SONY BMG Receives a Total of 125 Grammy Nominations

SONY BMG Receives a Total of 125 Grammy Nominations

Nominations Include Song Of The Year and Best New Artist

SONY BMG Dominates Across R&B and Gospel Categories

NEW YORK, Dec. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT received a total of 125 GRAMMY nominations earlier today from the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS). The 48th Annual GRAMMY Awards ceremony will be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on Wednesday, February 8, 2006.

NARAS recognized SONY BMG artists with nominations across labels and genres. Artists receiving multi nominations include Columbia's John Legend with 8; RCA's Foo Fighters with 5; Columbia's Destiny's Child and Beyonce with 6; Arista/J's Alicia Keys with 5; Columbia's Bruce Springsteen with 5; and 4 each for Arista/J's Fantasia, Sony Music Nashville's Gretchen Wilson, and RLG's Brad Paisley.

SONY BMG swept the Best Male R&B Vocal Performance; Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals; Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance; Best R&B Song; Best Contemporary R&B Album; as well as Best Gospel Performance; Best Gospel Song; Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album; Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album; Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album; Best Gospel Choir Or Chorus Album, with four of the five nominations in each category going to SONY BMG artists.

SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT is a global recorded music joint venture with a roster of current artists that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars, as well as a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT is 50% owned by Bertelsmann A.G. and 50% owned by Sony Corporation of America.

Following is a list of SONY BMG's nominations:

Category 3 - Song Of The Year (A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parenthesis.) Singles or Tracks only.)

* Devils & Dust Bruce Springsteen, songwriter (Bruce Springsteen) Track
from: Devils & Dust [Columbia Records; Publisher: Bruce Springsteen.]
* Ordinary People W. Adams & J. Stephens, songwriters (John Legend) Track
from: Get Lifted [Getting Out Our Dreams/Sony Urban Music/Columbia;
Publishers: John Legend Publishing, Will.I.Am Music, Cherry River
Music.]

Category 4 - Best New Artist (For a new artist who releases, during the Eligibility Year, the first recording which establishes the public identity of that artist.)

* John Legend
* Ciara

Pop Category 5 - Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

* Since U Been Gone Kelly Clarkson Track from: Breakaway [RCA Records]

Pop Category 7 - Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal (For established duos or groups, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

* More Than Love Los Lonely Boys Track from: Los Lonely Boys [Or
Music/Epic Records]
* This Love Maroon 5 Track from: Live - Friday The 13th [Octone Records/J
Records]

Pop Category 8 - Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals (For a collaborative performance, with vocals, by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or Tracks only.)

* Virginia Moon Foo Fighters Featuring Norah Jones Track from: In Your
Honor [RCA Records]

Pop Category 9 - Best Pop Instrumental Performance (For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, without vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

* In Our Time Burt Bacharach & Chris Botti Track from: At This Time
[Columbia Records]

Pop Category 10 - Best Pop Instrumental Album (For albums containing 51% or more playing time of INSTRUMENTAL tracks.)

* At This Time Burt Bacharach [Columbia Records]

Pop Category 11 - Best Pop Vocal Album (For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

* Extraordinary Machine Fiona Apple [Epic Records/Clean Slate]
* Breakaway Kelly Clarkson [RCA Records]

Traditional Pop Category 14 - Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album (For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

* The Art Of Romance Tony Bennett [RPM Records/Columbia Records]
* Isn't It Romantic Johnny Mathis [Columbia Records]
* Moonlight Serenade Carly Simon [Columbia Records]
* Thanks For The Memory...The Great American Songbook Volume IV Rod
Stewart [J Records]

Rock Category 15 - Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance (For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

* Devils & Dust Bruce Springsteen Track from: Devils & Dust [Columbia Records]

Rock Category 16 - Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal (For duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

* Best Of You Foo Fighters Track from: In Your Honor [RCA Records]
* Do You Want To Franz Ferdinand Track from: You Could Have It So Much
Better [Domino]

Rock Category 17 - Best Hard Rock Performance (For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

* Doesn't Remind Me Audioslave Track from: Out Of Exile [Interscope/Epic
Records]
* B.Y.O.B. System Of A Down Track from: Mezmerize [Columbia Records]

Rock Category 18 - Best Metal Performance (For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

* Determined Mudvayne Track from: Lost And Found [Epic]

Rock Category 19 - Best Rock Instrumental Performance (For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, without vocals. Includes Rock, Hard Rock and Metal. Singles or Tracks only.)

