The Grammys in New York took a weird turn this morning as the nominations were a shocker: Ed Sheeran’s best selling “Divide” did not get an Album of the Year nod, neither did albums by Lady Gaga or Kesha. Instead, the Grammys went mostly for R&B and rap: Jay Z, Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar and Childish Gambino, who is really the actor Donald Glover. CBS must be plotzing. (I’m thrilled because I love the Childish Gambino album.)
Indeed, all the acts they want on the show– the white pop acts– have been relegated to the Pop Vocal category. That’s Gaga, Sheeran, Pink, Kelly Clarkson, Kesha.
How the Grammys became the R&B/Hip Hop Awards will be the subject of much discussion at Black Rock today. Their traditional country nominee is absent, which for CBS is a disaster. The only pop singer who scored an Album of the Year nod was Lorde, the 20 year New Zealand singer whose “Melodrama” album not much of a hit compared to her previous outing.
Kendrick Lamar, Glover, Bruno Mars and Jay Z also took up most of the Record and Song of the Year categories even though almost none of that music is not what is typically thought of for those categories. I’ll bet a lot of pop, rock and R&B stars are in shock right now. Ed Sheeran and his team must be having Xanax omelettes.
Again, for older skewing CBS and producer Ken Erlich, this will be a challenge. This is not the show they want. Having no country nominees in the main categories is heart-attack inducing.
There were no nominations for singles released before the September 30th deadline by pop superstars Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, and so on. Swift will not be performing “Look What You Made Me Do” with Right Said Fred. Cyrus won’t be singing “Malibu.”
For Jay Z, this must be quite a celebration. He wanted the Grammys at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. That didn’t happen. Instead, he will be a huge part of the Madison Square Garden show. Stunning.
Record of the Year
“Redbone” — Childish Gambino
“Despacito” — Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber
“The Story Of O.J.” — JAY-Z
“HUMBLE.” — Kendrick Lamar
“24K Magic” — Bruno Mars
Album of the Year
“Awaken, My Love!” — Childish Gambino
4:44 — JAY-Z
DAMN. — Kendrick Lamar
Melodrama — Lorde
24K Magic — Bruno Mars
Song of the Year
“Despacito” — Ramon Ayala, Justin Bieber, Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd, Erika Ender, Luis Fonsi & Marty James Garton, songwriters (Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber)
“4:44” — Shawn Carter & Dion Wilson, songwriters (JAY-Z)
“Issues” — Benny Blanco, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Julia Michaels & Justin Drew Tranter, songwriters (Julia Michaels)
“1-800-273-8255” — Alessia Caracciolo, Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, Arjun Ivatury, Khalid Robinson, songwriters (Logic Featuring Alessia Cara & Khalid)
“That’s What I Like” — Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus & Jonathan Yip, songwriters (Bruno Mars)
Best New Artist
Alessia Cara
Khalid
Lil Uzi Vert
Julia Michaels
SZA
Best Pop Solo Performance
“Love So Soft” — Kelly Clarkson
“Praying” — Kesha
“Million Reasons” — Lady Gaga
“What About Us” — P!nk
“Shape Of You” — Ed Sheeran
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
“Something Just Like This” — The Chainsmokers & Coldplay
“Despacito” — Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber
“Thunder” — Imagine Dragons
“Feel It Still” — Portugal. The Man
“Stay” — Zedd & Alessia Cara
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
NOBODY BUT ME (DELUXE VERSION) Michael Bublé
TRIPLICATE Bob Dylan
IN FULL SWING Seth MacFarlane
WONDERLAND Sarah McLachlan
TONY BENNETT CELEBRATES 90 (Various Artists)
Dae Bennett, Producer
Best Pop Vocal Album
KALEIDOSCOPE EP Coldplay
LUST FOR LIFE Lana Del Rey
EVOLVE Imagine Dragons
RAINBOW Kesha
JOANNE Lady Gaga
÷ (DIVIDE) Ed Sheeran
Best Dance Recording
BAMBRO KOYO GANDA
Bonobo Featuring Innov Gnawa
Bonobo, producer; Bonobo, mixer
“Cola”
Camelphat & Elderbrook
Mike Di Scala, Elderbrook & David Whelan, producers; Mike Di Scala, Elderbrook & David Whelan, mixers
“Andromeda”
Gorillaz Featuring D.R.A.M.
Damon Albarn, Jamie Hewlett, Remi Kabaka & Anthony Khan, producers; Stephen Sedgwick, mixer
TONITE
LCD Soundsystem
James Murphy, producer; James Murphy, mixer
LINE OF SIGHT
Odesza Featuring WYNNE & Mansionair Clayton Knight & Harrison Mills, producers; Eric J Dubowsky, mixer
Best Dance/Electronic Album
Migration — Bonobo
3-D The Catalogue — Kraftwerk
Mura Masa — Mura Masa
A Moment Apart — Odesza
What Now — Sylvan Esso
Best Contemporary Instrumental Album
What If
The Jerry Douglas Band
Spirit
Alex Han
Mount Royal
Julian Lage & Chris Eldridge
Prototype
Jeff Lorber Fusion
Bad Hombre
Antonio Sanchez
Best Rock Performance
“You Want It Darker” — Leonard Cohen
“The Promise” — Chris Cornell
“Run” — Foo Fighters
“No Good” — Kaleo
“Go To War” — Nothing More
Best Metal Performance
“Invisible Enemy”
August Burns Red
“Black Hoodie”
Body Count
“Forever”
Code Orange
“Sultan’s Curse”
Mastodon
“Clockworks”
Meshuggah
Best Rock Song
“Atlas, Rise!”
