Adele's 25 Beats Taylor Swift's 1989, Plus - There Was Almost A Duet With Beyonce

Hello, everyone. Adele's 25 is set for a historic third million-selling week in the U.S., according to industry forecasters. So, according to Fox News...

Who’s the most powerful woman in pop music? Until a month ago, the answer was easy: Taylor Swift. But with the record-breaking sales of her latest album, “25,” Adele is making a strong case for herself. She broke the record, held by NSync since 2000, in just four days selling 2.433 million albums. While Taylor Swift’s “1989” album, sold just 1.287 million copies in its first week, Adele’s “25” sold 3.38 million copies in its first week.

New York-based radio host Ralphie Aversa explained Adele is in her own league in the music industry.

“Certainly from an album sales perspective, Adele is in a league of her own,” he explained. “But it's tough to compare the artists: Swift is younger and took a different career path to pop stardom; Adele was sidelined with vocal cord issues and took time away from the spotlight to have a child.”

Taylor Swift’s star studded “Bad Blood” music video earned about 20 million viewers in its first day, but Adele shattered Taylor Swift’s record with 27.7 million views to her “Hello” video in its first day.

In 2015, Taylor Swift’s killer “squad”—which includes stars like Selena Gomez, Lily Aldridge, Karlie Kloss and Ellie Goulding— had social media hooked, and news stories popped up each time the famous friends posted photos together. However, after Adele’s album release she proved she has her own celebrity squad, which includes Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Stone, Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson.

Cate Meighan, a pop culture expert, breaks down the differences between the pop sensations and what makes each successful.

“I think that Swift is kind of the equivalent to the all-American girl, you kind of want to be like her, and if you're a parent then you can easily view her as a good role model for your daughters to emulate,” she explained. “Adele is simply that grown woman that gets ‘it’, whatever ‘it’ may be. Not only does she get it, but then she turns it into a song that most of us connect to. Having the ability to form a real emotional connection with 20 and 40-year-olds alike is an unbelievably tough task and yet that's exactly what Adele does every time out.”

Pop culture guru Lisa Durden believes there’s no competition between Adele and Taylor Swift.

“(Swift is) packaged to the max: body, hair, clothes, songs, all come together very well,” she said. “I'll even throw in the fact that she can entertain. But unlike her, Adele’s voice can compete with the likes of Aretha Franklin, Patti Label, and the late great Whitney Houston. The only place Taylor could achieve that kind of vocal excellence is in her dreams.”

Judging by the numbers alone, Lisa Durden may be correct.

Google just announced the 10 most searched song lyrics for 2015.Adele came in at number one with “Hello” and the Tim McGraw singer came in third place with “Blank Space.”

This year when the Mine hitmaker was on tour, she created a frenzy of excitement for concert goers as she brought along almost every one of her celebrity friends to come onstage and sing along. Mick Jagger, Wiz Khalifa and even Ellen Degeneres were just a few that walked the Swift stage. Taylor Swift also released the “1989 World Tour Live” to Apple Music on Sunday.

And now as Adele prepares for her upcoming shows, concert tickets are a rare commodity. Tickets went on sale last week and sold out in minutes. Scalpers are selling her tickets for online— Ebay has tickets for $48,000, StubHub has some for $11,000 and Craigslist has them from anywhere from $7,000 to $9,000.

Adele fans were disappointed and frustrated with how quickly the tickets sold out.

Took a day off to try & get tickets to go & see @Adele if only I had another days leave 2recover from not getting tickets #adeletickets
— Debb (@DebbDibdab) December 7, 2015

Cate Meighan sees neither Taylor Swift nor Adele going anywhere in the near future.

“Neither woman is going to disappear from the pop music canvas (unless they want to) but I think Adele definitely is wearing the crown.”

Woah, talk about how Adele and Taylor Swift are much bigger than any big name pop star like Britney Spears. I hope Taylor Swift and Adele are no both things of the pasts. I want Taylor Swift and Adele to stay. Also, take a look at this.

There are rumors over the summer about Adele turning down Beyonce for a duet. But Adele assure that wasn't case.

Boy, I never knew Adele would've collaborate with Beyonce but never caught on. Good thing in its fourth week of release, Adele's “25” stayed at number one on the Billboard 200, a chart that tracks sales for albums. “25” has sold 5.98 million units in the US.

So it seems that Adele's album 25 is the best-selling record in America since her previous record 21.

That means, the Hello singer's comeback album sold 5.98 million in its first four weeks of sales, beating Taylor's Swift's 1989, which sold 5.7 million.

However, Adele has yet to beat her own record for 21, with an incredible 11.37 million sales.

Meanwhile, Adele - who will embark on a tour in support of 25 next year - has admitted she is already thinking about her next album and wants it to feature a duet.

The 27-year-old singing superstar reportedly turned down the chance to collaborate with Beyonce on her new record 25 but she has rubbished the claims stating that apart from her three-year-old son Angelo, Beyoncé is her "main priority".

Asked about claims that she declined Beyonce's duet, she she told Time magazine: "Whoever started that must have been having a laugh because anyone who knows me knows that my main priority in life outside of my child is Beyonce.

"I really wanted to do a duet on this album. I spoke to someone about it who I wanted to do it with, and we got on like a house on fire, and then we just couldn't logistically really get it to work. I can't say who it is because I want to do it in the future. That's the only reason. It wasn't Beyonce!"

Talk about why Adele collaborating with Beyonce has been dropped. I'm sure Beyonce will be working on her sixth album for 2016 where Adele gets to be featured in a future Beyonce single. Right? Yeah. I hope so. It would be cool to have that one day.

What do you think? Is Adele outselling Taylor Swift a real thing? Do you want a Beyonce and Adele collabo single on a future Beyonce album instead of 25? Sound off below!

Taylor Swift's Out Of The Woods Music Video Premieres On New Year's Rockin' Eve

Hey, everybody. We got some big news.