* Mercy Joe Perry Track from: Joe Perry [Columbia Records]
* Lotus Feet Steve Vai Track from: Real Illusions: Reflections [Epic/Red
Ink]

Rock Category 20 - Best Rock Song (A Songwriter(s) Award. Includes Rock, Hard Rock & Metal songs. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parenthesis.) Singles or Tracks only.)

* Best Of You Foo Fighters, songwriters (Foo Fighters) Track from: In
Your Honor [RCA Records; Publishers: M.J.-Twelve Music, I Love The Punk
Rock Music, Living Under A Rock Music, Flying Earform Music.]
* Devils & Dust Bruce Springsteen, songwriter (Bruce Springsteen) Track
from: Devils & Dust [Columbia Records; Publisher: Bruce Springsteen.]

Rock Category 21 - Best Rock Album (Vocal or Instrumental. Includes Hard Rock and Metal.)

* In Your Honor Foo Fighters [RCA Records]

Alternative Category 22 - Best Alternative Music Album (Vocal or Instrumental.)

* You Could Have It So Much Better Franz Ferdinand [Domino]

R&B Category 23 - Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

* 1 Thing Amerie Track from: Touch [Columbia Records]
* Free Yourself Fantasia Track from: Free Yourself [J Records]
* Unbreakable Alicia Keys Track from: Unplugged [J Records]

R&B Category 24 - Best Male R&B Vocal Performance (For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

* Creepin' Jamie Foxx Track from: So Amazing - An All Star Tribute To
Luther Vandross (Various Artists) [J Records]
* Ordinary People John Legend Track from: Get Lifted [Getting Out Our
Dreams/Sony Urban Music/Columbia]
* Let Me Love You Mario Track from: Turning Point [J Records]
* Superstar Usher Track from: So Amazing - An All Star Tribute To Luther
Vandross (Various Artists) [J Records]

R&B Category 25 - Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals (For duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

* So Amazing Beyonce & Stevie Wonder Track from: So Amazing - An All Star
Tribute To Luther Vandross (Various Artists) [J Records]
* Cater 2 U Destiny's Child Track from: Destinys Fulfilled [Columbia
Records, Sony Urban]
* If This World Were Mine Alicia Keys Featuring Jermaine Paul Track from:
So Amazing - An All Star Tribute To Luther Vandross (Various Artists)
[J Records]
* So High John Legend Featuring Lauryn Hill [Getting Out Our Dreams/Sony
Urban Music/Columbia]

R&B Category 26 - Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance (For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

* Summertime Fantasia Track from: Free Yourself [J Records]
* A House Is Not A Home Aretha Franklin Track from: So Amazing - An All
Star Tribute To Luther Vandross (Various Artists) [J Records]
* If I Was Your Woman Alicia Keys Track from: Unplugged [J Records]
* Stay With You John Legend Track from: Get Lifted [Getting Out Our
Dreams/Sony Urban Music/Columbia]

R&B Category 28 - Best R&B Song (A Songwriter(s) Award. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parenthesis.) Singles or Tracks only.)

* Cater 2 U Rodney Jerkins, Beyonce Knowles, Ricky Lewis, Kelly Rowland,
Robert Waller & Michelle Williams, songwriters (Destiny's Child) Track
from: Destinys Fulfilled [Columbia Records; Publishers: Sony/ATV Tunes,
Beyonce Publishing, Kelendria Music Publishing, Michelle MW Publishing,
EMI Blackwood Music, Rodney Jerkins Productions, International Music
Publishing, Notting Dale Songs.]
* Free Yourself Craig Brockman, Missy Elliott & Nisan Stewart,
songwriters (Fantasia) Track from: Free Yourself [J Records;
Publishers: Mass Confusion Music, WB Music/CraigMan Music, Dreamworks
Songs/Nisan's Music, Universal Music Publishing.]
* Ordinary People W. Adams & J. Stephens, songwriters (John Legend) Track
from: Get Lifted [Getting Out Our Dreams/Sony Urban Music/Columbia;
Publishers: John Legend Publishing, Will.I.Am Music, Cherry River
Music.]
* Unbreakable Garry Glenn, Alicia Keys, Harold Lily & Kanye West,
songwriters (Alicia Keys) Track from: Unplugged [J Records]

R&B Category 29 - Best R&B Album (For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

* Free Yourself Fantasia [J Records]
* Unplugged Alicia Keys [J Records]
* Get Lifted John Legend [Getting Out Our Dreams/Sony Urban
Music/Columbia]

R&B Category 30 - Best Contemporary R&B Album (For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

* Touch Amerie [Columbia Records/Sony Urban]
* Destiny Fulfilled Destiny's Child [Columbia Records]
* TurningPoint Mario[J Records]
* O Omarion [Epic]

Rap Category 33 - Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (For a Rap/Sung collaborative performance by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or Tracks only.)