James Hetfield & Lars Ulrich, Songwriters (Metallica)
“Blood In The Cut”
JT Daly & Kristine Flaherty, Songwriters (K.Flay)
“Go To War”
Ben Anderson, Jonny Hawkins, Will Hoffman, Daniel
Oliver, David Pramik & Mark Vollelunga, Songwriters (Nothing More)
“Run”
Foo Fighters, Songwriters (Foo Fighters)
“The Stage”
Zachary Baker, Brian Haner, Matthew Sanders,
Jonathan Seward & Brooks Wackerman, Songwriters (Avenged Sevenfold)
Best Rock Album
Emperor Of Sand
Mastodon
Hardwired…To Self-Destruct
Metallica
The Stories We Tell Ourselves
Nothing More
Villains
Queens Of The Stone Age
A Deeper Understanding
The War On Drugs
Best Alternative Music Album
Everything Now
Arcade Fire
Humanz
Gorillaz
American Dream
LCD Soundsystem
Pure Comedy
Father John Misty
Sleep Well Beast
The National
Best R&B Performance
Get You
Daniel Caesar Featuring Kali Uchis
Distraction
Kehlani
High
Ledisi
That’s What I Like
Bruno Mars
The Weekend
Sza
Best Traditional R&B Performance
Laugh And Move On
The Baylor Project
Redbone
Childish Gambino
What I’m Feelin’
Anthony Hamilton Featuring The Hamiltones
All The Way
Ledisi
Still
Mali Music
Best R&B Song
First Began
PJ Morton, songwriter (PJ Morton)
Location
Alfredo Gonzalez, Olatunji Ige, Samuel David Jiminez, Christopher Mcclenney, Khalid Robinson & Joshua Scruggs, Songwriters (Khalid)
Redbone
Donald Glover & Ludwig Goransson, Songwriters (Childish Gambino)
Supermodel
Tyran Donaldson, Terrence Henderson, Greg Landfair Jr., Solana Rowe & Pharrell Williams, Songwriters (Sza)
That’s What I Like
Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus & Jonathan Yip, songwriters (Bruno Mars)
Best Urban Contemporary Album
Free 6lack — 6lack
“Awaken, My Love!” — Childish Gambino
American Teen — Khalid
Ctrl — SZA
Starboy — The Weeknd
Best R&B Album
Freudian
Daniel Caesar
Let Love Rule
Ledisi
24k Magic
Bruno Mars
Gumbo
PJ Morton
Feel The Real
Musiq Soulchild
Best Rap Performance
Bounce Back
Big Sean
Bodak Yellow
Cardi B
4:44
Jay-Z
Humble.
Kendrick Lamar
Bad And Boujee
Migos Featuring Lil Uzi Vert
Best Rap/Sung Performance
Prblms
6lack
Crew
Goldlink Featuring Brent Faiyaz & Shy Glizzy
Family Feud
Jay-Z Featuring Beyoncé
Loyalty.
Kendrick Lamar Featuring Rihanna
Love Galore
Sza Featuring Travis Scott
Best Rap Song
Bodak Yellow
Dieuson Octave, Klenord Raphael, Shaftizm, Jordan Thorpe, Washpoppin & J White, Songwriters (Cardi B)
Chase Me
Judah Bauer, Brian Burton, Hector Delgado, Jaime
Meline, Antwan Patton, Michael Render, Russell Simins & Jon Spencer, Songwriters (Danger Mouse Featuring Run The Jewels & Big Boi)
Humble.
K. Duckworth, Asheton Hogan & M. Williams Ii, Songwriters (Kendrick Lamar)
Sassy
E. Gabouer & M. Evans, Songwriters (Rapsody)
The Story Of O.J.
