They really changed things doing a song about
homophobia."

The other new artist Grammy contenders are English
electronic music producer James Blake, hip-hop artist
Kendrick Lamar -- who is nominated for seven Grammys
overall -- and country singer Kacey Musgraves -- who has
four nominations.

Noticeably absent from the best new artist category is Lorde,
whose smash hit "Royals" did earn nominations for record of
the year, song of the year and best pop solo performance.
The 17-year-old New Zealand singer-songwriter's debut
album "Pure Heroine" is also nominated for best pop album.

Lorde's song, which carries a message criticizing the
materialism of the pop music scene, spent nine weeks at the
top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart this year. She performed it
live on the Grammy nominations telecast Friday.
"She's pretty unstoppable right now," Jimmy Jam said. "She
had a great performance tonight, which I think will resonate
in people's minds. She's so young, but a great songwriter. I
think the sky's the limit for her."
He compared Lorde's situation to that of Katy Perry, whose
"I Kissed a Girl" was a big hit five years ago. It earned her a
best female pop vocal Grammy nomination, but she was
passed over for best new artist. "Grammy voters felt that one
single was really good, but let's see what else she has," he
said.
Perry proved since then that she is the real thing. Grammy
voters nominated her "Roar" for song of the year and best
pop solo performance this year.
"Blurred Lines," the Robin Thicke summer hit with T.I. and
Pharrell Williams, is up for song of the year and best pop
duo/group performance. Their chances of taking home a
Grammy might be hurt, though, by the legal battle with the
heirs of the late Marvin Gaye, who argue it ripped off his
"Got to Give It Up" classic.
Pharrell Williams could still win in those categories because
he's also nominated for other work in each. In all, he has
seven nominations in four categories.
Justin Timberlake is also up for seven Grammys. His "The
20/20 Experience" was passed over in the album of the year
category, but it is nominated for best pop vocal album. He
shares a nomination with Jay Z in the best pop duo/group
category for the song "Suit & Tie" and his single "Mirrors" is
nominated for best pop solo performance.
Drake was nominated for five Grammys, including for best
rap performance for "Started from the Bottom." The rapper
canceled plans to perform at Friday's nominations telecast
citing schedule complications.

Daft Punk is up for four Grammys, including record of the
year -- for their hit "Get Lucky" -- and album of the year for
"Random Access Memories."
Bruno Mars earned four Grammy nominations. His "Locked
Out of Heaven" is up for record of the year and song of the
year.
Country crossover singer-songwriter Taylor Swift's "Red" is
nominated for album of the year and country album of the
year. She's also nominated for best country duo/ group
performance and best country song. She performed on Friday
night's show from Australia.
Fantasia's latest album "Side Effects of You" brought the
2004 American Idol winner three Grammy nominations.
The nominations list, which has 82 categories, has several
legendary names on it with new music.
Paul McCartney's "Live Kisses" is nominated in the best
music film category. The former Beatle is competing for the
best rock song Grammy against Rolling Stones Mick Jagger
and Keith Richards.
The best rock album Grammy competition reads almost like
the billing from a 1970s rock festival with Black Sabbath,
David Bowie, Led Zeppelin and Neil Young with Crazy
Horse nominated. Queens of the Stone Age and Kings of
Leon are the youngsters in the race.
The Grammys will be handed out in Los Angeles on January.
Most of them will be announced in a pre-telecast ceremony,
but the top awards will be presented in a music-filled three
hour broadcast on the CBS network.

www.grammy.com/nominees

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www.grammy.com/nominees