THE WANTED PLANNING TO PENN THEIR AUTOBIOGRAPHY.

Jay and Nathan

Tom and Max

Siva after singing me the Happy Birthday song

British boyband The Wanted are planning to put their story down on paper in a new autobiography.

The pop stars previously released a picture book called The Wanted: Our Story, Our Way, which detailed their rise to fame, in 2010.

However, band member Tom Parker has revealed they hope to write a proper autobiography to tell fans the true story.

He tells British newspaper the Daily Star Sunday, "We did a picture book a couple of years ago and we've spoken about doing a proper autobiography in the last few months. We don't think we are proper rock 'n' roll stars but we would want people to know exactly what goes on in the band."

Parker insists the book will be a candid look at their lives and they won't be leaving anything out. He adds, "I'm not worried about putting in anything that would get us into trouble. I think people would appreciate the fact we would tell the truth. Some people may like that and some people might not but we are not going to lie."

You'll remember that I met the boys at KISS 92.5FM's Summer 2012 Wham Bam concert in Toronto. Couldn't fit in a single pic with all of them. Siva sang me Happy Birthday that same say when I turned 48.

JESSICA SIMPSON IS PREGGO WITH BABY #2

Jessica Simpson (File Photo)

Wenn reports that it seems Jessica Simpson is expecting her second child with fiance, former NFL player, Eric Johnson.

The 32-year-old singer tweeted “Merry Christmas from my family to yours!” with a picture of her daughter, Maxwell, in Christmas pijamas on the beach next to words in the sand that read “BIG SIS”.

This isn’t the first time Simpson took to Twitter to share big news. On Halloween 2011, Simpson had tweeted a photo of herself in a mummy with the caption, “"It's True! I am going to be a mummy."

She gave birth to baby Maxwell Drew Johnson on May 1 of this year.

Currently, Simpson is a spokeswoman for Weight Watchers to promote weight loss after her first baby. It’s unknown how the pregnancy will affect her endorsment deal.

The celebratory announcement tweet had been shared nearly 350 times in a half an hour on Christmas Day.

MEDIA NEWS: ACTOR JACK KLUGMAN DEAD AT 90.

'Odd Couple' star Jack Klugman dead at 90 | Celebrities | Entertainment | Toronto Sun:

MEDIA NEWS: SCHOOL MASSACRE HAS MANY ARTISTS MUSIC PULLED FROM RADIO.

Foster the People’s ‘Pumped up Kicks’ pulled from radio after Newtown shooting

Foster The People’s hit track Pumped Up Kicks has been pulled from U.S. airwaves out of respect for the victims of last Connecticut school massacre.

Suspected gunman Adam Lanza, 20, opened fire at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown on Friday, killing 20 young children and six adults before allegedly turning the weapon on himself.

The atrocity sent America into mourning and now radio bosses have taken note by removing the popular track from station playlists across the country due to the sensitive nature of its lyrics, which chronicles a kid's desire to plot a murder.

One particular line reads, "He found a six-shooter gun in his dad's closet, with the box of fun things... he's coming for you, yeah he's coming for you," while the chorus features the lyrics: "All the other kids with the pumped up kicks, you better run, better run, faster than my bullet."

Speaking about the dark meaning behind the single, frontman Mark Foster previously explained, "Pumped Up Kicks is about a kid that basically is losing his mind and is plotting revenge. He's an outcast. I feel like the youth in our culture are becoming more and more isolated. It's kind of an epidemic."

Pumped Up Kicks is the latest tune to be yanked from the air in the wake of the shooting – Ke$ha's Die Young was also pulled due to its controversial title.

The tragedy now appears to be having an effect on the music industry as well as Hollywood amid reports Ke$ha's controversially-titled single Die Young has been removed from radio station playlists across the country.

Ke$ha addresses ‘Die Young’ radio removal after school shootings

Die Young peaked at number three on American radio playlists and reached 167 million listeners before the shooting on Friday, according to TMZ.com, but figures from Mediabase, a company that tracks radio airplay, appear to show the song has suffered a massive drop after being cut from the airwaves.

It had reportedly lost 19 million listeners from its target audience by Monday.

Ke$ha previously commented on the massacre in a serious of posts on her Twitter.com page, sending her condolences to all the families involved. She wrote, "My heart goes out deeply to the people of Newtown, Connecticut... It's beyond words what has happened."

MUST JUSTIN BIEBER EVEN APOLOGIZE FOR MAKING FUN AT A BOXER? YES, HE'S BEEN ORDERED TO.

Wenn reports that Justin Bieber has come under fire from politicians in the Philippines after he mocked Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao online.

Following Pacquiao's knockout bout with Juan Manuel Marquez earlier this month, the Baby hitmaker uploaded two photoshopped snaps of the fighter on the floor of the boxing ring.

One had The Lion King character Simba standing over Pacquiao alongside the caption, "Dad wake up", while another mock-up had Michael Jackson in his famous leaning pose from the Smooth Criminal video, mirroring Pacquiao just before he hit the floor.

The snaps have outraged Filipino politicians, who have threatened to make Bieber a "persona non grata" in the country unless he apologizes for his "distasteful comments".

The statement from seven members of the Philippines Congress adds, "Mr Bieber should have known that the Hon. Pacquiao has reached his stature as such as a result of sheer hard work, determination and firm belief in God, and despite (sic) such stature best exemplifies humility and grace even in defeat."

MEDIA NEWS: INSTAGRAM NOW HAS THE RIGHT TO SELL YOUR PHOTOS WITHOUT TELLING OR COMPENSATING YOU.

Rise filter

Lo-Fi Filter

Nashville Filter

Always with HipHossip longtime pal  Karl Wolf

Luckily if they sell my pictures, most are with celebrities in them and will get HipHossip even more exposure to my interviews and content so send whatever pictures u are selling my way. People always share their instagram pictures anyway and I hear people BUY their way into getting on the popular page. I don't follow anyone on Instagram and the reason is personal.

Instagram said today that it has the perpetual right to sell users' photographs without payment or notification, a dramatic policy shift that quickly sparked a public outcry.

The new intellectual property policy, which takes effect on January 16, comes three months after Facebook completed its acquisition of the popular photo-sharing site. Unless Instagram users delete their accounts before the January 16th 2013 deadline, they cannot opt out.

Under the new policy, Facebook claims the perpetual right to license all public Instagram photos to companies or any other organization, including for advertising purposes, which would effectively transform the Web site into the world's largest stock photo agency. One irked Twitter userquipped that "Instagram is now the new iStockPhoto, except they won't have to pay youanything to use your images."

"It's asking people to agree to unspecified future commercial use of their photos," says Kurt Opsahl, a senior staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation. "That makes it challenging for someone to give informed consent to that deal."

That means that a hotel in Hawaii, for instance, could write a check to Facebook to license photos taken at its resort and use them on its Web site, in TV ads, in glossy brochures, and so on -- without paying any money to the Instagram user who took the photo. The language would include not only photos of picturesque sunsets on Waikiki, but also images of young children frolicking on the beach, a result that parents might not expect, and which could trigger state privacy laws.

Facebook did not respond to repeated queries from CNET this afternoon. We'll update the article if we receive a response.

Another policy pitfall: If Instagram users continue to upload photos after January 16, 2013, and subsequently delete their account after the deadline, they may have granted Facebook an irrevocable right to sell those images in perpetuity. There's no obvious language that says deleting an account terminates Facebook's rights, EFF's Opsahl said.

Well, if I am one of the people going to benefit from using other people's photos, the world is now free for all and photography will no longer exist. Read the rest here. 

INSTAGRAM Is now trending on Twitter. Many in Nigeria have not even began using it partly because more than half the population still uses Blackberrys. Above are some filtered pictures of me and Karl Wolf at several Canadian Music awards across the years. 