Shawn Carter & Dion Wilson, Songwriters (Jay-Z)
Best Rap Album
4:44 — JAY-Z
DAMN. — Kendrick Lamar
Culture — Migos
Laila’s Wisdom — Rapsody
Flower Boy — Tyler, The Creator
Best Country Solo Performance
Body Like A Back Road
Sam Hunt
Losing You
Alison Krauss
Tin Man
Miranda Lambert
I Could Use A Love Song
Maren Morris
Either Way
Chris Stapleton
Best Country Duo/Group Performance
It Ain’t My Fault
Brothers Osborne
My Old Man
Zac Brown Band
You Look Good
Lady Antebellum
Better Man
Little Big Town
Drinkin’ Problem
Midland
Best Country Song
Better Man
Taylor Swift, Songwriter (Little Big Town)
Body Like A Back Road
Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane Mcanally & Josh Osborne, Songwriters (Sam Hunt)
Broken Halos
Mike Henderson & Chris Stapleton, Songwriters (Chris Stapleton)
Drinkin’ Problem
Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, Shane Mcanally, Josh Osborne & Mark Wystrach, Songwriters (Midland)
Tin Man
Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert & Jon Randall, Songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
Best Country Album
Cosmic Hallelujah — Kenny Chesney
Heart Break — Lady Antebellum
The Breaker — Little Big Town
Life Changes — Thomas Rhett
From A Room: Volume 1 — Chris Stapleton
Best New Age Album
Reflection
Brian Eno
Songversation: Medicine
India.Arie
Dancing On Water
Peter Kater
Sacred Journey Of Ku-Kai, Volume 5
Kitaro
Spiral Revelation
Steve Roach
Best Improvised Jazz Solo
Can’t Remember Why Sara Caswell, Soloist
Track From: Whispers On The Wind (Chuck Owen And The Jazz Surge)
Dance Of Shiva Billy Childs, Soloist
Track From: Rebirth
Whisper Not
Fred Hersch, Soloist
Miles Beyond
John Mclaughlin, Soloist
Track From: Live @ Ronnie Scott’s (John Mclaughlin & The 4th Dimension)
Ilimba
Chris Potter, Soloist
Track From: The Dreamer Is The Dream
Best Jazz Vocal Album
The Journey — The Baylor Project
A Social Call — Jazzmeia Horn
Bad Ass And Blind — Raul Midón
Porter Plays Porter — Randy Porter Trio With Nancy King
Dreams And Daggers — Cécile McLorin Salvant
Best Jazz Instrumental Album
Uptown, Downtown
Bill Charlap Trio
Rebirth
Billy Childs
Project Freedom
Joey Defrancesco & The People
Open Book
Fred Hersch
The Dreamer Is The Dream
Chris Potter
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
Monk’estra Vol. 2
John Beasley
Jigsaw
Alan Ferber Big Band
Bringin’ It
Christian Mcbride Big Band
Homecoming
Vince Mendoza & Wdr Big Band Cologne
Whispers On The Wind
Chuck Owen And The Jazz Surge
Best Latin Jazz Album
Hybrido – From Rio To Wayne Shorter
Antonio Adolfo
Oddara
Jane Bunnett & Maqueque
Outra Coisa – The Music Of Moacir Santos
Anat Cohen & Marcello Gonçalves
Típico
Miguel Zenón
Jazz Tango
Pablo Ziegler Trio
Best Gospel Performance/Song
TOO HARD NOT TO Tina Campbell; Tina Campbell & Warryn Campbell, songwriters
YOU DESERVE IT JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise Featuring Bishop Cortez Vaughn; David Bloom, JJ Hairston, Phontane Demond Reed & Cortez Vaughn, songwriters
BETTER DAYS Le’Andria
MY LIFE The Walls Group; Warryn Campbell, Eric Dawkins, Damien Farmer, Damon Thomas, Ahjah Walls & Darrel Walls, songwriters
NEVER HAVE TO BE ALONE CeCe Winans; Dwan Hill & Alvin Love III, songwriters
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
Rise — Danny Gokey
Echoes (Deluxe Edition) — Matt Maher
Lifer — MercyMe
Hills And Valleys — Tauren Wells
Chain Breaker — Zach Williams
Best Gospel Album
Crossover — Travis Greene
Bigger Than Me — Le’Andria
Close — Marvin Sapp
Sunday Song — Anita Wilson
Let Them Fall In Love — Cece Winans
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
Rise — Danny Gokey
Echoes (Deluxe Edition) — Matt Maher
Lifer — MercyMe
Hills And Valleys — Tauren Wells
Chain Breaker — Zach Williams
Best Roots Gospel Album
The Best Of The Collingsworth Family – Volume 1
The Collingsworth Family
Give Me Jesus
Larry Cordle
Resurrection
Joseph Habedank
Sing It Now: Songs Of Faith & Hope
Reba Mcentire
Hope For All Nations
Karen Peck & New River
Best Latin Pop Album
Lo Único Constante — Alex Cuba
Mis Planes Son Amarte — Juanes
Amar Y Vivir En Vivo Desde La Cuidad De México, 2017 — La Santa Cecilia
Musas (Un Homenaje Al Folclore Latinoamericano En Manos De Los Macorinos) — Natalia Lafourcade
El Dorado — Shakira
Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album
Ayo
Bomba Estéreo
Pa’ Fuera
C4 Trío & Desorden Público