* 1,2 Step Ciara Featuring Missy Elliott [LaFace/Zomba Label Group]
* Soldier Destiny's Child Featuring T.I. & Lil Wayne Track from: Destinys
Fulfilled [Columbia Records/ Sony Urban]

Country Category 36 - Best Female Country Vocal Performance (For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

* All Jacked Up Gretchen Wilson Track from: All Jacked Up [Epic Records]

Country Category 37 - Best Male Country Vocal Performance (For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

* Good Ol' Boys Willie Nelson Track from: The Dukes Of Hazzard -
Soundtrack (Various Artists) [Columbia Records]
* Alcohol Brad Paisley [Arista Nashville]

Country Category 38 - Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal (For established duos or groups with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

* Play Something Country Brooks & Dunn Track from: Hillbilly Deluxe
[Arista]
* I Hope Dixie Chicks [Columbia]

Country Category 39 - Best Country Collaboration With Vocals (For a collaborative performance, with vocals, by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or Tracks only.)

* Building Bridges Brooks & Dunn, Sheryl Crow & Vince Gill Track from:
Hillbilly Deluxe [Arista Nashville]
* Shelter From The Storm Rodney Crowell & Emmylou Harris Track from: The
Outsider [Columbia Records]
* Politically Uncorrect Gretchen Wilson & Merle Haggard Track from: All
Jacked Up [Epic Records]

Country Category 40 - Best Country Instrumental Performance (For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, without vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

* Time Warp Brad Paisley Track from: Time Well Wasted [Arista Nashville]

Country Category 41 - Best Country Song (A Songwriter(s) Award. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parenthesis.) Singles or Tracks only.)

* Alcohol Brad Paisley, songwriter (Brad Paisley) [Arista Nashville;
Publishers: EMI April Music, Sea Gayle Music.]
* All Jacked Up Vicky McGehee, John Rich & Gretchen Wilson, songwriters
(Gretchen Wilson) Track from: All Jacked Up [Epic Records; Publishers:
Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing, Hoosierman Music, WB Music, Rich Texan
Music, EMI Blackwood, Oklahoma Girl Music.]
* I Hope Keb Mo, Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines & Emily Robison,
songwriters (Dixie Chicks) [Columbia; Publishers: Woolly Puddlin'
Music, Scrapin' Toast Music, Keb Note Music.]

Country Category 42 - Best Country Album (Vocal or Instrumental.)

* Time Well Wasted Brad Paisley [Arista Nashville]
* All Jacked Up Gretchen Wilson [Epic Records]

New Age Category 44 - Best New Age Album (Vocal or Instrumental.)

* Montana- A Love Story George Winston [Windham Hill]

Gospel Category 51 - Best Gospel Performance (For solo, duo, group as collaborative performances. Singles or tracks with vocal containing Gospel lyrics. All genres of Gospel music are eligible.)

* Looking For You Kirk Franklin [Fo Yo Soul Entertainment/Zomba Label
Group]
* I Call You Faithful Donnie McClurkin [Verity Records]
* Lift Him Up Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Choir [Verity
Records/Zomba label group]
* Pray CeCe Winans Track from: Purified [Puresprings Gospel/INO/Sony
Urban Music/Epic]

Gospel Category 52 - Best Gospel Song (A Songwriter(s) Award. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parenthesis.) Singles or Tracks only.)