I wonder what Music singers Melanie AMARO or WILLOW Smith will say about these developments? I bet they are collecting money for their filtered names. LMFAO!

MEDIA NEWS: GAY NIGERIAN DOCTOR JOE ARSENAL NWOKOCHA IMPLICATED IN VISA LOTTERY SCAM GOES ON FACEBOOK RAMPAGE.

Scammer Joe Nwokocha's 12/18/12 Facebook post on HipHossip 

Not like we care but we like sending messages to scammers who post messages of hate on our pages. The search engine has to expose them. The GAY Nigerian New York Dr that was scamming poor Nigerians back home has been going on Facebook posting curses all over my pages. Sadly he has no idea that we keep his postings and feed them to the search engines to expose him more to the world. Well now I'm on my Google powered blog and he has pretty much screwed up. No one slanders a SCAMMER! You steal, we expose u. I have never been arrested or charged for scamming or fraud. Everyone should be like me.

He claims there is an arrest warrant for the owner of the most popular music blog and talks like we don't have her own lawyers. We are waiting for his lawsuit. Dr Joe Nwokocha if he really is a Doctor has been collecting money from innocent Nigerians promising them a life in America and using the money exclusively to fund his gay sex lifestyle. I will have an exclusive interview with a two VICTIMS of his scam. His gay lover Ryan Atkins has also been busy cursing us out on Facebook. You need to return the over $300,000 you have stolen from people. Read the full story below. He is in denial. When you mess with us, we mess with you for a LONG time. Remember what I said in my Global Excellence interview.

https://www.facebook.com/dr.nwokocha

This profile is that of a FRAUDULENT Nigerian US based Doctor. Joe Nwokocha claims to be an expert in getting you visas in America by using his doctor status to lie that you are coming to work for him. While he was chatting on my FB thread about US visa scams, I got a private inboxed message from 3 ppl who claimed he had defrauded them. They pay him a great deal of Naira, then promises to get them visas fraudulently.

I heard he also sends visa lotto scam letters out. What are some of these Nigerian Health care workers in the US not capable of? This is not the first case a Doctor has been linked to fraud. Billing Medicare fraudulently and more. I have tweeted to my 400,000 followers and the US Mission in Nigeria to alert them of visa scams. First he started asking me if I could HELP him get a visa for his family to attend his wedding then he changed the story to getting him an inside connection to now hating the Americans. One woman said Joe took all my money and promised to sponsor me and I never heard from him again. the letter and bank account info they asked me to bring were not there. BEWARE!

The Gay LOVER RESPONDS: 

https://www.facebook.com/ryan.atkins.7923

UPDATE: RYAN ATKINS, A GAY NEW YORK BODY BUILDER WHO IS ALSO SAID TO BE Dr JOE NWOKOCHA’S LOVER CONTACTED ME. Sadly, he is not aware that all the money innocent Nigerians are losing to him in the quest to go to America is funding their gay sex. Immoral scam artists are the worst thing ever. Now Nwokocha is traveling all over Facebook posting that I have HIV, calling me a wanted Felon in America, Fake Pharmacist. These ppl are UNREAL! Stop defrauding innocent broke Nigerians! Below is Ryan’s post on FB page.

You are a disgrace and a low life. And here is an advise, posting stuff about people saying “I heard” , without a source or witness is gossip, at your age i would expect you to be able to think clearly, but obviously you are incapable of doing that. Am sure you know why am writing you this, so slandering people and grow the fuck up bitch 

#HIPHOSSIP5: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH NIGERIAN MEGAPRODUCER DON JAZZY.

Don Jazzy: Credits to Photographer: Moussa Moussa, courtesy TWMagazine.net

While I was in Canada, I called Don Jazzy aka Michael Collins. It was NOT planned. I have been fascinated with him and his work for so long and after the D’Banj Mo Hits break up, so much drama has been spewed online that as a Journalist, I had to go to the source. I asked him about teamwork which he called a “beautiful thing when you put heads together” you can achieve more. He spoke about his partnerships and running Mavin records and the artists. Talking about all the Mavin artists, Tiwa savage, Wande Coal, D’Prince and he described Tiwa Savage as the “perfect girl” when it comes to a female artist. He started liking music from his dad and mom who were into music, church music and more.

We spoke about the Mavin records team of artists. One of them is his younger brother. He plays drums, keyboards and other instruments. I had no idea he was an artist as I have always known him as a Producer. We then started talking about Kanye West who he says he is signed with on a Producer contract. I asked him if he regrets parting ways with D’Banj, he said no and that everyone is doing well.

We talked about I-Tunes and the future of music with no more CD's. He spoke about that not happening any soon in Nigeria. People still want their hard copy CD's and that the downloads are only picking up because of mobile phones in Nigeria. He told me the awards they got together were countless. He also told me exclusively that he did not want to attend the 2011 BET awards last year and did not “feel like it.” He promised so many new videos coming. We talked about Director X, who films R.Kelly, Drake and Bieber’s videos.

I spoke about Cashzmere as well during our Producer/Director segment on how music videos have to compliment a track. I found myself educating him as well as learning a lot from him. Mavin records have something called Solar Plexus. It is a collaboration of all the artists of the label. They have Mavin League, a community formed by the label to connect with the fans. Mavin records have their stuff together, no doubt. He definitely agreed with me that social media has changed the world of music.

Were the BET awards fair? Yes he said it was. Don Jazzy watched KJ’s interviews online and studied my son. Kay Jeezy is working on some new songs. Don Jazzy is following him on twitter. Oh am I proud of my son? After my interview, I learned recently that he signed two new producers to Mavin Records. Aluko “Altims” Timothy and Sunday “BabyFresh” Enejere, are the latest additions that will “help their project”. “We older ones are not getting younger. It is a relief to have some young legs and minds to help our project. BabyFresh and Altims are fully activated and I promise there will be many new names for activation soon,” Don Jazzy said, as he welcomed them into the fold. The two producers are not new to the Mavin family, as they have already worked with two of the artistes on the label, Wande Coal and D’Prince.

I think this guy is so exceptional that I have named him HipHossip's International Music Personality of the decade. He is a damn good Producer, do not underestimate him and he will be the most sought after GLOBALLY in the next few years. His FB shares links of Talk of Naija blog which I have never asked him if he is also a blogger but I'm loving all his moves.

Don Jazzy is on Twitter
Don Jazzy on Facebook

#HIPHOSSIP5 CANADIAN EXCLUSIVE : MEET BRYAN FINLAY, BELL MEDIA'S EMERGING ARTIST OF JULY 2012.

I met Bryan Finlay online, he met me thru Toronto teen rap phenomenom L’il Jaxe’s website (formerly L’il JayZ). Finlay is a pop artist from Edmonton, Alberta Canada. His song “Good Times” was produced by Producer Hands Up, a member of another Canadian band. “Sentimental Fool” is a very good song I love which he recorded with Mike James and Troy Sampson who own a music group and were involved in the Bounce mall singing competition which produced some Juno winners including past winners like Quantesha Benjamin and Kreesha Turner. She called Kreesha Turner a “sweet girl” and loved her so much. I reminded him of the “Bounce with me” song Kreesha had on the radio back then calling it an ode to the station. Bryan won that talent competition too meaning that he’s gonna be famous, like it or not people! LOL.

He liked the Winnie the Pooh song and sang it all around the house performing it in front of his parents. He was in a talent show in grade 7. I asked him who he would love to work with in the music biz and he told me Joshua from Marianas Trench. He praised Josh as a song writer especially co-writing that monster hit “Call me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen. He chose Alyssa Reed as the female artist he would love to work with. We spoke about the award shows and he was nominated for the Edmonton Music awards as Best Male artist. I asked him about going to work in the USA in the music business. “Sentimental Fool” was picked up by a US clothing retailer to play in their stores. At the time of my interview in July, he had never been to the US and wanted to visit Texas. Texas will be the sister state to Alberta in my view, the cowboy stuff.