Taylor Swift will premiere her Out of The Woods music video during Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest on ABC December 31. The show  kicks off at 8pm, although it's not clear exactly what time the music video will drop, or if the Bad Blood singer will be in attendance to introduce it. The performers include Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas, One Direction, 5 Seconds Of Summer, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, and Carrie Underwood.

Out Of The Woods will be Taylor Swift's sixth single off of 1989 which now sold 5.5 million copies in the US and it's a follow up to Wildest Dreams.

Speaking of Wildest Dreams, it appears that Wildest Dreams is currently No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100, after peaking at No. 5 as the tune additionally hit No. 1 on the Pop Songs chart.

#SWIFTIES! The -- PREMIERE of @taylorswift13's "Out of the Woods" will be on #RockinEve! https://t.co/4JyUFtPp6F pic.twitter.com/z038fLLwlo

— New Years Rockin Eve (@NYRE) December 22, 2015

I can't wait to show you the video for Out Of The Woods! -------------------------- It's premiering 12/31 on @NYRE with @RyanSeacrest. #OOTWMusicVideo

— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) December 22, 2015

Now then, before I talk about my excitement for Out Of The Woods's music video, just to let you know that I hate Taylor Swift is a pop artist appearance. I hate Taylor Swift are pop music appearance. Taylor Swift only makes pop music is what ruined Taylor Swift's career. Taylor Swift goes by pop music is not what I expect from Taylor Swift. Taylor Swift's pop music is suppose to go by Taylor Swift in general like Taylor Swift's country music.

I already talk about why she's a pop star has ruined her career in 2010s and I already talked about it earlier. Man, 2010s is such a big mess. Why 2010s Taylor Swift music only appeal pop music like I Knew You Were Trouble? Why can't 2010s Taylor Swift music appeal Taylor Swift's 2010s coutnry music like Tim McGraw's Highway Don't Care? Taylor Swift's country music are pop music and yet only Taylor Swift's pop music represents Taylor Swift's pop career. All Taylor Swift songs are suppose to be pop songs. Internet got it right.

Anyway, I'm really excited to see Taylor Swift's Out Of The Woods music video premiering on New Year's Eve. Can the song go number 1 again? Probably not. All other 1989 singles are number 1s. But I don't think this song will work well a another number 1.

What do you think? Are you excited for the Out Of The Woods music video premiere on New Year's Rockin' Eve? Sound off below!

View Tragic Problems (A Rant/Speculation)

Hey everyone, just to let you know that there alot of music videos that gain alot of views on YouTube and that are hit mainstream singles. While there are good artists like Demi Lovato that were lucky to have their music videos gained alot of views on YouTube, something like Carrie Underwood has lost alot of views. Not to mention unoriginal music videos like We Can't Stop and Anaconda gained way too many views and awesome music videos like Mr. MTV has suffered alot of tragic views. Not only that, there's too many views on copy and paste radio music music videos like Justin Bieber (I really hate Justin Bieber). Not enough ambitious realistic music videos like Pop Evil videos. Taylor Swift and Adele were both lucky. Taylor Swift's risky cinematic Bad Blood music videos recieved more than 20 million views on Vevo during its first 24 hours while Blank Space is not only Taylor Swift's music video with the most views on Vevo of all time, but it's the most viewed video on Vevo of all time. Taylor Swift has done a good jobs gaining alot of views on YouTube. Adele, on the other hand, had the most views during its first 24 hours on Vevo with 27 million views and took the fastest to reach 100 million views on Vevo in less than a day. That's because Adele is very different and very important to pop music. This is something that realistic mainstream music like rock music and Carrie Underwood should've got on YouTube. So in this rant/speculation article, I'll be talking about hit music videos that should've gain more views on YouTube but aren't and what the music videos do to fix that problem.

For example: Jewel released her 2015 comeback, My Father's Daughter featuring country music's Dolly Parton. So far, it gained almost 300,000 views. What? If you say that this emotional pop comeback has gained almost 300,000 views on YouTube. No, how about no. That music video deserves more than almost 300,000 views because Jewel has been around for 20 years ever since Pieces Of You came out in the mid 90s and her hit 90s song, Who Will Save Your Soul. That video should've got more than, I'd say, 167 million views on Vevo because Jewel is very talneted and a great singer-songwriter. Not only that, Jewel is hot. Jewel is 41 but she is going strong for 2 decades. However, young audiences avoid Jewel because young listeners think that they had no faith on this long running 90s singer-songwriter. Now then, I'll show you the right around of views My Father's Daughter that it should've deserved on Vevo. Let's take a look that the views My Father's Daughter could've gained. Now just to let you know that this fanmade, not photoshop. So I'll show you my fanmade pics as an example.

Here's that picture of the My Father's Daughter video that deserves more than 167 million views on YouTube. October is a fine date for the music video since My Father's Daughter came out in 2015. If The Father's Daughter video gained, I would say, 100 million views in, I'd say, 2 months and the music video has gained around 200 million views by spring 2016, then that Jewel music video will be a big as the music videos for copy and paste and cheap radio singles like Drake singles. Mid to late 2010s from 2012-2019 is a perfect time to have Jewel's My Father's Daughter video gained more than 100 million views on YouTube. But Vevo blew it.

Now then, let's talk about rock music videos that should gain alot of views on YouTube but couldn't. Just to let you know that I'm an internet journalist, not a hacker. So bear in that. OK then, let's think about a rock song that came out in 2014 about why MTV needs to play music videos whether it's on the air or even online. Something that it would have gain over 500 million views on Vevo.

Enter Mr. MTV. As you may know that Mr. MTV is a 2014 rock single by a rock band called Nothing More. So far, it gained more than 2 million views on YouTube. What? Are you saying that Mr. MTV has gained 2 million views on YouTube less than poorly viewed pop country music videos like Florida Georgia Line? How about no. That deserves more than 500 million views. So let's fix the music video so it can gained over 500 million views on YouTube.

