U.S. Youth Pick Mary J. Blige, Justin Timberlake, and Former American Idol Carrie Underwood to Take Top Honors at 2007 GRAMMY(R) Awards

U.S. Youth Pick Mary J. Blige, Justin Timberlake, and Former American Idol Carrie Underwood to Take Top Honors at 2007 GRAMMY(R) Awards

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- If left to U.S. youth, the race for the 49th Annual GRAMMY(R) Awards would result in a big night for Carrie Underwood, Mary J. Blige and Justin Timberlake, according to a new Harris Interactive(R) survey of those ages 8 through 18. Young people believe that country music star and former American Idol Carrie Underwood deserves top honors as Best New Artist (41%) and endorse her song "Jesus, Take the Wheel" as Song of the Year (37%). "Be Without You" by Mary J. Blige is their pick for Record of the Year, while Justin Timberlake's "FutureSex/LoveSounds" is favored for Album of the Year.

The Harris Interactive YouthQuery(SM) omnibus of 1,726 U.S. youth ages 8 through 18 was conducted online from December 14 to 22, 2006.

The poll included the four most popular GRAMMY(R) categories and gave young people the chance to pick their favorites. Results include:

* Record of the Year: "Be Without You" by Mary J. Blige (33%); "You're
Beautiful" by James Blunt (29%); "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley (23%); "Not
Ready To Make Nice" by The Dixie Chicks (11%); "Put Your Records On" by
Corinne Bailey Rea (5%);

* Album of the Year: "Future Sex/Love Sounds" by Justin Timberlake (39%);
"Stadium Arcadium" by The Red Hot Chili Peppers (30%); "Continuum" by
John Mayer (12%); "Taking The Long Way" by The Dixie Chicks (11%); "St.
Elsewhere" by Gnarles Barkley (7%);

* Song of the Year: "Jesus, Take The Wheel" by Carrie Underwood (37%); "Be
Without You" by Mary J. Blige (28%);"You're Beautiful" by James Blunt
(25%); "Not Ready To Make Nice" by The Dixie Chicks (6%); "Put Your
Records On" by Corinne Bailey Rea (5%);

* Best New Artist: Carrie Underwood (41%); Chris Brown (33%); James Blunt
(16%); Corinne Bailey Rea (6%); Imogen Heap (4%).

"This is the seventh year that Harris Interactive has conducted a youth GRAMMY poll," states Dana Markow, Vice President of Youth & Education Research. "This year's results reveal that tweens and teens appreciate a wide range of musical styles, from R&B to Country."

The 49th Annual GRAMMY(R) Awards will air February 11, 2007, live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, on the CBS television network.

TABLE 1
RECORD OF THE YEAR
"In the category of Record of the Year, for whom would you vote?"
Base: 8-18 year olds who gave an opinion (n= 1,006)

Total
(8-18)
%
"Be Without You" by Mary J. Blige 33
"You're Beautiful" by James Blunt 29
"Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley 23
"Not Ready To Make Nice" by Dixie Chicks 11
"Put Your Records On" by Corinne Bailey Rae 5

Note: Not sure option excluded; Percentages may not add up to 100 percent
due to rounding.

TABLE 2
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
"In the category of Album of the Year, for whom would you vote?"
Base: 8-18 year olds who gave an opinion (n=1,041)

Total
(8-18)
%
"Future Sex/Love Sounds" by Justin Timberlake 39
"Stadium Arcadium" by The Red Hot Chili Peppers 30
"Continuum" by John Mayer 12
"Taking The Long Way" by The Dixie Chicks 11
"St. Elsewhere" by Gnarles Barkley 7

Note: Not sure option excluded; Percentages may not add up to 100 percent
due to rounding.

TABLE 3
SONG OF THE YEAR
"In the category of Song of the Year, for whom would you vote?"
Base: 8-18 year olds who gave an opinion (n=1,169)

Total
(8-18)
%
"Jesus Take The Wheel" by Carrie Underwood 37
"Be Without You" By Mary J. Blige 28
"You're Beautiful" by James Blunt 25
"Not Ready To Make Nice" by The Dixie Chicks 6
"Put Your Records On" by Corinne Bailey Rae 5

Note: Not sure option excluded; Percentages may not add up to 100 percent
due to rounding.

TABLE 4
BEST NEW ARTIST
"In the category of Best New Artist, for whom would you vote?"
Base: 8-18 year olds who gave an opinion (n=1,170)

Total
(8-18)
%
Carrie Underwood 41
Chris Brown 33
James Blunt 16
Corinne Bailey Rea 6
Imogen Heap 4

Note: Not sure option excluded

Methodology

The Harris Interactive YouthQuery(SM) omnibus was conducted online within the United States between December 14 and 22, 2006 among a nationwide cross section of 1,726 youth ages 8-18 (703 tweens, ages 8-12; 1,023 teens, ages 13 to 18). Figures for age, sex, race, education, parents' education, region and urbanicity were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population.

In theory, with a probability sample of this size, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the results would have a sampling error of +/- 3 percentage points of what they would be if the entire U.S. teen population had been polled with complete accuracy. Unfortunately, there are several other possible sources of error in all polls or surveys that are probably more serious than theoretical calculations of sampling error. They include refusals to be interviewed (nonresponse), question wording and question order, and weighting. It is impossible to quantify the errors that may result from these factors. This online sample was not a probability sample.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

About Harris Interactive

Harris Interactive is the 12th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world. The company provides research-driven insights and strategic advice to help its clients make more confident decisions which lead to measurable and enduring improvements in performance. Harris Interactive is widely known for The Harris Poll, one of the longest running, independent opinion polls and for pioneering online market research methods. The company has built what it believes to be the world's largest panel of survey respondents, the Harris Poll Online. Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States, Europe and Asia offices, its wholly-owned subsidiary Novatris in France and through a global network of independent market research firms. The service bureau, HISB, provides its market research industry clients with mixed-mode data collection, panel development services as well as syndicated and tracking research consultation. More information about Harris Interactive may be obtained at www.harrisinteractive.com.

To become a member of the Harris Poll Online and be invited to participate in online surveys, register at http://go.hpolsurveys.com/PR.

Press Contacts:
Tracey McNerney
Harris Interactive
585-214-7756

Harris Interactive Inc. 1/07

Source: Harris Interactive

CONTACT: Tracey McNerney, +1-585-214-7756, of Harris Interactive

Web site: http://go.hpolsurveys.com/PR

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