Salvavidas De Hielo
Jorge Drexler
El Paradise
Los Amigos Invisibles
Residente Residente
Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)
Ni Diablo Ni Santo
Julión Álvarez Y Su Norteño Banda
Ayer Y Hoy
Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga
Momentos
Alex Campos
Arriero Somos Versiones Acústicas
Aida Cuevas
Zapateando En El Norte
Humberto Novoa, Producer (Various Artists)
Best Tropical Latin Album
Albita
Albita
Art Of The Arrangement
Doug Beavers
Salsa Big Band
Rubén Blades Con Roberto Delgado & Orquesta
Gente Valiente
Silvestre Dangond
Indestructible
Diego El Cigala
Best American Roots Performance
Killer Diller Blues
Alabama Shakes
Let My Mother Live
Blind Boys Of Alabama
Arkansas Farmboy
Glen Campbell
Steer Your Way
Leonard Cohen
I Never Cared For You
Alison Krauss
Best American Roots Song
Cumberland Gap
David Rawlings & Gillian Welch, Songwriters (David Rawlings)
I Wish You Well
Raul Malo & Alan Miller, Songwriters (The Mavericks)
If We Were Vampires
Jason Isbell, Songwriter (Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit)
It Ain’t Over Yet
Rodney Crowell, Songwriter (Rodney Crowell Featuring Rosanne Cash & John Paul White)
My Only True Friend
Gregg Allman & Scott Sharrard, Songwriters (Gregg Allman)
Best Americana Album
Southern Blood — Gregg Allman
Shine On Rainy Day — Brent Cobb
Beast Epic — Iron & Wine
The Nashville Sound — Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit
Brand New Day — The Mavericks
Best Bluegrass Album
Fiddler’s Dream
Michael Cleveland
Laws Of Gravity
The Infamous Stringdusters
Original
Bobby Osborne
Universal Favorite
Noam Pikelny
All The Rage – In Concert Volume One [Live]
Rhonda Vincent And The Rage
Best Traditional Blues Album
Migration Blues
Eric Bibb
Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio
Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio
Roll And Tumble
R.L. Boyce
Sonny & Brownie’s Last Train
Guy Davis & Fabrizio Poggi
Blue & Lonesome
The Rolling Stones
Best Contemporary Blues Album
Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm
Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm
Recorded Live In Lafayette
Sonny Landreth
Tajmo
Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’
Got Soul
Robert Randolph & The Family Band
Live From The Fox Oakland
Tedeschi Trucks Band
Best Folk Album
Mental Illness
Aimee Mann
Semper Femina
Laura Marling
The Queen Of Hearts
Offa Rex
You Don’t Own Me Anymore
The Secret Sisters
The Laughing Apple
Yusuf / Cat Stevens
Best Regional Roots Music Album
]Top Of The Mountain
Dwayne Dopsie And The Zydeco Hellraisers
]Ho’okena 3.0
Ho’okena
]Kalenda
Lost Bayou Ramblers
Miyo Kekisepa, Make A Stand [Live]
Northern Cree
Pua Kiele
Josh Tatofi
Best Reggae Album
Chronology
Chronixx
Lost In Paradise
Common Kings
Wash House Ting
J Boog
Stony Hill
Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley
Avrakedabra
Morgan Heritage
Best World Music Album
Memoria De Los Sentidos
Vicente Amigo
Para Mi
Buika
Rosa Dos Ventos
Anat Cohen & Trio Brasileiro
Shaka Zulu Revisited: 30th Anniversary Celebration
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Elwan
Tinariwen
Best Children’s Album
Brighter Side
Gustafer Yellowgold
Feel What U Feel
Lisa Loeb
Lemonade
Justin Roberts
Rise Shine #Woke
Alphabet Rockers
Songs of Peace & Love for Kids & Parents Around the World
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling)
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Born to Run
Bruce Springsteen
Confessions of a Serial Songwriter
Shelly Peiken
Our Revolution: A Future to Believe In (Bernie Sanders)
Bernie Sanders and Mark Ruffalo
The Princess Diarist
Carrie Fisher
Best Comedy Album
The Age Of Spin & Deep In The Heart Of Texas — Dave Chappelle
Cinco — Jim Gaffigan
Jerry Before Seinfeld — Jerry Seinfeld
A Speck Of Dust — Sarah Silverman
What Now? — Kevin Hart
Best Musical Theater Album
Come From Away
Ian Eisendrath, August Eriksmoen, David Hein, David Lai & Irene Sankoff, producers; David Hein & Irene Sankoff, composers/lyricists (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
Dear Evan Hansen
Ben Platt, principal soloist; Alex Lacamoire, Stacey Mindich, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, producers; Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, composers/lyricists (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
Hello, Dolly!