Now then, as I mentioned earlier on how the music video got over 2 million views on YouTube. This is what Mr. MTV music video look like if the music video gained more than 564 million views on YouTube allowing Nothing More's Vevo account has recieved more than 3 million subscribes on YouTube. That could've got 564 million views on YouTube if the music video has gained at least 100 million views by the end of 2014 and later gained more than 500 million views by the end of 2015. So why this music video did not gained a massive number of views on YouTube? It deserves more than 500 million views on YouTube because the song represents MTV needs music videos like Katy Perry music videos. That way, MTV will know that Vevo will be the one that MTV couldn't have. If MTV respond Vevo, then MTV will recognize why music videos like Rihanna music videos needs to promote music on both MTV and Vevo at the same time. OK, let's talk about another rock music video should have gained alot of views on YouTube. So how about Pop Evil. Shall we?

OK, let's talk about the next subject. This rock music video represents a Pop Evil music video for Footsteps (Go Higher). First of all that music video came out a few month ago in 2015. The video recieved more than 1 million views on YouTube. Selena Gomez's Good For You music video has gained more than 100 million views on YouTube, ditto Ariana Grande's Focus music video and Demi Lovato's Cool For The Summer music video. That music video could've gained more than 200 million views in, I'd say, 2 months if the music video was heavily promoted in the mainstream even if the song was only played on rock radio. So let's fix this problem. Shall we?

OK, this Pop Evil music video would've gain, I would say, over 487 million views on YouTube in around, I was thinking, spring 2016. If the music video gained around 400 million views in around 4-6 months, then that music video was a hit for both Vevo and Pop Evil. That way, Pop Evil Vevo account will have, I would say, 6 million subscribers on YouTube. There's nothing wrong with the music video for Footsteps or Pop Evil. The view gains are just lazy. Young viewers who watched music videos on YouTube rather watch generic mainstream music videos like Miley Cyrus music videos over this spectacular music video. Why, young viewers, why? OK, I'll be talking about one more example about why good music videos needs alot more views on YouTube. Thats right, I'm talking about a pop singer that was heavily marketed on small markets like country music and not pop music. OK, Pop Evil is done. It's time to move on to Carrie Underwood.

Pop superstar which happens to be a country singer, Carrie Underwood is one example on why country music videos like Carrie Underwood music videos tanked on Vevo. Blame Nashville for not letting country music like Carrie Underwood appearaing on popular music like Vevo and the only way is Nashville and regular music. Country music is NOT regular music. Country music is popular music and yet popular music pretends country music don't exist now that Nashville is very protective on country music and only stay on Nashville and North America. If Carrie Underwood is a pop artist, not a country artist, then Carrie Underwood will do fine in the pop realm and Carrie Underwood's pop music sound more country than pop. If Carrie Underwood goes pop, then the pop singer will have to make pop music as a side project. That way, the pop star will not abondon her country music. Anyway, let's talk about Smoke Break. As you may know that Smoke Break's music video came out on August 25 and the music video gained almost 10 million views on YouTube, more than the total number of views for Mr. MTV, Footsteps and My Father's Daughter combined on YouTube. If Smoke Break is on pop radio instead of country radio, then Smoke Break will become a top 20 Billboard Hot 100 hit and the music video gained more than 300 million views on YouTube. This is what Carrie Underwood music videos could've gained if she's a pop artist or even a crossover country star with pop music as a side project. Carrie Underwood music videos including this one, could've gained alot of views on YouTube if she's a country and pop crossover career where she gets to make both country music and pop music.

See, if Smoke Break gained 373 million and a half views on YouTube and the music vdeo is classified at both country and pop on Vevo, then that song was a huge success. This will resulted to have almost 8 million subscribes for Carrie Underwood's Vevo account on YouTube. Taylor Swift was very lucky, she was even bigger than Carrie Underwood and she even have pop-only pop music like Shake It Off as well as garnering 17 million subscribers on her Vevo account on YouTube. Carrie Underwood could've done this similarly. All Carrie Underwood music videos should be both pop and country at the same time on Vevo. That way, all Carrie Underwood music video will be on both pop music and country music at the same time. If Carrie Underwood follows Taylor Swift's footsteps, then Carrie Underwood will be able to not only make country music but also pop music in the future despite she is in her 30s. Now that Taylor Swift has changed her genre to pop and she can only make pop music forever, Carrie Underwood will now have the time to take Taylor Swift's place as a new country/pop crossover singer. Carrie Underwood music videos could've gain alot of views on YouTube like Something In The Water and Little Toy Guns. So why isn't Carrie Underwood pop music? Carrie Underwood's country music are suppose to be pop music, not country music. OK, that's it for Carrie Underwood.

Bottom line, good mainstream music like Carrie Underwood do need alot of views on YouTube. Keep in mind that it will not work on most country music like Tim McGraw. Only country music specific pop music like Carrie Underwood and Highway Don't Care is appropriate. The rest like rock music do need more views. It doesn't matter if junk music like Nicki Minaj are more successful than good music like Jewel, a majority of music videos for mainstream music like rock music videos needs to gain alot of views on YouTube. This isn't the radio age anymore and yet people listen to music on the radio so they can get more music that goes by celebrities like Justin Bieber or top 40 radio music like Call Me Maybe. People needs to listen to mainstream music in general like Carrie Underwood and it needs to happen right away. So please start viewing now.

Ed Sheeran Quit Social Media So He Can Take A Break

Hey everyone, just to let you know that Ed Sheeran is quitting social media. He seems that he is taking a break, emails and all social media like Twitter. For a while.

So ask any teenager in America, calling it quits with social media is essentially social suicide. But when when you’re Ed Sheeran, disconnecting with your social accounts is probably the best thing you could do for yourself, especially when you’ve been living life in the public eye for so long. Lol, blame the rise of technology like computers for screwing up America and people watching TV or people playing video games at the same time.

Anyway, the British Grammy award winning singer-songwriter, Ed Sheeran has decided to break the news to all 5.5 million of his Instagram followers in a post.