He loves Justin Bieber, wish Drake will drop a verse on his album and told me Simon Cowell and the X-Factor debate and other talent show. He thought Canadian Idol and X-Factor should be back in a Canadian form. He even suggested Michael Buble as a judge and we talked about Celine Dion and Jully Black laughing over the strictness of those singers as Judges. I asked him for his birthday wish to pick an artist to perform with on a tour, which was a tough decision. He picked Britney Spears! We talked about the autotune being overused in music. He said it’s “getting kinda old.” Looking at Jesse J and Adele, he praised their real voices. Jesse J is his fave artist and he sang that verse for me. WOW! His voice was off the chain!

We talked about touring with the young teen groups. He was about to turn 19 in August and I asked him on his everyday choices as fan always want to know. He uses a Samsung Galaxy, loves Subway as fave fast food, fave reality show was a tie between Jersey Shore and the Real world on MTV. I got to know Bryan very well. He is an everyday young man. He will be getting an album together in less than 1.5 years and has these 3 singles available on i-tunes via his website. As the Bell emerging Artist of the month of July 2012, he shouted out Connie Bernadi at Magic 100FM in Ottawa, Canada for promoting his Bell honour. I actually got that press release as well and was very impressed with Bryan. Bryan is incredible, fantastic and talented.

Finally, I asked Bryan to sing me a song. This was SICK!! He truly is talented!! He sang the chorus of one of his songs…“All I can wait is for you to discover me.” Though I am no longer in Canada, Bryan Finlay no doubt, I will meet somewhere, some day. Look how long it took for me to meet Drake, Justin Bieber, Snoop Dogg and my lovely friend the late Whitney Houston. It took some traveling around the world and sheer luck. I have met Snoop in 3 countries, Canada, Nigeria and the USA.

Remember, this is about your fave singers as they are emerging. I love to interview them as they are emerging and thus, one day when Bryan blows up big, just like I sat next to Justin in 2009 at the MMVA’s when he was only a visiting 15-year-old backstage, Ciara when she had no album. Nicki Minaj when she was a model with no album and Young Jeezy when he was just selling CD’s out of the car outside the Hot 1079FM venue in Atlanta in 2003. Bryan Finlay will become so big and I said it today on this my July 2012 interview with him as Bell Media’s emerging artist of the month for July 2012. Congrats Bryan. It was worth the wait to show you to the world in my HipHossip anniversary special.—MsKemi Dec 18^th 2012 Nigeria.

BryanFinlay.com

Twitter @BryanFinlay

#HIPHOSSIP5 EXCLUSIVE OF THE CENTURY: MEET WEIRD MC. NIGERIA'S UNIQUE VETERAN FEMALE RAPPER/SINGER.

Weird Mc at a school appearance via 0907 Facebook

Her name is Weird MC, a dynamic pioneer of female hip-hop music and afro beat from the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Not only had the world seen a phenomenon this unusual but it came at a good time for music lovers globally. Weird MC! The Nigerian “tomboy artist” as a fan described her to me. I saw her as a combination of American rappers Missy Elliott, Queen Latifah and MCLyte in one. Personality, lyrical style and outgoing outfits. Her signature headgear, similar to what Queen Latifah wore in her younger rap days but a cylindrical extension of the short hat which extends longer into the sky like a tower on stage. Her real name Sola Idowu and from the popular vibrant Nigerian town of Ijebu-Ode  

Weird MC is dynamic, straight to the point, no chaser and wants to go international. This is her time, the new album’s ready for 2012 and beyond. Her very first album “After Da Storm” came about the same time R&B artist Monica released hers “After the Storm” during Monica’s tragedy. Same titles different genres and I have always wanted to know about the storm in Weird MC’s album but I kept that thought hidden somewhere.

That album had the monster hit “Ijoya” which attracted me to her music. Boy, it was a HIT! Played everywhere you looked or car you rode in 2006. Even when I had a gig at Radio Nigeria, I made sure it hit the play list 10 times a day. “Ijoya” which translates in the Nigerian Yoruba language as “it’s time to dance”

In this interview I did with her in the Summer of 2012 via when I was still living in Canada, she spoke to me about her Journey so far, her struggle as a female in the music business both in Nigeria and globally, the sound of her music, the evolution and what the future holds.

MsKemi and weird MC in 2006 (Thisday Music festival)

She is highly focused on her music and her fans. Certain fans want to know more about her personal life but she remains private about that. She believes her world is directly about her music and the fans she loves. Many artists tend to shy away from their personal life to protect their family’s privacy and theirs. I have interviewed many who don’t even want fans they have children or even details about marriages, so I kept the issue of privacy like that.

I got to meet her at the ThisDay Music Festival September 2006 in Nigeria and 6 years later in 2012 and now a brand interview. She says Nigerian artists put in the work and time and the world needs to hear what Nigerians have to offer to music fans. She responded to my question about global identity by telling me she wants a record and distribution deal but still maintain her identity. “You can lose your identity” in the quest of trying to go global she stated. Record labels may want this or that or even try to change your style, something I an well familiar with as an industry insider.

She expressed her interest in working with Missy Elliott, Coldplay, Queen Latifah and even Kanye West. Her biggest compilation to date is an Afro Beat mix that had Femi Kuti, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and even herself on it. She stated it was on EMI records, of course an international record label and got major media coverage and exposure.

We talked more in this conversation and especially the most important part of her career on what her PERSONAL life was composed of. Fans want to know, so I want u to all listen to this interview to hear what she told me exclusively on her day to day life and activities.

I love the "Iwaju Iwaju" song! Oya lets clap at the end is my fave spot.

Her self owned label 0907 Entertainment only just signed a new artist ShulyDee complete with a monster hit called  "Adure"

She is an Ambassador to many community causes. Hear what she said about Fela and their meeting, On her FB page, see pictures of how school kids love her and enjoy her music.

HEAR this interview! I got cut off on the phone connection in Canada and we did not get it back but she pretty much told fans a bulk of what they wanted to know.

MsKemi>>Dec 18th 2012



Weird MC on Facebook
Weird MC on Twitter

Hollywood Reacts to Connecticut School Shooting Tragedy - ABC News

Hollywood Reacts to Connecticut School Shooting Tragedy - ABC News:

NEWTOWN CONNECTICUT TRAGEDY: SUFFER LITTLE CHILDREN TO COME UNTO ME, FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

One lucky mom

A mother's grief!

Photos of the tragedy via AP, Reuters and CNN

It was a SHOCK to me even as a Gun Victims Advocate. I was there during Columbine, Virginia State, even Canada's Danzig street and Eaton Center. I even saw the Adamawa student massacre in Nigeria in October 2012 with 40 dead, 23 gunned down and the rest throats slit. Mass shootings are killing the world and our families. Lets all END GUN VIOLENCE!

Connecticut State Police have released the names of the 26 victims. All 20 of the children who were killed were ages 6 and 7 and among them were 8 boys and 12 girls. The victims' names and ages are:

Dawn Hochsprung (principal), 47

Mary Sherlach (school psychologist), 56

Victoria Soto (first grade teacher), 27

Charlotte Bacon, 6

Daniel Barden, 7

Rachel Davino, 29

Olivia Engel, 6

Josephine Gay, 7

Ana M. Marquez-Greene, 6

Dylan Hockley, 6

Madeline F. Hsu, 6

Catherine V Hubbard, 6

Chase Kowalski, 7

Jesse Lewis, 6

James Mattioli, 6

Grace McDonnell, 7

Anne Marie Murphy, 52

Emile Parker, 6

Jack Pinto, 6

Noah Pozner, 6

Caroline Previdi, 6

Jessica Rekos, 6

Avielle Richman, 6

Lauren Russeau, 30

Benjamin Wheeler, 6

Allison N. Wyatt, 6

As we remember the victims, it is also clear that there a number of heroes as well. First grade teacher, Victoria Soto threw herself in front of her first grade students to protect them from Lanza. Although those students witnessed their teacher, who they adored, tragically shot in front of them, they were able to run out of the room and survived.