Bette Midler, principal soloist; Steven Epstein, producer (Jerry Herman, composer & lyricist) (New Broadway Cast Recording)
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
Baby Driver — (Various Artists)
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2: Awesome Mix Vol. 2 — (Various Artists)
Hidden Figures: The Album — (Various Artists)
La La Land — (Various Artists)
Moana: The Songs — (Various Artists)
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
Arrival — Johann Johannsson (composer)
Dunkirk — Hans Zimmer (composer)
Game of Thrones: Season 7 — Ramin Djawadi (composer)
Hidden Figures — Benjamin Wallfisch, Pharrell Williams & Hans Zimmer (composers)
La La Land — Justin Hurwitz (composer)
Best Song Written for Visual Media
“City Of Stars” — Justin Hurwitz, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, songwriters (Ryan Gosling & Emma Stone), Track from La La Land
“How Far I’ll Go” — Lin-Manuel Miranda, songwriter (Auli’i Cravalho), Track from Moana: The Songs
“I Don’t Wanna Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker) — Jack Antonoff, Sam Dew & Taylor Swift, songwriters (ZAYN & Taylor Swift), Track from Fifty Shades Darker
“Never Give Up” — Sia Furler & Gregg Kurstin, songwriters (Sia), Track from Lion
“Stand Up For Something” — Common & Diane Warren, songwriters (Andra Day Featuring Common), Track from Marshall
Best Instrumental Composition
“Alkaline”
Pascal Le Boeuf, composer (Le Boeuf Brothers & JACK Quartet)
“Choros #3”
Vince Mendoza, composer (Vince Mendoza & WDR Big Band Cologne)
“Home Free (For Peter Joe)”
Nate Smith, composer (Nate Smith)
“Three Revolutions”
Arturo O’Farrill, composer (Arturo O’Farrill & Chucho Valdés)
“Warped Cowboy”
Chuck Owen, composer (Chuck Owen And The Jazz Surge)
Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Capella
“All Hat, No Saddle”
Chuck Owen, arranger (Chuck Owen And The Jazz Surge)
“Escapades for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra from Catch Me if You Can”
John Williams, arranger (John Williams)
“Home Free (For Peter Joe)”
Nate Smith, arranger (Nate Smith)
“Ugly Beauty/Pannonica”
John Beasley, arranger (John Beasley)
“White Christmas”
Chris Walden, arranger (Herb Alpert)
Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals
“Another Day of Sun”
Justin Hurwitz, arranger (La La Land Cast)
“Every Time We Say Goodbye”
Jorge Calandrelli, arranger (Clint Holmes Featuring Jane Monheit)
“I Like Myself”
Joel McNeely, arranger (Seth MacFarlane)
“I Loves You Porgy/ There’s a Boat That’s Leavin’ Soon for New York”
Shelly Berg, Gregg Field, Gordon Goodwin & Clint Holmes, arrangers (Clint Holmes Featuring Dee Dee Bridgewater And The Count Basie Orchestra)
“Putin”
Randy Newman, arranger (Randy Newman)
Best Recording Package
El Orisha de la Rosa
Claudio Roncoli & Cactus Taller, art directors (Magín Díaz)
Mura Masa
Alex Crossan & Matt De Jong, art directors (Mura Masa)
Pure Comedy (Deluxe Edition)
Sasha Barr, Ed Steed & Josh Tillman, art directors (Father John Misty)
Sleep Well Beast
Elyanna Blaser-Gould, Luke Hayman & Andrea Trabucco-Campos, art directors (The National)
Solid State
Gail Marowitz, art director (Jonathan Coulton)
Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package
BOBO YEYE: BELLE EPOQUE IN UPPER VOLTA
Tim Breen, art director (Various Artists)
LOVELY CREATURES: THE BEST OF NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS (1984 – 2014)
Tom Hingston, art director (Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds)
MAY 1977: GET SHOWN THE LIGHT
Masaki Koike, art director (Grateful Dead)
THE VOYAGER GOLDEN RECORD: 40TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
Lawrence Azerrad, Timothy Daly & David Pescovitz, art directors (Various Artists)
WARFARING STRANGERS: ACID NIGHTMARES
Tim Breen, Benjamin Marra & Ken Shipley, art directors (Various Artists)
Best Album Notes
ARTHUR Q. SMITH: THE TROUBLE WITH THE TRUTH
Wayne Bledsoe & Bradley Reeves, album notes writers (Various Artists)
BIG BEND KILLING: THE APPALACHIAN BALLAD TRADITION
Ted Olson, album notes writer (Various Artists)
THE COMPLETE PIANO WORKS OF SCOTT JOPLIN
Bryan S. Wright, album notes writer (Richard Dowling)
EDOUARD-LÉON SCOTT DE MARTINVILLE, INVENTOR OF SOUND RECORDING: A BICENTENNIAL TRIBUTE
David Giovannoni, album notes writer (Various Artists)
LIVE AT THE WHISKY A GO GO: THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS
Lynell George, album notes writer (Otis Redding)
WASHINGTON PHILLIPS AND HIS MANZARENE DREAMS
Michael Corcoran, album notes writer (Washington Phillips)
Best Historical Album
BOBO YEYE: BELLE EPOQUE IN UPPER VOLTA Jon Kirby, Florent Mazzoleni, Rob Sevier & Ken Shipley, compilation producers; Jeff Lipton & Maria Rice, mastering engineers (Various Artists)
THE GOLDBERG VARIATIONS – THE COMPLETE UNRELEASED RECORDING SESSIONS JUNE 1955 Robert Russ, compilation producer; Matthias Erb, Martin Kistner & Andreas K. Meyer, mastering engineers (Glenn Gould)
LEONARD BERNSTEIN – THE COMPOSER Robert Russ, compilation producer; Martin Kistner & Andreas K. Meyer, mastering engineers (Leonard Bernstein)
SWEET AS BROKEN DATES: LOST SOMALI TAPES FROM THE HORN OF AFRICA Nicolas Sheikholeslami & Vik Sohonie, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer (Various Artists)
WASHINGTON PHILLIPS AND HIS MANZARENE DREAMS Michael Corcoran, April G. Ledbetter & Steven Lance Ledbetter, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer (Washington Phillips)
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
EVERY WHERE IS SOME WHERE Brent Arrowood, Miles Comaskey, JT Daly, Tommy English, Kristine Flaherty, Adam Hawkins, Chad Howat & Tony Maserati, engineers; Joe LaPorta, mastering engineer (K.Flay)
IS THIS THE LIFE WE REALLY WANT? Nigel Godrich, Sam Petts-Davies & Darrell Thorp, engineers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer (Roger Waters)
NATURAL CONCLUSION Ryan Freeland, engineer; Joao Carvalho, mastering engineer (Rose Cousins)
NO SHAPE Shawn Everett & Joseph Lorge, engineers; Patricia Sullivan, mastering engineer (Perfume Genius)
24K MAGIC Serban Ghenea, John Hanes & Charles Moniz, engineers; Tom Coyne, mastering engineer (Bruno Mars)
Producer of the Year — Non-classical
Calvin Harris
No I.D.