Wow, sounds like a good move for Ed Sheeran. Especially when the internet needs to take time dominating the media industry by trying new things and adapt them. That way, people will agree that general public will support the internet like YouTube. Let’s continue.

Then, the Thinking Out Loud singer tweeted to his 16.1 million Twitter followers that he was “buggering off for awhile.” And reposted his Instagram photo in an attempt to reiterate his leave of absence. For such a high profile celebrity, his presence in the social media space is widely felt, and his fans are already feeling his absence.

He said, “I find myself seeing the world through a screen an not my eyes…” So it appears that Ed Sheeran is "buggering off" of social media, he told fans via Facebook Sunday because he has had a very busy the "last five years" and is taking the time out to see "everything [he] missed." Good choice, Ed Sheeran. That way, America will finally move away from copy and paste repeats like technology so America will finally go back to diversity like people playing video games. Let’s conitue.

Sites such as Facebook have been found to feed anxiety and elevate a person’s feeling of inadequacy, with a study commissioned by Anxiety UK concluding that pressure from technology makes people feel insecure and more overwhelmed.

Even worse, the site might even have the ability to make users just generally miserable, simply because the emotional investment with social media is so high.Researchers from the University of Michigan conducted a study and lead researcher, Ethan Kross, social psychologist at the University of Michigan to conclude, “On the surface, Facebook provides an invaluable resource for fulfilling the basic human need for social connection. But rather than enhance well-being, we found that Facebook use predicts the opposite result – it undermines it.”

Nicole Amesbury, a licensed therapist and the Head of Clinical Development at Talkspace (a platform that offers social media dependency therapy) agrees with this sentiment, especially when it comes to celebrities. “For some celebrities, participating in social media has an isolating effect. Even though they may be interacting with millions of fans, they can feel incredibly detached and lonely,” explains Amesbury. “It may feel like your image is a product to be bought and sold, which can be very dehumanizing.”

Whether it’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Snapchat, the increasing pressure to be your best self on these accounts has people crazed, so you can only imagine the pressure that celebrities with millions of followers must feel.

Although the Photograph hitmaker promises his social media hiatus won’t be permanent (he claims to be rejoining next Autumn), we hope it gives him the release and freedom he’s looking for. By disconnecting to such a large network, he won’t be under such a microscope, with every move, decision, and activity documented. Instead, he’ll be able to live freely for the time being, without being bombarded by all the inevitable stress factors that accompany social media.

Sounds like a good plan for him. Ed Sheeran did the right thing. This will make diversity like internet or people watching TV will slowly increasing its comeback performance. He's a very mature artist because some of his pop music are emotional and very respectful. This is why I prefer UK artists like him because UK singers like Ellie Goulding are not only mature but talented unlike US counterparts like Miley Cyrus. Some like Beyonce are label primates while UK pop stars like Adele are not. Therefore, I prefer UK artists like Jessie J. Let's not forget that UK pop girls like Charli XCX are hot.

Anyway, good luck, Ed Sheeran.

Here Comes The 2016 Grammys

That’s right, it’s time for the 2016 Grammy nominations.

Now then, according to Wikipedia, The 2016 Grammy Awards (which is the 58th Annual Grammy Awards) ceremony will be held on Monday, February 15, 2016 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The ceremony will recognize the best recordings, compositions and artists of the eligibility year, which will run from October 1, 2014 to September 30, 2015. It will be broadcast live by the CBS network. The "pre-telecast" ceremony, officially known as the Premiere Ceremony, in which the majority of awards will be presented, will be held at the Microsoft Theater which is next door to the Staples Center. This ceremony will be streamed live on the internet.

It will be the sixteenth Grammy ceremony to be held at the Staples Center, tying the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles for hosting the most Grammy ceremonies. It also marks the latest date for a Grammy ceremony since 2003, which were held on February 23.

This edition of the Grammy Awards presentation will mark the first time the ceremony will be held on a Monday, after several years when the awards were presented on Sundays. The move is said to be temporary, as this edition will fall in an American holiday weekend (February 15 will be President's Day), and the Grammy organization opted for a ceremony to be held at the end, rather than in the middle of, this long holiday weekend.

Nominations for the 58th Grammy Awards ceremony were announced on December 7, 2015. Kendrick Lamar received the most nominations with 11. For the latter, he went on to pass Eminem as the rapper with the most nominations in a single night, and second overall behind Michael Jackson (12 nominations in 1984). Taylor Swift and The Weeknd received seven nominations each. Producer Max Martin received the most nominations for a non-performing artist, with six.

So here’s the complete list of 2016 Grammy Awards nominees:

General

Record of the Year

"Really Love" – D'Angelo and the Vanguard 
D'Angelo, producer; Russell Elevado & Ben Kane, engineers/mixers; Dave Collins, mastering engineer 
"Uptown Funk" – Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars 

Jeff Bhasker, Bruno Mars & Mark Ronson, producers; Josh Blair, Serban Ghenea, Wayne Gordon, John Hanes, Inaam Haq, Boo Mitchell, Charles Moniz & Mark Ronson, engineers/mixers; Tom Coyne, mastering engineer 
"Thinking Out Loud" – Ed Sheeran

Jake Gosling, producer; Jake Gosling, Mark 'Spike' Stent & Geoff Swan, engineers/mixers; Stuart Hawkes, mastering engineer 
"Blank Space" – Taylor Swift 
Max Martin & Shellback, producers; Serban Ghenea, John Hanes, Sam Holland & Michael Ilbert, engineers/mixers; Tom Coyne, mastering engineer 
"Can't Feel My Face" – The Weeknd 
Max Martin & Ali Payami, producers; Serban Ghenea, John Hanes & Sam Holland, engineers/mixers; Tom Coyne, mastering engineer

 
Album of the Year

Sound & Color – Alabama Shakes

Alabama Shakes & Blake Mills, producers; Shawn Everett, engineer/mixer; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer

To Pimp a Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar

Bilal, George Clinton, James Fauntleroy, Ronald Isley, Rapsody, Snoop Dogg, Thundercat & Anna Wise, featured artists; Taz Arnold, Boi-1Da, Ronald Colson, Larrance Dopson, Flying Lotus, Fredrik "Tommy Black" Halldin, Knxwledge, Koz, Lovedragon, Terrace Martin, Rahki, Sounwave, Tae Beast, Thundercat, Whoarei & Pharrell Williams, producers; Derek "Mixedbyali" Ali, Thomas Burns, James "The White Black Man" Hunt, 9th Wonder & Matt Schaeffer, engineers/mixers; Mike Bozzi, mastering engineer

Traveller – Chris Stapleton

Dave Cobb & Chris Stapleton, producers; Vance Powell, engineer/mixer; Pete Lyman, mastering engineer

1989 – Taylor Swift

Jack Antonoff, Nathan Chapman, Imogen Heap, Max Martin, Mattman & Robin, Ali Payami, Shellback, Taylor Swift, Ryan Tedder & Noel Zancanella, producers; Jack Antonoff, Mattias Bylund, Smith Carlson, Nathan Chapman, Serban Ghenea, John Hanes, Imogen Heap, Sam Holland, Michael Ilbert, Brendan Morawski, Laura Sisk & Ryan Tedder, engineers/mixers; Tom Coyne, mastering engineer

Beauty Behind the Madness – The Weeknd

Lana Del Rey, Labrinth & Ed Sheeran, featured artists; DannyBoyStyles, Ben Diehl, Labrinth, Mano, Max Martin, Stephan Moccio, Carlo Montagnese, Ali Payami, The Pope, Jason Quenneville, [Peter Svensson]], Abel Tesfaye & Kanye West, producers; Jay Paul Bicknell, Mattias Bylund, Serban Ghenea, Noah Goldstein, John Hanes, Sam Holland, Jean Marie Horvat, Carlo Montagnese, Jason Quenneville & Dave Reitzas, engineers/mixers; Tom Coyne & Dave Kutch, mastering engineers

Song of the Year

"Alright"

Kendrick Duckworth, Mark Anthony Spears & Pharrell Williams, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar)

"Blank Space"

Max Martin, Shellback & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)

"Girl Crush"

Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna & Liz Rose, songwriters (Little Big Town)

"See You Again"

Andrew Cedar, Justin Franks, Charles Puth & Cameron Thomaz, songwriters (Wiz Khalifa Featuring Charlie Puth)

"Thinking Out Loud"

Ed Sheeran & Amy Wadge, songwriters (Ed Sheeran)

Best New Artist

Courtney Barnett

James Bay

Sam Hunt

Tori Kelly

Meghan Trainor

Pop

Best Pop Solo Performance

"Heartbeat Song" – Kelly Clarkson

"Love Me Like You Do" – Ellie Goulding

"Thinking Out Loud" – Ed Sheeran

"Blank Space" – Taylor Swift

"Can't Feel My Face" – The Weeknd

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

"Ship to Wreck" – Florence + The Machine

"Sugar" – Maroon 5

"Uptown Funk" – Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars

"Bad Blood" – Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar

"See You Again" – Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth

Best Pop Vocal Album

Piece By Piece – Kelly Clarkson

How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful – Florence + The Machine

Uptown Special – Mark Ronson

1989 – Taylor Swift

Before This World – James Taylor

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern – Tony Bennett & Bill Charlap

Shadows In The Night – Bob Dylan

Stages – Josh Groban

No One Ever Tells You – Seth MacFarlane

My Dream Duets – Barry Manilow (& Various Artists)

Dance/Electronic

Best Dance Recording

"We're All We Need" – Above & Beyond featuring Zoë Johnston

Andrew Bayer, Jono Grant, Tony McGuinness & Paavo Siljamäki, producers; Jono Grant, Tony McGuinness & Paavo Siljamäki, mixers

"Go" – The Chemical Brothers

Tom Rowlands & Ed Simons, producers; Steve Dub Jones & Tom Rowlands, mixers

"Never Catch Me" – Flying Lotus featuring Kendrick Lamar

Steven Ellison, producer; Kevin Marques Moo, mixer

"Runaway (U & I)" – Galantis

Linus Eklöw, Christian Karlsson & Svidden, producers; Linus Eklöw, Niklas Flyckt & Christian Karlsson, mixers

"Where Are Ü Now" – Skrillex and Diplo with Justin Bieber

Sonny Moore & Thomas Pentz, producers; Sonny Moore & Thomas Pentz, mixers

Best Dance/Electronic Album

Our Love – Caribou

Born in the Echoes – The Chemical Brothers

Caracal – Disclosure

In Colour – Jamie xx

Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack U – Skrillex and Diplo

Contemporary Instrumental

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album

Guitar in the Space Age! – Bill Frisell

Love Language – Wouter Kellerman

Afrodeezia – Marcus Miller

Sylva – Snarky Puppy & Metropole Orkest

The Gospel According To Jazz, Chapter IV – Kirk Whalum

Rock

Best Rock Performance

"Don't Wanna Fight" – Alabama Shakes

"What Kind of Man" – Florence + The Machine

"Something From Nothing" – Foo Fighters

"Ex's & Oh's" – Elle King

"Moaning Lisa Smile" – Wolf Alice

Best Metal Performance

"Identity" – August Burns Red

"Cirice" – Ghost

"512" – Lamb of God

"Thank You" – Sevendust

"Custer" – Slipknot

Best Rock Song

"Don't Wanna Fight"

Alabama Shakes, songwriters (Alabama Shakes)

"Ex's & Oh's"

Dave Bassett & Elle King, songwriters (Elle King)

"Hold Back the River"

Iain Archer & James Bay, songwriters (James Bay)

"Lydia"

Richard Meyer, Ryan Meyer & Johnny Stevens, songwriters (Highly Suspect)

"What Kind of Man"