HipHossip send our deepest thoughts and prayers to the victims and their friends and family

With Files from Global Grind

D'BANJ SIGNS A DISTRIBUTION DEAL WITH SONY MUSIC AFRICA.

MY IDEA OF ARTIST DEVELOPMENT LIES IN THE ARTIST LOOKING FOR HIS OR HER OWN WAY IN THIS VERY COMPETITIVE MUSIC BUSINESS.

DBanj and MsKemi in 2006 in the beginning

Congratulations to D'Banj who I met at the beginning and now has found his own way as a Sony Music artist. His recording deal was announced on Twitter Wednesday by Sony Music Africa. Not only him but his artist brother Kay Switch too. They have both done good.

This year has been a good year for D’banj. At 2012 World Music awards, his popular Oliver Twist video was nominated for Best Music Video, Best African Act, Best World Artist and Best Song Of The Year categories.

Also his EMA, Channel O and MTV Base wins have made an impact on his career. Now I'm impressed. I don't wanna see to much attachments to international artists. He is International. Now with a smooth distribution deal with Sony is impressive. Sony Execs said below: 

‘Partnering with D’Banj is a seminal event for us at Sony Music Entertainment Africa. We’ve always admired his talent and to be able to assist with bringing D’Banj’s music to millions of fans, established and new, across the continent is an honour for us’, says Managing Director of Sony Music Entertainment Sean Watson.  

‘It’s a new era for Africa, the birthplace of music and I’m excited about this very powerful partnership with Sony Music through which we will give birth together to a new era with endless opportunities for my fans, producers, artists and the start of a new time for a revolution in music from Africa. Nothing is impossible’, D’Banj says.

‘We are really excited to be partnering up with DBanj and his DB Records label. The recent launch of iTunes in Africa means that Nigerian fans and those elsewhere on the continent will now readily be able to access this amazing music as soon as it comes to market’, Spiro Damaskinos, Director of RCA Records Africa.

D'Banj released a new song as well called  "Top Of The World", dare we dispute that, cos he is on top now. He sure stepped up his game!



Follow D'Banj on Twitter @IamDbanj

AMERICAN RNB STAR RAY LAVENDER KEEPS GETTING BIGGER IN THE INDUSTRY.

Ray Lavender is the delight of the ladies.

Trea Day Management & Publicity in conjunction with Global Artist Management and Strickly For the Promo announce R&B recording artist Ray Lavender’s NYC Media Day on Monday, December 17th at Universal Music Group from 5pm-8pm.

Lavender will also headline a feature performance on Tuesday, December 18th during the “Faces in the Crowd” Showcase at S.O.B.s at 204 Varick St. at 9pm.

Fresh off the BET HBCU College Tour, and promotion of his emotional ballad 'We Love', which aired on BET's 106th and Park, MTV2 and VH1, the charismatic crooner will be promoting his sexy new single “Down” and serenading audiences with his special rendition of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”. Recently added to Music Choice, Lavender’s yuletide offering will add a bit of holiday cheer to listeners of all ages, while the mature-ears only “Down” will resonate more with fans of Ray’s break out hit; “My Girls Got A Girlfriend” (Konvict). 

The former star of TV One's The Ultimate Merger is poised for a wonderful holiday season and New Year. To learn more about Ray Lavender visit

http://www.raylavender.com/

I'm going to try getting a MsKemi Phoner interview with Ray soon. We need him out here in Africa soon.

Follow Ray at @DAREALRAYL on twitter.

NORAH JONES FATHER SHANKAR WHO INSPIRED THE BEATLES DEAD AT 92.

Ravi Shankar, Father of Norah Jones, Beatles Influence, Dead At 92 - Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV.com:

'

NIGERIANS! WHICH DESTINY'S CHILD SANG OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM THE BEST? BEYONCE OR MICHELLE?

 

Former Destiny Child Michelle Williams was just here at the famed Nigerian Gospel concert "The Experience 2012" which is an Interdenominational Gospel concert hosted by Pastor Paul Adefarasin of House on the Rock church in Lagos, Nigeria.

I watched Michelle belt out OUR national anthem. First of all, if u can belt out our song in 2 days, u are GOOD... but hey, our HipHossip pal Beyonce did that too in 2006 at the ThisDay Music festival where I was in the front row. Watching them both on YouTube, I have to say it was Michelle who wowed me the most, now that I have seen the two versions.

OMG, I love my gurl Bey but could the secret to this for Michelle be that she is also dating a Nigerian NFL player? Adewale Ogunleye of the Chicago Bears and once with the Miami Dolphins is her boo. They came together and she was outfitted in Nigerian gear complete with our flag colours. You be the judge as you watch below...MsKemi

Michelle Version


Beyonce version

SO, IS THE FOO FIGHTERS READY TO SPLIT? DETAILS BELOW.

Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl has assured fans the group has no plans to split up, insisting he already has an idea for a new album. Devotees of the My Hero hitmakers were left panicking earlier this year when Grohl ended the group's extensive world tour by announcing he wasn't sure when the Foo Fighters were going to play again.

The former Nirvana star quickly made it clear that he was talking about a break, not a split. And now he tells Rolling Stone magazine, "People should never be afraid that Foo Fighters are ever going to break up. It's like your grandparents getting divorced - it's not gonna happen."
Grohl is already thinking about the band's next release and admits it might coincide with a movie, now that he's a bona-fide documentary maker on the back of his upcoming debut Sound City: Real to Reel.

He adds, "(I have) a concept for the next album we've never done before. And who knows? There might be a f--king movie to go with it."

LONG OVERDUE: CANADIAN ROCK LEGENDS "RUSH" GOING INTO HALL OF FAME!

 
Canadian rock legends Rush are finally getting the recognition they deserve.

The trio - consisting of Geddy Lee, Neil Peart and Alex Lifeson - will finally be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame after long being considered one of the most egregious omissions.

They will join Heart, Public Enemy, Randy Newman, blues legend Albert King and disco diva Donna Summer as members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Class of 2013.

The inductees will be honoured during a special ceremony at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on April 18.

Record producers Quincy Jones and Lou Adler will also be celebrated at the event as recipients of the Ahmet Ertegun Award, which recognizes non-performers for their outstanding contributions.

Rush singer/bassist Geddy Lee admits he was overjoyed by the news of his band's induction, telling Rolling Stone, "It's a terrific honour and we'll show up smiling. It made my mom happy, so that's worth it."

And two-time Oscar winner Newman tells Billboard.com, "I'd like to thank the people who have supported me for all these years. It's a great honour. I'm very happy about it."

PAUL MCCARTNEY TO FILL IN FOR KURT COBAIN DURING NIRVANA REUNION. YAY!

Sir Paul McCartney is to fill in for Kurt Cobain as the surviving members of Nirvana reunite at the Superstorm Sandy benefit in New York on Wednesday. Grunge stars Dave Grohl and bassist Krist Novoselic have reportedly enlisted the Beatle to play onstage with them at the Madison Square Garden charity gig.