Greg Kurstin
Blake Mills
The Stereotypes
Best Remixed Recording
CAN’T LET YOU GO (LOUIE VEGA ROOTS MIX) Louie Vega, remixer (Loleatta Holloway)
FUNK O’ DE FUNK (SMLE REMIX) SMLE, remixers (Bobby Rush)
UNDERCOVER (ADVENTURE CLUB REMIX) Leighton James & Christian Srigley, remixers (Kehlani)
A VIOLENT NOISE (FOUR TET REMIX) Four Tet, remixer (The xx)
YOU MOVE (LATROIT REMIX) Dennis White, remixer (Depeche Mode)
Best Surround Sound Album
EARLY AMERICANS Jim Anderson, surround mix engineer; Darcy Proper, surround mastering engineer; Jim Anderson & Jane Ira Bloom, surround producers (Jane Ira Bloom)
KLEIBERG: MASS FOR MODERN MAN Morten Lindberg, surround mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer (Eivind Gullberg Jensen & Trondheim Symphony Orchestra And Choir)
SO IS MY LOVE Morten Lindberg, surround mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer (Nina T. Karlsen & Ensemble 96)
3-D THE CATALOGUE Fritz Hilpert, surround mix engineer; Tom Ammermann, surround mastering engineer; Fritz Hilpert, surround producer (Kraftwerk)
TYBERG: MASSES Jesse Brayman, surround mix engineer; Jesse Brayman, surround mastering engineer; Blanton Alspaugh, surround producer (Brian A. Schmidt, Christopher Jacobson & South Dakota Chorale)
Best Engineered Album, Classical
DANIELPOUR: SONGS OF SOLITUDE & WAR SONGS Gary Call, engineer (Thomas Hampson, Giancarlo Guerrero & Nashville Symphony)
KLEIBERG: MASS FOR MODERN MAN Morten Lindberg, engineer (Eivind Gullberg Jensen, Trondheim Vokalensemble & Trondheim Symphony Orchestra)
SCHOENBERG, ADAM: AMERICAN SYMPHONY; FINDING ROTHKO; PICTURE STUDIES Keith O. Johnson & Sean Royce Martin, engineers (Michael Stern & Kansas City Symphony)
SHOSTAKOVICH: SYMPHONY NO. 5; BARBER: ADAGIO Mark Donahue, engineer (Manfred Honeck & Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra)
TYBERG: MASSES John Newton, engineer; Jesse Brayman, mastering engineer (Brian A. Schmidt, Christopher Jacobson & South Dakota Chorale)
Producer of the Year, Classical
BLANTON ALSPAUGH • Adamo: Becoming Santa Claus (Emmanuel Villaume, Kevin Burdette, Keith Jameson, Lucy Schaufer, Hila Plitmann, Matt Boehler, Jonathan Blalock, Jennifer Rivera & Dallas Opera Orchestra) • Aldridge: Sister Carrie (William Boggs, Keith Phares, Matt Morgan, Alisa Suzanne Jordheim, Stephen Cunningham, Adriana Zabala, Florentine Opera Chorus & Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra) • Copland: Symphony No. 3; Three Latin American Sketches (Leonard Slatkin & Detroit Symphony Orchestra) • Death & The Maiden (Patricia Kopatchinskaja & The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra) • Handel: Messiah (Andrew Davis, Noel Edison, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir & Toronto Symphony Orchestra) • Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 53, 64 & 96 (Carlos Kalmar & Oregon Symphony) • Heggie: It’s A Wonderful Life (Patrick Summers, William Burden, Talise Trevigne, Andrea Carroll, Rod Gilfry & Houston Grand Opera) • Tyberg: Masses (Brian A. Schmidt, Christopher Jacobson & South Dakota Chorale)
MANFRED EICHER • Mansurian: Requiem (Alexander Liebreich, Florian Helgath, RIAS Kammerchor & Münchener Kammerorchester) • Monk, M.: On Behalf Of Nature (Meredith Monk & Vocal Ensemble) • Point & Line – Debussy And Hosokawa (Momo Kodama) • Rímur (Arve Henriksen & Trio Mediaeval) • Silvestrov: Hieroglyphen Der Nacht (Anja Lechner)
