This Sunday the music business’ most-acclaimed artists will gather at the Los Angeles Staples Center to vie for one of the most coveted prizes in the industry — a Grammy.
Established in 1957, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Inc. presents awards to music in over 30 fields. Categories encompass everything from pop to polka and album packaging.
The Grammys are considered the ultimate in musical acclaim. Winners are revered as artists, not just musicians who have honed their craft down to a science. Winning music makes the transition from contemporary hit to documented classic.
This year the academy capitalized on its ability to turn their nominated songs into classics with the 2004 Grammy Nominees CD. The record debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200 chart, the highest in the 10 year series.
Last year’s awards seemed to be the year of Norah Jones but this year the Grammy darling could be any of a number of multiple nominees.
Beyonce and her main man Jay-Z are nominated for six awards each. Also leading the pack is Neptunes super-producer Pharrell Williams who is nominated for his work within the group as well as a producer. But OutKast looks to be the stand-out favorite. The band, also with six nominations, has received critical acclaim and commercial success for its daring double-disc “Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below.”
With many of the nominees coming from the hip-hop and rap genres, the Grammy appears to finally be embracing an area of music it once ignored. Major
R&B, rap and hip-hop artists have previously boycotted the ceremony for lack of representation of their communities in major categories and for not having their awards televised. But with heavy representation in major categories, this year’s red carpet could be packed with the best known hip-hop stars.
Nominees for Album of the Year include Justin Timberlake’s boy-band image shedder “Justified,” Missy Elliott’s “Under Construction,” rockers Evanescence’s debut “Fallen,” OutKast’s “Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below” and the White Stripes’ alternative “Elephant.”
The Best New Artist category is better known for being the end rather than the beginning of most musicians’ careers. The award is often seen as a kiss of death leaving many of its winners to never be heard from again. This year Evanescence, 50 Cent, Fountains Of Wayne, Heather Headley and Sean Paul will attempt to win the award and break tradition by keeping their careers alive.
Though Fountains of Wayne’s “Stacy’s Mom” may be their first big hit, their latest album “Welcome Interstate Managers” is the band’s third in their 12-year career.
Besides just revealing the best of music in the last year, the Grammys will host several performances.
A 40th anniversary tribute to the Beatles’ first appearance on the Ed Sullivan show will feature Grammy-winning performers Sting, Vince Gill and Dave Matthews as well as nominee Pharrell Williams.
Prince and Beyonce will join Justin Timberlake and the Black Eyed Peas to perform their Grammy-nominated song “Where Is the Love?” The song is nominated for Record Of The Year and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.
Other performers include Christina Aguilera, Celine Dion, Foo Fighters, Alicia Keys, White Stripes, and Outkast.
Artists will just have to wait and see who will take home Grammys this year, and who will reap the benefits of increased album sales to follow.
The 46th Annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast on Sunday on CBS at 7 p.m.