* Again I Say Rejoice Israel Houghton & Aaron Lindsey, songwriters
(Israel & New Breed) [Integrity Gospel; Publishers: Champions For
Christ Music Publishing, Integrity's Pulse! Music, Sound Of The New
Breed Publishing.]
* Heaven Erica Campbell, Joi Campbell, Trecina Campbell & Warryn
Campbell, songwriters (Mary Mary) Track from: Mary Mary [Columbia;
Publishers: EMI April Music, Wet Ink Red Music, That's Plum Song, It's
Tea Tyme, Babooschka Worldwide Tunes, Gold Forever Music, Songs of
Universal.]
* Lift Him Up Joeworn Martin, songwriter (Hezekiah Walker & Love
Fellowship Choir) [Verity Records/Zomba Label Group; Publisher: J Swirv
Entertainment.]
* We Must Praise James Moss, songwriter (J Moss) [GospoCentric Records;
Publisher: Millenni-era Music.]

Gospel Category 53 - Best Rock Gospel Album (For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

* Day Of Fire Day Of Fire [Essential Records]

Gospel Category 54 - Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album (For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

* Lifesong Casting Crowns [Beach Street/Reunion Records]
* Redemption Songs Jars Of Clay [Essential Records]
* Healing Rain Michael W. Smith [Reunion Records]
* Live Wire Third Day [Essential Records]

Gospel Category 56 - Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album (For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

* Live From Houston ...The Rose Of Gospel Dorinda Clark-Cole
[GospoCentric Records/Zomba Label Group]
* Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs Donnie McClurkin [Verity Records]
* Be Exalted Marvin Sapp [Verity Records]
* Say The Name Martha Munizzi [Martha Munizzi Music/Integrity Music]

Gospel Category 57 - Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album (For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

* Mary Mary Mary Mary [Columbia Records/ Sony Urban]
* The J Moss Project J Moss [GospoCentric Records]
* Purified CeCe Winans [Puresprings Gospel/INO/Sony Urban Music/Epic]
* Dream BeBe Winans [Still Waters (A Hidden Beach Experience)/TMG]

Gospel Category 58 - Best Gospel Choir Or Chorus Album (For choirs or choruses only, with or without lead vocalist(s).)

* I Speak Life Donald Lawrence, choir director; Donald Lawrence & Company
[QuietWater/Verity /Zomba]
* Live At The Fellowship John P Kee, choir director; VIP Mass Choir
[Verity Records]
* One Church Kurt Carr, choir director; The Choir Of Life (Japan), The
Choir Of Life (USA) & The Kurt Carr Singers [GospoCentric Records]
* 20/85 The Experience Hezekiah Walker, choir director; The Love
Fellowship Choir [Verity Records/Zomba Label Group]

Latin Category 59 - Best Latin Pop Album (Vocal or Instrumental.)

* Solo Ricardo Arjona [Sony Discos]
* Citi Zen Kevin Johansen [Sony Discos]

Latin Category 60 - Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album (Vocal or Instrumental.)

* Fijacion Oral Vol. 1 Shakira [Sony]

Latin Category 61 - Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album (Vocal or Instrumental.)

* Bebo De Cuba Bebo Valdes [Calle 54 Records]

Blues Category 66 - Best Contemporary Blues Album (Vocal or Instrumental.)

* Bring 'Em In Buddy Guy [Silvertone/Zomba Label Group]

Folk Category 67 - Best Traditional Folk Album (Vocal or Instrumental.)

* Live From Dublin - A Tribute To Derek Bell The Chieftains [RCA Victor]

Folk Category 68 - Best Contemporary Folk Album (Vocal or Instrumental.)

* The Outsider Rodney Crowell [Columbia Records]
* Devils & Dust Bruce Springsteen [Columbia]

Film/TV/Visual Media Category 80 - Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media (Award to the Artist(s) and/or Producer(s) of a majority of the tracks on the album, or to the individual(s) actively responsible for the concept and musical direction and for the selection of artists, songs and producers, as applicable.)

* No Direction Home: The Soundtrack - Bootleg Series, Vol. 7 (Bob Dylan)
[Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings]

Film/TV/Visual Media Category 81 - Best Score Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media (Award to Composer(s) for an original score created specifically for, or as a companion to, a current legitimate motion picture, television show or series or other visual media.)

* Star Wars Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith John Williams, composer
[Sony Classical /Sony Music Soundtrax]

Film/TV/Visual Media Category 82 - Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media (A Songwriter(s) award. For a song (melody & lyrics) written specifically for a motion picture, television or other visual media, and released for the first time during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parenthesis.) Singles or Tracks only.)

* Square One Tom Petty, songwriter (Tom Petty) Track from: Elizabethtown
[RCA/ Vinyl Films; Publisher: Adria K Music.]