DAVID FROST • Alma Española (Isabel Leonard) • Amplified Soul (Gabriela Martinez) • Beethoven: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 6 (Jonathan Biss) • Bruckner: Symphony No. 9 (Riccardo Muti & Chicago Symphony Orchestra) • Garden Of Joys And Sorrows (Hat Trick Trio) • Laks: Chamber Works (ARC Ensemble) • Schoenberg, Adam: American Symphony; Finding Rothko; Picture Studies (Michael Stern & Kansas City Symphony) • Troika (Matt Haimovitz & Christopher O’Riley) • Verdi: Otello (Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Günther Groissböck, Željko Lučić, Dimitri Pittas, Aleksandrs Antonenko, Sonya Yoncheva, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorus)
MORTEN LINDBERG • Furatus (Ole Edvard Antonsen & Wolfgang Plagge) • Interactions (Bård Monsen & Gunnar Flagstad) • Kleiberg: Mass For Modern Man (Eivind Gullberg Jensen, Trondheim Vokalensemble & Trondheim Symphony Orchestra) • Minor Major (Oslo String Quartet) • Northern Timbre (Ragnhild Hemsing & Tor Espen Aspaas) • So Is My Love (Nina T. Karlsen & Ensemble 96) • Thoresen: Sea Of Names (Trond Schau)
JUDITH SHERMAN • American Nocturnes (Cecile Licad) • The Birthday Party (Aki Takahashi) • Discovering Bach (Michelle Ross) • Foss: Pieces Of Genius (New York New Music Ensemble) • Secret Alchemy – Chamber Works By Pierre Jalbert (Curtis Macomber & Michael Boriskin) • Sevenfive – The John Corigliano Effect (Gaudette Brass) • Sonic Migrations – Music Of Laurie Altman (Various Artists) • Tribute (Dover Quartet) • 26 (Melia Watras & Michael Jinsoo Lim)
Best Orchestral Performance
CONCERTOS FOR ORCHESTRA Louis Langrée, conductor (Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra)
COPLAND: SYMPHONY NO. 3; THREE LATIN AMERICAN SKETCHES Leonard Slatkin, conductor (Detroit Symphony Orchestra)
DEBUSSY: IMAGES; JEUX & LA PLUS QUE LENTE Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor (San Francisco Symphony)
MAHLER: SYMPHONY NO. 5 Osmo Vänskä, conductor (Minnesota Orchestra)
SHOSTAKOVICH: SYMPHONY NO. 5; BARBER: ADAGIO Manfred Honeck, conductor (Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra)
Best Opera Recording
BERG: LULU Lothar Koenigs, conductor; Daniel Brenna, Marlis Petersen & Johan Reuter; Jay David Saks, producer (The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra)
BERG: WOZZECK Hans Graf, conductor; Anne Schwanewilms & Roman Trekel; Hans Graf, producer (Houston Symphony; Chorus Of Students And Alumni, Shepherd School Of Music, Rice University & Houston Grand Opera Children’s Chorus)
BIZET: LES PÊCHEURS DE PERLES Gianandrea Noseda, conductor; Diana Damrau, Mariusz Kwiecień, Matthew Polenzani & Nicolas Testé; Jay David Saks, producer (The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus)
HANDEL: OTTONE George Petrou, conductor; Max Emanuel Cencic & Lauren Snouffer; Jacob Händel, producer (Il Pomo D’Oro)
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: THE GOLDEN COCKEREL Valery Gergiev, conductor; Vladimir Feliauer, Aida Garifullina & Kira Loginova; Ilya Petrov, producer (Mariinsky Orchestra; Mariinsky Chorus)
Best Choral Performance
BRYARS: THE FIFTH CENTURY Donald Nally, conductor (PRISM Quartet; The Crossing)
HANDEL: MESSIAH Andrew Davis, conductor; Noel Edison, chorus master (Elizabeth DeShong, John Relyea, Andrew Staples & Erin Wall; Toronto Symphony Orchestra; Toronto Mendelssohn Choir)
MANSURIAN: REQUIEM Alexander Liebreich, conductor; Florian Helgath, chorus master (Anja Petersen & Andrew Redmond; Münchener Kammerorchester; RIAS Kammerchor)
MUSIC OF THE SPHERES Nigel Short, conductor (Tenebrae)
TYBERG: MASSES Brian A. Schmidt, conductor (Christopher Jacobson; South Dakota Chorale)
Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance
BUXTEHUDE: TRIO SONATAS, OP. 1 Arcangelo
DEATH & THE MAIDEN Patricia Kopatchinskaja & The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
DIVINE THEATRE – SACRED MOTETS BY GIACHES DE WERT Stile Antico
FRANCK, KURTÁG, PREVIN & SCHUMANN Joyce Yang & Augustin Hadelich