John Hill, Tom Hull & Florence Welch, songwriters (Florence + The Machine)

Best Rock Album

Chaos and the Calm – James Bay

Kintsugi – Death Cab for Cutie

Mister Asylum – Highly Suspect

Drones – Muse

.5: The Gray Chapter – Slipknot

Alternative

Best Alternative Music Album

Sound & Color – Alabama Shakes

Vulnicura – Björk

The Waterfall – My Morning Jacket

Currents – Tame Impala

Star Wars – Wilco

R&B

Best R&B Performance

"If I Don't Have You" – Tamar Braxton

"Rise Up" – Andra Day

"Breathing Underwater" – Hiatus Kaiyote

"Planes" – Jeremih feat. J. Cole

"Earned It" – The Weeknd

Best Traditional R&B Performance

"He Is" – Faith Evans

"Little Ghetto Boy" – Lalah Hathaway

"Let It Burn" – Jazmine Sullivan

"Shame" – Tyrese

"My Favorite Part of You" – Charlie Wilson

Best R&B Song

"Coffee"

Brook Davis, Miguel Pimentel, songwriters (Miguel)

"Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey)"

Ahmad Balshe, Stephan Moccio, Jason Quenneville & Abel Tesfaye, songwriters (The Weeknd)

"Let It Burn"

Kenny B. Edmonds, Jazmine Sullivan & Dwane M. Weir II, songwriters (Jazmine Sullivan)

"Really Love"

D'Angelo & Kendra Foster, songwriters (D'Angelo and The Vanguard)

"Shame"

Warryn Campbell, Tyrese Gibson & DJ Rogers Jr, songwriters (Tyrese)

Best Urban Contemporary Album

Ego Death – The Internet

You Should Be Here – Kehlani

Blood – Lianne La Havas

Wildheart – Miguel

Beauty Behind the Madness – The Weeknd

Best R&B Album

Coming Home – Leon Bridges

Black Messiah – D'Angelo and The Vanguard

Cheers to the Fall – Andra Day

Reality Show – Jazmine Sullivan

Forever Charlie – Charlie Wilson

Rap

Best Rap Performance

"Apparently" – J. Cole

"Back to Back" – Drake

"Trap Queen" – Fetty Wap

"Alright" – Kendrick Lamar

"Truffle Butter" – Nicki Minaj featuring Drake & Lil Wayne

"All Day" – Kanye West featuring Theophilus London, Allan Kingdom & Paul McCartney

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

"One Man Can Change The World" – Big Sean featuring Kanye West & John Legend

"Glory" – Common & John Legend

"Classic Man" – Jidenna featuring Roman GianArthur

"These Walls" – Kendrick Lamar featuring Bilal, Anna Wise & Thundercat

"Only" – Nicki Minaj featuring Drake, Lil Wayne & Chris Brown

Best Rap Song

"All Day"

Ernest Brown, Tyler Bryant, Sean Combs, Mike Dean, Rennard East, Noah Goldstein, Malik Yusef Jones, Karim Kharbouch, Allan Kyariga, Kendrick Lamar, Paul McCartney, Victor Mensah, Charles Njapa, Che Pope, Patrick Reynolds, Allen Ritter, Kanye West, Mario Winans & Cydel Young, songwriters (Kanye West Featuring Theophilus London, Allan Kingdom & Paul McCartney)

"Alright"

Kendrick Duckworth, Mark Anthony Spears & Pharrell Williams, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar)

"Energy"

Richard Dorfmeister, A. Graham, Markus Kienzl, M. O'Brien, M. Samuels & Phillip Thomas, songwriters (Drake)

"Glory"

Lonnie Lynn, Che Smith & John Stephens, songwriters (Common & John Legend)

"Trap Queen"

Tony Fadd & Willie J. Maxwell, songwriters (Fetty Wap)

Best Rap Album

2014 Forest Hills Drive – J. Cole

Compton – Dr. Dre

If You're Reading This It's Too Late – Drake

To Pimp a Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar

The Pinkprint – Nicki Minaj

Country

Best Country Solo Performance

"Burning House" – Cam

"Traveller" – Chris Stapleton

"Little Toy Guns" – Carrie Underwood

"John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16" – Keith Urban

"Chances Are" – Lee Ann Womack

Best Country Duo/Group Performance

"Stay a Little Longer" – Brothers Osborne

"If I Needed You" – Joey + Rory

"The Driver" – Charles Kelley featuring Dierks Bentley & Eric Paslay

"Girl Crush" – Little Big Town

"Lonely Tonight" – Blake Shelton featuring Ashley Monroe

Best Country Song

"Chances Are"

Hayes Carll, songwriters (Lee Ann Womack)

"Diamond Rings and Old Barstools"

Barry Dean, Luke Laird & Jonathan Singleton, songwriters (Tim McGraw)

"Girl Crush"

Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna & Liz Rose, songwriters (Little Big Town)

"Hold My Hand"

Brandy Clark & Mark Stephen Jones, songwriters (Brandy Clark)

"Traveller"

Chris Stapleton, songwriter (Chris Stapleton)

Best Country Album

Montevallo – Sam Hunt

Pain Killer – Little Big Town

The Blade – Ashley Monroe

Pageant Material – Kacey Musgraves

Traveller – Chris Stapleton

New Age

Best New Age Album

Grace – Paul Avgerinos

Bhakti Without Borders – Madi Das

Voyager – Catherine Duc

Love – Peter Kater

Asia Beauty – Ron Korb

Jazz

Best Improvised Jazz Solo

"Giant Steps" – Joey Alexander, soloist

"Cherokee" – Christian McBride, soloist

"Arbiters of Evolution" – Donny McCaslin, soloist

"Friend or Foe" – Joshua Redman, soloist

"Past Present" – John Scofield, soloist

Best Jazz Vocal Album

Many a New Day: Karrin Allyson Sings Rodgers & Hammerstein – Karrin Allyson

Find a Heart – Denise Donatelli

Flirting With Disaster – Lorraine Feather

Jamison – Jamison Ross

For One to Love – Cécile McLorin Salvant

Best Jazz Instrumental Album

My Favorite Things – Joey Alexander

Breathless – Terence Blanchard Featuring The E-Collective

Covered: Recorded Live at Capitol Studios – Robert Glaser & The Robert Glasper Trio