Composing/Arranging Category 83 - Best Instrumental Composition (A Composer's Award for an original composition (not an adaptation) first released during the Eligibility Year. Singles or Tracks only.)

* Anakin's Betrayal John Williams, composer (John Williams & The London
Symphony Orchestra and London Voices) Track from: Star Wars Episode III
- Revenge Of The Sith - Soundtrack [Sony Classical /Sony Music
Soundtrax]

Composing/Arranging Category 85 - Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) (An Arranger's Award. (Artist names appear in parenthesis.) Singles or Tracks only.)

* Time To Smile Jorge Calandrelli, arranger (Tony Bennett) Track from:
The Art Of Romance [RPM Records/COLUMBIA]
* What Are You Doing For The Rest Of Your Life? Billy Childs, Gil
Goldstein & Heitor Pereira, arrangers (Chris Botti & Sting) [Columbia
Records]

Package Category 87 - Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package

* The Legend Ian Cuttler, art director (Johnny Cash) [Columbia
Records/Legacy Recordings]
* You Ain't Talkin' To Me - Charlie Poole And The Roots Of Country Music
Howard Fritzson & Michelle Holme, art directors (Charlie Poole With
Various Artists) [Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings]

Album Notes Category 88 - Best Album Notes

* The Legend Patrick Carr, album notes writer (Johnny Cash) [Columbia
Records/Legacy Recordings]

* You Ain't Talkin' To Me - Charlie Poole And The Roots Of Country Music
Henry Sapoznik, album notes writer (Charlie Poole With Various Artists)
[Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings]

Historical Category 89 - Best Historical Album

* The Legend Gregg Geller, compilation producer; Vic Anesini, mastering
engineer (Johnny Cash) [Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings]

* You Ain't Talkin' To Me - Charlie Poole And The Roots Of Country Music
Henry Sapoznik, compilation producer; Christopher King, Andreas Meyer &
Darcy Proper, mastering engineers (Charlie Poole With Various Artists)
[Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings]

Surround Sound Category 93 - Best Surround Sound Album (For vocal or instrumental albums. Albums only.)

* In Your Honor Elliot Scheiner, surround mix engineer; Bob Ludwig,
surround mastering engineer; Nick Raskulinecz, surround producer (Foo
Fighters) [Roswell/Sony/BMG]

Production, Classical Category 95 - Producer Of The Year, Classical (A Producer's Award. (Artist names appear in parenthesis.))

* Steven Epstein * Brahms: Music For 2 Pianos (Yefim Bronfman & Emanuel
Ax) * Music For Organ, Brass And Timpani (Anthony Newman, Graham
Ashton, Graham Ashton Brass Ensemble & Duncan Patton) * Silk Road
Journeys: Beyond The Horizon (Yo-Yo Ma & The Silk Road Ensemble)

Classical Category 101 - Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without Orchestra) (Award to the Instrumental Soloist.)

* Scriabin, Medtner, Stravinsky Evgeny Kissin [BMG Classics RCA Red Seal]

Music Video Category 107 - Best Short Form Music Video (For an individual track or single promotional clip. Award to the Artist and to the Video Director/Producer.)

* Feels Just Like It Should Jamiroquai Joseph Kahn, video director;
MaryAnn Tanedo, video producer [Epic]
* God's Will Martina McBride George Flanigen, video director; Mark
Kalbfeld, video producer [RCA Nashville]
* World On Fire Sarah McLachlan Sophie Muller, video director [Arista]

Music Video Category 108 - Best Long Form Music Video (For video album packages consisting of more than one song or track. Award to the Artist and to the Video Director/Producer of at least 51% of the total playing time.)

* No Direction Home (Bob Dylan) Martin Scorcese, video director; Margaret
Bodde, Susan Lacy, Jeff Rosen, Martin Scorcese, Nigel Sinclair &
Anthony Wall, video producers [Columbia Records]

* Trapped In The Closet (Chapters 1-5) R. Kelly R. Kelly & Jim Swaffield,
video directors; Ann Carli, video producer [Jive Records/Zomba Label
Group]

* Devils & Dust Bruce Springsteen Danny Clinch, video director; Lindha
Narvaez, video producer [Columbia Records]

Source: SONY BMG

CONTACT: Vilna Joven of SONY BMG, +1-212-833-7141

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