The Fab Four legend reveals Grohl invited him to "jam with some mates", but admits he had no idea he was filling in for tragic rocker Cobain, who committed suicide in 1994. Sir Paul tells Britain's The Sun, "I didn't really know who they were. They are saying how good it is to be back together. I said, 'Whoa? You guys haven't played together for all that time? And somebody whispered to me, 'That's Nirvana. You're Kurt.' I couldn't believe it." The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, The Who, and Eric Clapton are also on the bill for the 12-12-12 Concert for Sandy Relief.

CARLY RAE JEPSEN'S COMPUTER TARGETED BY CANADIAN HACKER.

 

Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” has been nominated for Song of the Year at the 2013 Grammys.

A man from one of the most lawless sections of Canada is in hot water. A British Columbia man is facing harassment charges in a computer-hacking case linked to Mission, B.C., pop singer Carly Rae Jepsen. Vancouver police issued a release Tuesday that Abbotsford resident Christopher David Long, 25, has been charged with fraudulently obtaining telecommunications services, unauthorized use of a computer, mischief of data, identity fraud and possession of stolen property.

Police said the charges related to an investigation launched last March after they received a report of harassment of a "local, well-known celebrity."

They would not identify the celebrity but several media outlets say the alleged target was the Call Me Maybe singer, who hails from Mission, a few minutes northwest of Abbotsford.

Read the rest on Yahoo

ARE RADIO DJ'S GOING TOO FAR WITH PRANKS? KATE MIDDLETON NURSE KILLS HERSELF AFTER MELTDOWN.

The Aussie DJs who pranked the hospital where Kate Middleton was being treated, apparently driving a nurse to kill herself, broke their silence yesterday, saying they never thought their trick would work. “We wanted to be hung up on,” said Mel Greig.

In a joint interview with Australia’s “A Current Affair,’’ her co-host, Michael Christian, said their production team thought of the idea just before going on air.

“[We] just had the idea for just a simple harmless phone call . . . We thought . . . it was going to go for 30 seconds [and] we were going to be hung up on,” he said. Greig said, “we thought a hundred people before us would’ve tried it, we thought it was such a silly idea and the accents were terrible and not for a second did we expect to speak to Kate let alone have a conversation with anyone at the hospital. We wanted to be hung up on.”

She added, “These prank calls are made every day on every radio station in every country around the world and . . . no one could’ve imagined this to happen.”

Both shock jocks cried as they recounted how they learned that Jacintha Saldanha above in this AFP/Getty photo — who transferred their call into the nurses’ station — had killed herself.

Read the rest here

DYNAMIC MEXICAN SINGER JENNI RIVER DEAD IN PLANE CRASH.

Jenni and her entourage tweeted this fun picture on the flight

Jenni had everything. It was very hard for me to wake up to this. Just when a singer is at their peak, then they die! Then thee is the twitter picture posted on the plane. Way too sad for me. The wreckage of a small plane believed to be carrying Mexican-American music superstar Jenni Rivera was found in northern Mexico yesterday, and there were no survivors, authorities said.

Jeni!!! (AP Photo)

Mexico’s transportation and communications minister, Gerardo Ruiz Esparza, said “everything points toward” the wreckage belonging to the plane carrying the Latin Grammy nominee, who was named Female Artist of the Year at the Billboard Mexican Music Awards.

“My friend! Why? There is no consolation. God, please help me!” said Mexican pop singer Paulina Rubio on her official Twitter account.

Also believed aboard the plane, which crashed about 10 minutes after takeoff Saturday night, were Rivera’s publicist, lawyer and makeup artist. Rivera is one of the biggest stars of the Mexican regional style known as grupero music, which is influenced by the norteno, cumbia and ranchero styles.A 43-year-old native of Long Beach, Calif., Rivera was flying to Toluca, outside Mexico City, from Monterrey, where she had just given a concert.

“There is nothing recognizable, neither material nor human” in the wreckage found in the state of Nuevo Leon, Ruiz Esparza told the Televisa TV network. The impact was so powerful that the remains of the plane “are scattered over an area of 250 to 300 meters. It is almost unrecognizable.” Only thing so far is her Cali driver's license which my friend Perez Hilton has a picture of. WOW! So sad!!

May they all REST IN PEACE!

With files from the Associated Press.

THE MASSIVE GRAMMY NOMINATIONS LIST IS OUT. WHAT A SHOW THAT WOULD BE.

Not like Yeezy and Hovi surprised us but Frank Ocean!!! This will be the wildest Grammy Awards yet. The big question remains whether Drake will win one. I just need ONE for him. He was shunned in the major categories except the rap ones. I will highlight my projected winners as I always do in the categories I can accurately predict. I have been a Judge in both the Academy's Grammys and Canada's 40th Juno awards which are the big North American music awards.

Six artists received six nominations each Wednesday for the 55th Grammy Awards. But none was more notable than rising R&B singer Frank Ocean, who earned nods in three of the top four categories. Ocean was joined by Kanye West, the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, fun., Mumford & Sons and Jay-Z with a half-dozen nominations in the nationally televised prelude to the Grammys, which will be awarded Feb. 10. But Ocean’s multitude of nominations may have been the most surprising given the story behind his major-label debut, “Channel Orange,” nominated for album of the year along with the the Black Keys (“El Camino”), fun. (“Some Nights”), Mumford & Sons (“Babel”), and Jack White (“Blunderbuss”).

Five-time nominees included rising R&B star Miguel, the Black Keys and 18-time-winner Chick Corea. The rapper Nas, producer-songwriter Jeff Bhasker and recording engineer Bob Ludwig received four nominations a piece.

Album of the Year

• El Camino, The Black Keys
• Some Nights, fun.
• Babel, Mumford & Sons
• Channel Orange, Frank Ocean
• Blunderbuss, Jack White

Record of the Year

• "Lonely Boy," The Black Keys
• "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)," Kelly Clarkson
• "We Are Young," fun. featuring Janelle Monáe
• "Somebody That I Used to Know," Gotye featuring Kimbra
• "Thinkin' Bout You," Frank Ocean
• "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," Taylor Swift

Song of the Year

• "The A Team," Ed Sheeran (Writer: Ed Sheeran)
• "Adorn," Miguel (Writers: Miguel Pimentel)
• "Call Me Maybe," Carly Rae Jepsen (Writers: Tavish Crowe, Carly Rae Jepsen and Josh Ramsay)
• "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)," Kelly Clarkson (Writer: Jörgen Elofsson, David Gamson, Greg Kurstin and Ali Tamposi)
• "We Are Young," fun. featuring Janelle Monáe (Writers: Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost and Nate Ruess)

Best New Artist

• Alabama Shakes
• fun.
• Hunter Hayes
• The Lumineers
• Frank Ocean

Best Pop Solo Performance

• "Set Fire to the Rain (Live)," Adele
• "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)," Kelly Clarkson
• "Call Me Maybe," Carly Rae Jepsen
• "Wide Awake," Katy Perry
• "Where Have You  Been," Rihanna

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

• "Shake It Out," Florence + the Machine
• "We Are Young," fun. featuring Janelle Monáe
• "Somebody That I Used to Know," Gotye featuring Kimbra
• "Sexy and I Know It," LMFAO
• "Payphone," Maroon 5 and Wiz Khalifa

Best Pop Instrumental Album

• 24/7, Gerald Albright and Norman Brown
• Impressions, Chris Botti
• Four Hands and a Heart, Volume One, Larry Carlton
• Live at the Blue Note Tokyo, Dave Koz
• Rumbadoodle, Arun Shenoy

Best Pop Vocal Album

• Stronger, Kelly Clarkson
• Ceremonials, Florence + the Machine
• Some Nights, fun.
• Overexposed, Maroon 5
• The Truth About Love, Pink

Best Dance Recording

• "Levels," Avicii
• "Let's Go," Calvin Harris featuring Ne-Yo
• "Bangarang," Skrillex featuring Sirah
• "Don't You Worry Child," Swedish House Mafia featuring John Martin
• "I Can't Live Without You," Al Waiser