MARTHA ARGERICH & FRIENDS – LIVE FROM LUGANO 2016 Martha Argerich & Various Artists
Best Classical Instrumental Solo
BACH: THE FRENCH SUITES Murray Perahia
HAYDN: CELLO CONCERTOS Steven Isserlis; Florian Donderer, conductor (The Deutsch Kammerphilharmonie Bremen)
LEVINA: THE PIANO CONCERTOS Maria Lettberg; Ariane Matiakh, conductor (Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin)
SHOSTAKOVICH: VIOLIN CONCERTOS NOS. 1 & 2 Frank Peter Zimmermann; Alan Gilbert, conductor (NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester)
TRANSCENDENTAL Daniil Trifonov
Best Classical Solo Vocal Album
BACH & TELEMANN: SACRED CANTATAS Philippe Jaroussky; Petra Müllejans, conductor (Ann-Kathrin Brüggemann & Juan de la Rubia; Freiburger Barockorchester)
CRAZY GIRL CRAZY – MUSIC BY GERSHWIN, BERG & BERIO Barbara Hannigan (Orchestra Ludwig)
GODS & MONSTERS Nicholas Phan; Myra Huang, accompanist
IN WAR & PEACE – HARMONY THROUGH MUSIC Joyce DiDonato; Maxim Emelyanychev, conductor (Il Pomo D’Oro)
SVIRIDOV: RUSSIA CAST ADRIFT Dmitri Hvorostovsky; Constantine Orbelian, conductor (St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra & Style Of Five Ensemble)
Best Classical Compendium
BARBARA Alexandre Tharaud; Cécile Lenoir, producer
HIGDON: ALL THINGS MAJESTIC, VIOLA CONCERTO & OBOE CONCERTO Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor; Tim Handley, producer
KURTÁG: COMPLETE WORKS FOR ENSEMBLE & CHOIR Reinbert de Leeuw, conductor; Guido Tichelman, producer
LES ROUTES DE L’ESCLAVAGE Jordi Savall, conductor; Benjamin Bleton, producer
MADEMOISELLE: PREMIÈRE AUDIENCE – UNKNOWN MUSIC OF NADIA BOULANGER Lucy Mauro; Lucy Mauro, producer
Best Contemporary Classical Composition
DANIELPOUR: SONGS OF SOLITUDE Richard Danielpour, composer (Thomas Hampson, Giancarlo Guerrero & Nashville Symphony)
HIGDON: VIOLA CONCERTO Jennifer Higdon, composer (Roberto Díaz, Giancarlo Guerrero & Nashville Symphony)
MANSURIAN: REQUIEM Tigran Mansurian, composer (Alexander Liebreich, Florian Helgath, RIAS Kammerchor & Münchener Kammerorchester)
SCHOENBERG, ADAM: PICTURE STUDIES Adam Schoenberg, composer (Michael Stern & Kansas City Symphony)
ZHOU TIAN: CONCERTO FOR ORCHESTRA Zhou Tian, composer (Louis Langrée & Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra)
Best Music Video
UP ALL NIGHT Beck Canada, video director; Laura Serra Estorch & Oscar Romagosa, video producers
MAKEBA Jain Lionel Hirle & Gregory Ohrel, video directors; Yodelice, video producer
THE STORY OF O.J. JAY-Z Shawn Carter & Mark Romanek, video directors; Daniel Midgley, video producer
HUMBLE. Kendrick Lamar The Little Homies & Dave Meyers, video directors; Jason Baum, Dave Free, Jamie Rabineau, Nathan K. Scherrer & Anthony Tiffith, video producers
1-800-273-8255 Logic Featuring Alessia Cara & Khalid Andy Hines, video director; Andrew Lerios, video producer
Best Music Film
ONE MORE TIME WITH FEELING
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Andrew Dominik, video director; Dulcie Kellett &
James Wilson, video producers
LONG STRANGE TRIP
(The Grateful Dead)
Amir Bar-Lev, video director; Alex Blavatnik, Ken
Dornstein, Eric Eisner, Nick Koskoff & Justin
Kreutzmann, video producers
THE DEFIANT ONES
(Various Artists)
Allen Hughes, video director; Sarah Anthony, Fritzi
Horstman, Broderick Johnson, Gene Kirkwood,
Andrew Kosove, Laura Lancaster, Michael Lombardo,
Jerry Longarzo, Doug Pray & Steven Williams, video
producers
SOUNDBREAKING
(Various Artists)
Maro Chermayeff & Jeff Dupre, video directors;
Joshua Bennett, Julia Marchesi, Sam Pollard, Sally
Rosenthal, Amy Schewel & Warren Zanes, video
producers
TWO TRAINS RUNNIN’
(Various Artists)
Sam Pollard, video director; Benjamin Hedin, video
producer