Best Dance/Electronica Album

• Wonderland, Steve Aoki
• Don't Think, The Chemical Brothers
• >Album Title Goes Here<, Deadmau5
• Fire and Ice, Kaskade
• Bangarang, Skrillex

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

• Christmas, Michael Bublé
• A Holiday Carole, Carole King
• Kisses on the Bottom, Paul McCartney

Best Rock Performance

• "Hold On," Alabama Shakes
• "Lonely Boy," The Black Keys
• "Charlie Brown," Coldplay
• "I Will Wait," Mumford & Sons
• "We Take Care of Our Own," Bruce Springsteen

Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance

• "I'm Alive," Anthrax
  
• "Love Bites (So Do I)," Halestorm
  
• "Blood Brothers," Iron Maiden
  
• "Ghost Walking," Lamb of God
  
• "No Reflection," Marilyn Manson
• "Whose Life (Is It Anyways)?", Megadeth

Best Rock Song

• "Freedom at 21," Jack White (Writers: Jack White)
• "I Will Wait," Mumford & Sons (Writer: Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Winston Marshall and Marcus Mumford)
• "Lonely Boy," The Black Keys (Writers: Dan Auerbach, Brian Burton and Patrick Carney)
• "Madness," Muse (Writers: Matthew Bellamy)
• "We Take Care of Our Own," Bruce Springsteen (Writers: Bruce Springsteen)

Best Rock Album

• El Camino, The Black Keys
• Mylo Xyloto, Coldplay
• The Second Law, Muse
• Wrecking Ball, Bruce Springsteen
• Blunderbuss, Jack White

Best Alternative Music Album

• The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do, Fiona Apple
• Biofilia, Björk
• Making Mirrors, Gotye
• Hurry Up, We're Dreaming, M83
• Bad As Me, Tom Waits

Best R&B Performance

• "Thank You," Estelle
• "Gonna Be Alright (F.T.B)," Robert Glasper Experiment featuring Ledisi
• "I Want You," Luke James
• "Adorn," Miguel
• "Climax," Usher

Best Urban Contemporary Album

• Fortune, Chris Brown
• Kaleidoscope Dream, Miguel
• Channel Orange, Frank Ocean

Best Traditional R&B Performance

• "Lately," Anita Baker
• "Love on Top," Beyoncé
• "Wrong Side of a Love Song," Melanie Fiona
• "Real Good Hands," Gregory Porter
• "If Only You Knew," SWV

Best R&B Song

• "Adorn," Miguel (Writers: Miguel)
• "Beautiful Surprise," Tamia (Writers: Tamia Hill, Claude Kelly and Salaam Remi)
• "Heart Attack," Trey Songz (Writer: Benjamin Levin, Rico Love and Tremaine Neverson)
• "Pray for Me," Anthony Hamilton (Writers: Antonio Dixon, Kenny Edmonds, Anthony Hamilton and Patrick "jQue" Smith)
• "Refill," Elle Varner (Writers: Darhyl "DJ" Camper, Elle Varner and Andrew "Pop" Wansel)

Best R&B Album

• Black Radio, Robert Glasper Experiment
• Back to Love, Anthony Hamilton
• Write Me Back, R. Kelly
• Beautiful Surprise, Tamia
• Open Invitation, Tyrese

Best Rap Performance

• "HYFR (Hell Yeah F--king Right)," Drake featuring Lil Wayne
  
• "N----s in Paris," Kanye West and Jay-Z
• "Daughters," Nas
• "Mercy," Kanye West featuring Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz
• "I Do," Young Jeezy featuring Jay-Z and André 3000

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

• "Wild Ones," Flo Rida featuring Sia
• "No Church in the Wild," Kanye West and Jay-Z featuring Frank Ocean and The-Dream
• "Tonight (Best You Ever Had)," John Legend featuring Ludacris
• "Cherry Wine," Nas featuring Amy Winehouse
• "Talk That Talk," Rihanna featuring Jay-Z

Best Rap Song

• "Daughters," Nas (Writers: Nasir Jones and Ernest Wilson)
• "Lotus Flower Bomb," Wale featuring Miguel (Writers:Olubowale Akintimehin, S. Joseph Dew, Jerrin Howard, Walker Johnson and Miguel
  Jontel Pimentel)
• "Mercy," Kanye West featuring Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz (Writers: Sean Anderson, Tauheed Epps, Stephan Taft, James Thomas, Terrence Thornton and Kanye West)
• "The Motto," Drake featuring Lil Wayne (Writers: Dwayne Carter, Aubrey Graham and Tyler Williams)
• "N----s in Paris," Kanye West and Jay-Z (Writers: Shawn Carter, Mike Dean, Chauncey Hollis and Kanye West)
• "Young, Wild and Free," Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg featuring Bruno Mars (Writers: Calvin Broadus, Chris Brody Brown, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Peter Hernandez and Cameron Thomaz)

Best Rap Album

• Take Care, Drake
• Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, Pt. 1, Lupe Fiasco
• Life Is Good, Nas
• Undone, The Roots
• God Forgives, I Don't, Rick Ross
• Based on a T.R.U. Story, 2 Chainz

Bset Country Solo Performance

• "Home," Dierks Bentley
• "Springsteen," Eric Church
• "Cost of Livin'," Ronnie Dunn
• "Wanted," Hunter Hayes
• "Over," Blake Shelton
• "Blown Away," Carrie Underwood

Best Country Duo/Group Performance

• "Even If It Breaks Your Heart," Eli Young Band
• "Pontoon," Little Big Town
• "Safe and Sound," Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars
• "On the Outskirts of Town," The Time Jumpers
• "I Just Come Here for the Music," Don Williams featuring Alison Krauss

Best Country Song

• "Blown Away," Carrie Underwood (Writers: Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins)
• "Cost of Livin'," Ronnie Dunn (Writers: Phillip Coleman and Ronnie Dunn)
• "Even If It Breaks Your Heart," Eli Young Band (Writers: Will Hoge and Eric Paslay)
• "So You Don't Have to Love Me Anymore," Alan Jackson (Writers: Jay Knowles and Adam Wright)
• "Springsteen," Eric Church (Writers: Eric Church, Jeff Hyde and Ryan Tyndell)

Best Country Album

• Uncaged, Zac Brown Band
• Hunter Hayes, Hunter Hayes
• Living For a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran, Jamey Johnson
• Four the Record, Miranda Lambert
• The Time Jumpers, The Time Jumpers

Best New Age Album

• Echoes of Love, Omar Akram
  
• Live Ananda, Krishna Das
  
• Bindu, Michael Brant DeMaria
  
• Deep Alpha, Steven Halpern
  
• Light Body, Peter Kater
  
• Troubadours On the Rhine, Loreena McKennitt

Best Improvised Jazz Solo

• "Cross Roads," Ravi Coltrane
  
• "Hot House," Gary Burton and Chick Corea
• "Alice in Wonderland," Chick Corea
• "J. Mac," Kenny Garrett
• "Ode," Brad Mehldau

Best Jazz Vocal Album

• Soul Shadows, Denise Donatelli
• 1619 Broadway: The Brill Building Project, Kurt Elling
• Live, Al Jarreau (And The Metropole Orkest)
• The Book of Chet, Luciana Souza
• Radio Music Society, Esperanza Spalding

Best Jazz Instrumental Album

• Further Explorations, Chick Corea, Eddie Gomez and Paul Motian
• Hot House, Chick Corea and Gary Burton
• Seeds From the Underground, Kenny Garrett
• Blue Moon, Ahmad Jamal
• Unity Band, Pat Metheny Unity Band

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

• Centennial: Newly Discovered Works of Gil Evans, Gil Evans Project
• For the Moment, Bob Mintzer Big Band
• Dear Diz (Everyday I Think of You), Arturo Sandoval

Best Latin Jazz Album

• Flamenco Sketches, Chano Domínguez
• ¡Ritmo!, The Clare Fischer Latin Jazz Big Band
• Multiverse, Bobby Sanabria Big Band
• Duos III, Luciana Souza
• New Cuban Express, Manuel Valera New Cuban Express

Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance

• "Jesus, Friend of Sinners," Casting Crowns
• "Take Me to the King," Tamela Mann
• "Go Get It," Mary Mary
• "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)," Matt Redman
• "My Testimony," Marvin Sapp

Best Gospel Song

• "Go Get It," Mary Mary (Writer: Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell and Warryn Campbell)
  
• "Hold On,"James Fortune and FIYA, Monica and Fred Hammond (Writers: Cheryl Fortune, James Fortune and Terence Vaughn)
• "I Feel Good," Fred Hammond (Writer: Phillip Feaster, Fred Hammond, Jonathan Miller and Calvin Rodgers)
• "My Testimony," Marvin Sapp (Writer: Aaron Lindsey and Marvin Sapp)
• "Released," Bill Winston and Living Word Featuring Donald Lawrence (Writer: Donald Lawrence)

Best Contemporary Christian Music Song

• "Jesus, Friend of Sinners," Casting Crowns (Writer: Mark Hall and Matthew West)
• "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)," Matt Redman (Writers: Jonas Myrin and Matt Redman)
• "When Mercy Found Me," Rhett Walker Band (Writers: Jeff Pardo and Rhett Walker)
• "White Flag," Passion and Chris Tomlin (Writer: Jason Ingram, Matt Maher, Matt Redman and Chris Tomlin)
• "Your Presence is Heaven," Israel and New Breed (Writers: Israel Houghton and Micah Massey)

Best Gospel Album

• Identity, James Fortune and FIYA
• Jesus at the Center Live, Israel and New Breed
• Gravity, Lecrae
• I Win, Marvin Sapp
• Worship Soul, Anita Wilson

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album

• Come to the Well, Casting Crowns
• Where I Find You, Kari Jobe
• Gold, Britt Nicole
• Eye on It, TobyMac
• Into the Light, Matthew West

Best Latin Pop, Rock or Urban Album

• Independiente, Ricardo Arjona
• Ilusión, Fonseca
• Kany Garcia, Kany Garcia
• ¿Con Quién Se Queda El Perro?, Jesse Y Joy
• MTV Unplugged Deluxe Edition, Juanes

Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album

• Campo, Campo
• Déjenme Llorar, Carla Morrison
• Imaginaries, Quetzal
• Electro-Jarocho, Sistema Bomb
• La Bala, Ana Tijoux

Best Regional Mexican or Tejano Album

• Pecados Y Milagros, Lila Downs
• Sembrando Flores, Los Cojolites
• 365 Días, Los Tucanes De Tijuana
• Oye, Mariachi Divas De Cindy Shea
• El Primer Ministro, Gerardo Ortiz

Best Tropical Latin Album

• Cubano Soy, Raúl Lara Y Sus Soneros
• Desde Nueva York Y Puerto Rico, Eddie Montalvo
• Retro, Marlow Rosado Y La Riqueña
• Formula Vol. 1, Romeo Santos

Best Americana Album

• The Carpenter, The Avett Brothers
  
• From the Ground Up, John Fullbright
  
• The Lumineers, The Lumineers
  
• Babel, Mumford & Sons
  
• Slipstream, Bonnie Raitt
  

Best Bluegrass Album

• The Gospel Side Of, Dailey and Vincent
  
• Life Finds a Way, The Grascals
  
• Beat the Devil and Carry a Rail, Noam Pikelny
  
• Scratch Gravel Road, Special Consensus
• Nobody Knows You, Steep Canyon Rangers

Best Blues Album

• 33 1/3, Shemekia Copeland
  
• Locked Down, Dr. John
• Let It Burn, Ruthie Foster
  
• And Still I Rise, Heritage Blues Orchestra
  
• Bring It On Home, Joan Osborne
  

Best Folk Album

• Leaving Eden, Carolina Chocolate Drops
• Election Special, Ry Cooder
• Hambone's Meditations, Luther Dickinson
• The Great Rodeo Sessions, Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile
• This One's For Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark, Various Artists

Best Regional Roots Music Album

• Malama Ko Aloha, Keola Beamer
  
• She Kéyah, Radmilla Cody
  
• Pilialoha, Weldon Kekauoha
  
• Nothin' But the Best, Corey Ledet With Anthony Dopsie, Dwayne Dopsie And André Thierry
  
• The Band Courtbouillon, Wayne Toups, Steve Riley and Wilson Savoy

Best Reggae Album

• Rebirth, Jimmy Cliff
  
• Miracle, The Original Wailers
  
• Tomahawk Technique, Sean Paul
  
• New Legend-Jamaica 50th Edition, Sly and Robbie and The Jam Masters
  
• Reggae Got Soul: Unplugged on Strawberry Hill, Toots And The Maytals
  

Best World Music Album

• Folila, Amadou and Mariam
  
• On a Gentle Island Breeze, Daniel Ho
  
• Jabulani, Hugh Masekela
  
• Traveller, Anoushka Shankar
  
• The Living Room Sessions Part 1, Ravi Shankar

Best Children's Album

• Can You Canoe?, The Okee Dokee Brothers
• High Dive and Other Things That Could Have Happened, Bill Harley
• Jumpin' Jazz Kids: A Swinging Jungle Tale, James Murray and Various Artists
• Little Seed: Songs for Children, Elizabeth Mitchell
• Radio Jungle, The Pop Ups

Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books and Story Telling)

• American Grown (Michelle Obama), Various Artists
• Back to Work: Why We Need a Smart Government for a Strong Economy, Bill Clinton
• Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power, Rachel Maddow
• Seriously...I'm Kidding, Ellen DeGeneres
• Society's Child: My Autobiography, Janis Ian

Best Comedy Album

• Blow Your Pants Off, Jimmy Fallon
  
• Cho Dependent (Live in Concert), Margaret Cho
  
• In God We Rust, Lewis Black.
  
• Kathy Griffin: Seaman 1st Class, Kathy Griffin
  
• Mr. Universe, Jim Gaffigan
  
• Rize of the Fenix, Tenacious D

Best Musical Theater Album

• Follies, Danny Burstein, Jan Maxwell, Elaine Paige, Bernadette Peters and Ron Raines
  
• The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, David Alan Grier, Norm Lewis and Audra McDonald
  
• Newsies, Jeremy Jordan and Kara Lindsay
  
• Nice Work If You Can Get It, Matthew Broderick and Kelli O'Hara
• Once: A New Musical, Steve Kazee and Cristin Milioti

Best Compilation Sountrack for Visual Media

• The Descendents, Varous Artists
  
• Marley, Bob Marley and the Wailers
  
• Midnight in Paris, Various Artists
  
• The Muppets, Various Artists
  
• Rock of Ages, Various Artists
  

Best Score Sountrack for Visual Media

• The Adventures of Tin Tin: The Secret of the Unicorn, Josh Williams
  
• The Artist, Ludovic Bource
  
• The Dark Knight Rises, Hans Zimmer
  
• The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
  
• Hugo, Howard Shore
  
• Journey, Austin Wintory

Best Song Written for Visual Media

• "Abraham's Daughter," from The Hunger Games, Arcade Fire (Writer: T Bone Burnett, Win Butler and Régine Chassagne)
• "Learn Me Right," from Brave, Mumford & Sons (Writers: Birdy and Mumford & Sons)
• "Let Me Be Your Star," from Smash, Katharine McPhee and Megan Hilty (Writers: Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman)
• "Man or Muppet," from The Muppets, Jason Segel and Walter (Writer: Bret McKenzie)
• "Where the River Goes," from Footloose, Zac Brown (Writers: Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, Drew Pearson and Anne Preven)
• "Safe and Sound," from The Hunger Games, Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars (Writer: T Bone Burnett, Taylor Swift, John Paul White and Joy Williams)

Best Instrumental Composition

• "December Dream," Chuck Loeb
• "Mozart Goes Dancing," Chick Corea
• "Music of Ansel Adams: America," Chris Brubeck and Dave Brubeck
• "Overture, Waltz and Rondo," Bill Cunliffe
• "Without a Paddle," Bill Holman

Best Instrumental Arrangement

• "Afro-Cuban Jazz Beat for Ellington," Michael Philip Mossman
• "How About You," Gil Evans
• "Irrequietor," Bob Mintzer
• "A Night in Tunisia," Wally Minko
• "Salt Peanuts," Gordon Goodwin

Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)

• "City of Roses," Thara Memory and Esperanza Spalding
• "Look to the Rainbow," Gil Evans
• "Out There," Shelly Berg
• "Spain (I Can Recall)," Vince Mendoza
• "Wild Is the Wind," Nan Schwartz

Best Recording Package

• "Biophilia," Bjork
• "Boys and Girls," Alabama Shakes
• "Charmer," Aimee Mann
• "Love This Giant," David Byrne and St. Vincent
• "Swing Lo Magellan," Dirty Projectors

Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package

• The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Rob Sheridan
  
• Go Fly a Kite, Liz Kweller
  
• Ram: Paul McCartney Archive Collection, Simon Earith and James Musgrave
  
• Some Girls: Super Deluxe Edition, Stephen Kennedy
  
• Woody at 100, Fritz Klaetke
  

Best Album Notes

• Banjo Diary: Lessons From Tradition, Stephen Wade
  
• First Recordings: 50th Anniversary Edition, Hans Olof Gottfridsson
  
• The Pearl Sessions, Holly George-Warren
  
• Piazzolla in Brooklyn, Fernando Gonzalez
  
• Singular Genius: Complete ABC Singles, Billy Vera
  

Best Historical Album

• He Is My Story: The Sanctified Soul of Arizona Dranes, Josh Rosenthal
  
• Old-Time Smoky Mountain Music, Kent Cave, Michael Montgomery and Ted Olson
  
• Opika Pende: Africa at 78 RPM, Steven Lance Ledbetter and Jonathan Ward
• Ram: The Paul McCartney Archive Collection, Paul McCartney
• The Smile Sessions, Alan Boyd, Mark Linett, Brian Wilson and Dennis Wolfe
  

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

• The Absence, Moogie Canazio and Al Schmitt
  
• Ashes and Fire, Glyn Johns
  
• The Goat Rodeo Sessions, Richard King
  
• Love Is a Four Lettered Word, Joe Chiccarelli, Steve Churchyard, Lars Fox, Graham Hope, Tony Maserati and Morgan Stratton
• Slingshot, Helik Hadar
  

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

• Dan Auerbach
• Jeff Bhasker
• Diplo
• Markus Dravs
• Salaam Remi

Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical

• "In My Mind (Axwell Remix)," Axel Hedfors
• "Lie Down in Darkness (Photek Remix)," Photek
• "Midnight City (Eric Prydz Private Remix)," Eric Prydz
• "Promises (Skrillex and Nero Mix)," Skrillex
• "The Veldt (Tommy Trash remix)," Thomas Olsen

Best Surround Sound Album

• Chamberland, David Miles Huber
  
• Modern Cool, Jim Anderson
  
• Quiet Winter Night, Morten Lindberg
  
• Rupa-Khandha, Daniel Shores
  
• Storm Corrosion, Steven Wilson
  

Best Engineered Album, Classical

• Americana, Daniel Shores
  
• Beethoven: The Late String Quartets, Op. 127 and 131, Bruce Egre
  
• Life and Breath, Tom Caulfield and John Newton
  
• Music For a Time of War, Jesse Lewis and John Newton
  
• Souvenir, Morten Lindberg
  

Best Producer of the Year, Classical

• Blanton Alspaugh
  
• Tim Handley
• Marina Ledin, Victor Ledin
• James Mallinson
• Dan Merceruio

Best Orchestral Performance

• "Adams: Harmonielehre and Short Ride In A Fast Machine," Michael Tilson Thomas
• "Mahler: Symphony No. 1," Iván Fischer
• "Music For a Time of War," Carlos Kalmar
• "Rachmaninov: Symphonic Dances," Valery Gergiev
• "Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 2 and 5," Osmo Vänskä

Best Opera Recording

• "Berg: Lulu," Michael Boder
  
• "Handel: Agrippina," René Jacobs
• "Stravinsky: The Rake's Progress," Vladimir Jurowski
• "Vivaldi: Teuzzone," Jordi Savall
• "Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen," James Levine and Fabio Luisi

Best Choral Performance

• "Handel: Israel In Egypt," Julian Wachner
• "Life and Breath-Choral Works By René Clausen," Charles Bruffy
• "Ligeti: Requiem; Apparitions; San Francisco Polyphony," Peter Eötvös
• "The Nightingale," Stephen Layton
• "Striggio: Mass For 40 and 60 Voices," Hervé Niquet

Best Small Ensemble Performance

• "Americana," Modern Mandolin Quartet
• "Meanwhile," Eighth Blackbird
• "Mind Meld," ZOFO Duet
• "Profanes Et Sacrées," Boston Symphony Chamber Players
• "Rupa-Khandha," Los Angeles Percussion Quartet

Best Classical Instrumental Solo

• "Bach: Das Wohltemperierte Clavier," András Schiff
• "The Complete Harpsichord Works Of Rameau," Jory Vinikour
• "Gál & Elgar: Cello Concertos," Claudio Cruz
• "Holst: The Planets," Hansjörg Albrecht
• "Kurtág and Ligeti: Music For Viola," Kim Kashkashian

Best Classical Vocal Solo

• "Debussy: Clair De Lune," Natalie Dessay
• "Homecoming-Kansas City Symphony Presents Joyce DiDonato," Joyce DiDonato
• "Paris Days, Berlin Nights," Ute Lemper
• "Poèmes," Renée Fleming
• "Sogno Barocco," Anne Sofie Von Otter

Best Classical Compendium

• "Partch: Bitter Music," Partch
• "Penderecki: Fonogrammi; Horn Concerto; Partita; The Awakening Of Jacob; Anaklasis," Antoni Wit
• "Une Fête Baroque," Emmanuelle Haïm

Best Contemporary Classical Composition

• "Hartke, Stephen: Meanwhile - Incidental Music To Imaginary Puppet Plays," Stephen Hartke
• "León, Tania: Inura For Voices, Strings and Percussion," Tania León
• "Praulins, Ugis: The Nightingale," Ugis Praulins
• "Rautavaara, Einojuhani: Cello Concerto No. 2 'Towards The Horizon'," Einojuhani Rautavaara
• "Stucky, Steven: August 4, 1964," Steven Stucky

Best Short Form Music Vido

• "Houdini," Foster the People
• "No Church In the Wild," Kanye West and Jay-Z featuring Frank Ocean and The-Dream
• "Bad Girls," M.I.A
• "We Found Love," Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris
• "Run Boy Run," Woodkid

Best Long Form Music Video

• "Big Easy Express," Mumford & Sons
• "Bring Me Home-Live," Sade
• "Radio Music Society," Esperanza Spalding
• "Get Along," Tegan and Sara
• "From the Sky Down," U2

With Files from The Chicago Tribune