Beautiful Life – Jimmy Greene

Past Present – John Scofield

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

Lines of Color – Gil Evans Project

Köln – Marshall Gilkes & WDR Big Band

Cuba: The Conversation Continues – Arturo O'Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra

The Thompson Fields – Maria Schneider Orchestra

Home Suite Home – Patrick Williams

Best Latin Jazz Album

Made in Brazil – Elaine Elias

Suite Caminos – Gonzalo Rubalcaba

Intercambio – Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet

Identities are Changeable – Miguel Zenón

Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music

Best Gospel Performance/Song

"Worth [Live]" – Anthony Brown & Group Therapy

Anthony Brown, songwriter

"Wanna Be Happy?" – Kirk Franklin

Kirk Franklin, songwriter

"Intentional" – Travis Greene

Travis Greene, songwriter

"How Awesome Is Our God [Live]" – Israel & Newbreed featuring Yolanda Adams

Neville Diedericks, Israel Houghton & Meleasa Houghton, songwriters

"Worth Fighting For [Live]" – Brian Courtney Wilson

Aaron Lindsey & Brian Courtney Wilson, songwriters

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song

"Holy Spirit" – Francesca Battistelli

Francesca Battistelli, songwriter

"Lift Your Head Weary Sinner (Chains)" – Crowder

Ed Cash, David Crowder & Seth Philpott, songwriters

"Because He Lives (Amen)" – Matt Maher

Matt Maher, songwriter

"Soul on Fire" – Third Day featuring All Sons & Daughters

Tai Anderson, Brenton Brown, David Carr, Mark Lee, Matt Maher & Mac Powell, songwriters

"Feel It" – TobyMac featuring Mr. Talkbox

Cary Barlowe, David Arthur Garcia & Toby McKeehan, songwriters

Best Gospel Album

Destined To Win [Live] – Karen Clark Sheard

Living It – Dorinda Clark-Cole

One Place Live – Tasha Cobbs

Covered: Alive in Asia [Live] (Deluxe) – Israel & Newbreed

Life Music: Stage Two – Jonathan McReynolds

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album

Whatever the Road – Jason Crabb

How Can It Be – Lauren Daigle

Saints and Sinners – Matt Maher

This Is Not a Test – TobyMac

Love Ran Red – Chris Tomlin

Best Roots Gospel Album

Still Rockin' My Soul – The Fairfield Four

Pray Now – Karen Peck and New River

Directions Home (Songs We Love, Songs You Know) – Point of Grace

Latin

Best Latin Pop Album

Terral – Pablo Alborán

Healer – Alex Cuba

A Quien Quiera Escuchar (Deluxe Edition) – Ricky Martin

Sirope – Alejandro Sanz

Algo sucede – Julieta Venegas

Best Latin Rock Urban or Alternative Album

Amanecer – Bomba Estéreo

Mondongo – La Cuneta Son Machín

Hasta la Raíz – Natalia Lafourcade

Caja De Música – Monsieur Periné

Dale – Pitbull

Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)

Mi Vicio Más Grande – Banda El Recodo De Don Cruz Lizárraga

Ya Dime Adiós – La Maquinaria Norteña

Zapateando – Los Cojolites

Realidades - Deluxe Edition – Los Tigres del Norte

Tradición, Arte Y Pasión – Mariachi Los Camperos De Nati Cano

Best Tropical Latin Album

Tributo A Los Compadres: No Quiero Llanto – José Alberto "El Canario" & Septeto Santiaguero

Son De Panamá – Rubén Blades With Roberto Delgado & Orchestra

Presente Continuo – Guaco

Todo Tiene Su Hora – Juan Luis Guerra 4.40

Que Suenen Los Tambores – Victor Manuelle

American Roots

Best American Roots Performance

"And Am I Born To Die" – Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn

"Born To Play Guitar" – Buddy Guy

"City Of Our Lady" – The Milk Carton Kids

"Julep" – Punch Brothers

"See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" – Mavis Staples

Best American Roots Song

"All Night Long"

Raul Malo, songwriter (The Mavericks)

"The Cost Of Living"

Don Henley & Stan Lynch, songwriters (Don Henley & Merle Haggard)

"Julep"

Chris Eldridge, Paul Kowert, Noam Pikelny, Chris Thile & Gabe Witcher, songwriters (Punch Brothers)

"The Traveling Kind"

Cory Chisel, Rodney Crowell & Emmylou Harris, songwriters (Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell)

"24 Frames"

Jason Isbell, songwriter (Jason Isbell)

Best Americana Album

The Firewatcher's Daughter – Brandi Carlile

The Traveling Kind – Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell

Something More Than Free – Jason Isbell

Mono – The Mavericks

The Phosphorescent Blues – Punch Brothers

Best Bluegrass Album

Pocket Full of Keys – Dale Ann Bradley

Before the Sun Goes Down – Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley

In Session – Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

Man of Constant Sorrow – Ralph Stanley and friends

The Muscle Shoals Recordings – The Steeldrivers

Best Blues Album

Descendants of Hill Country – Cedric Burnside Project

Outskirts of Love – Shemekia Copeland

Born to Play Guitar – Buddy Guy

Worthy – Bettye LaVette

Muddy Waters 100 – John Primer and various artists

Best Folk Album

Wood, Wire & Words – Norman Blake

Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn – Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn

Tomorrow Is My Turn – Rhiannon Giddens

Servant of Love – Patty Griffin

Didn't He Ramble – Glen Hansard

Best Regional Music Album

Go Go Juice – Jon Cleary

La La La La – Natalie Ai Kamauu

Kawaiokalena – Kealiʻi Reichel

Get Ready – The Revelers

Generations – Windwalker and the MCW

Reggae

Best Reggae Album

Branches From The Same Tree – Rocky Dawuni

The Cure – Jah Cure

Acousticalevy – Barrington Levy

Zion Awake – Luciano

Strictly Roots – Morgan Heritage

World Music

Best World Music Album

Gilbertos Samba Ao Vivo - Gilberto Gil

Sings - Angelique Kidjo

Music from Inala - Ladysmith Black Mambazo with Ella Spira and The Inala Ensemble

Home - Anoushka Shankar

I Have No Everything Here - Zomba Prison Project

Children’s

Best Children's Album

¡Come Bien! Eat Right! – José-Luis Orozco

Dark Pie Concerns – Gustafer Yellowgold

Home – Tim Kubart

How Great Can This Day Be – Lori Henriques

Trees – Molly Ledford & Billy Kelly

Spoken Word

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

Blood On Snow (Jo Nesbø) – Patti Smith

Brief Encounters: Conversations, Magic Moments, And Assorted Hijinks – Dick Cavett

A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety – Jimmy Carter

Patience And Sarah (Isabel Miller) – Janis Ian & Jean Smart

Yes Please – Amy Poehler (& Various Artists)

Comedy

Best Comedy Album

Back To The Drawing Board – Lisa Lampanelli

Brooklyn – Wyatt Cenac

Happy.and A Lot – Jay Mohr

Just Being Honset – Craig Ferguson

Live At Madison Square Garden – Louis C.K.

Musical Theatre

Best Musical Theater Album

An American In Paris – Leanne Cope, Max Von Essen, Robert Fairchild, Jill Paice & Brandon Uranowitz, principal soloists; Rob Fisher & Scott Lehrer, producers (George Gershwin, composer; Ira Gershwin, lyricist) (Original Broadway Cast)

Fun Home – Michael Cerveris, Judy Kuhn, Sydney Lucas, Beth Malone & Emily Skeggs, principal soloists; Philip Chaffin & Tommy Krasker, producers (Jeanine Tesori, composer; Lisa Kron, lyricist) (Original Broadway Cast)

Hamilton – Daveed Diggs, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Jonathan Groff, Christopher Jackson, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom, Jr., Okieriete Onaodowan, Anthony Ramos & Phillipa Soo, principal soloists; Alex Lacamoire, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bill Sherman, Ahmir Thompson & Tarik Trotter, producers; Lin-Manuel Miranda, composer & lyricist (Original Broadway Cast)

The King And I – Ruthie Ann Miles, Kelli O'Hara, Ashley Park, Conrad Ricamora & Ken Watanabe, principal soloists; David Caddick, David Lai & Ted Sperling, producers (Richard Rodgers, composer; Oscar Hammerstein II, lyricist) (2015 Broadway Cast)

Something Rotten! – Heidi Blickenstaff, Christian Borle, John Cariani, Brian d'Arcy James, Brad Oscar & Kate Reinders, principal soloists; Kurt Deutsch, Karey Kirkpatrick, Wayne Kirkpatrick, Lawrence Manchester, Kevin McCollum & Phil Reno, producers; Karey Kirkpatrick & Wayne Kirkpatrick, composers/lyricists (Original Broadway Cast)

Music for Visual Media

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media

Empire: Season 1 – various artists

Fifty Shades Of Grey – various artists

Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me – various artists

Pitch Perfect 2 – various artists

Selma – various artists

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media

Birdman - Antonio Sánchez, composer

The Imitation Game - Alexandre Desplat, composer

Interstellar - Hans Zimmer, composer

The Theory of Everything - Jóhann Jóhannsson, composer

Whiplash - Justin Hurwitz, composer

Best Song Written for Visual Media

"Earned It" (from Fifty Shades of Grey) – Ahmad Balshe, Jason Quenneville, Stephan Moccio & Abel Tesfaye, songwriters (The Weeknd)

"Glory" (from Selma) – Lonnie Lynn, Che Smith & John Stephens, songwriters (Common & John Legend)

"Love Me like You Do" (from Fifty Shades of Grey) – Savan Kotecha, Max Martin, Tove Nilsson, Ali Payami, & Ilya Salmanzadeh, songwriters (Ellie Goulding)

"See You Again" (from Furious 7) – Andrew Cedar, Justin Franks, Charles Puth & Cameron Thomaz, songwriters (Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth)

"Til It Happens to You" (from The Hunting Ground) – Lady Gaga, Diane Warren, songwriters (Lady Gaga)

Composing

Best Instrumental Composition

"The Afro Latin Jazz Suite"

Arturo O'Farrill, composer (Arturo O'Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra Featuring Rudresh Mahanthappa)

"Civil War"

Bob Mintzer, composer (Bob Mintzer Big Band)

"Confetti Man"

David Balakrishnan, composer (Turtle Island Quartet)

"Neil"

Rich DeRosa, composer (University Of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band)

"Vesper"

Marshall Gilkes, composer (Marshall Gilkes & WDR Big Band)

Arranging

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella

"Bruno Mars"

Paul Allen, Troy Hayes, Evin Martin & J Moss, arrangers (Vocally Challenged)

"Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy"

Ben Bram, Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Avi Kaplan, Kirstie Maldonado and Kevin Olusola, arrangers (Pentatonix)

"Do You Hear What I Hear?"

Armand Hutton, arranger (Committed)

"Ghost Of A Chance"

Bob James, arranger (Bob James & Nathan East)

"You And The Night And The Music"

John Fedchock, arranger (John Fedchock New York Big Band)

Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals

"Be My Muse"

Shelly Berg, arranger (Lorraine Feather)

"52nd & Broadway"

Patrick Williams, arranger (Patrick Williams featuring Patti Austin)

"Garota De Ipanema"

Otmaro Ruiz, arranger (Catina DeLuna featuring Otmaro Ruiz)

"Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime)"

Maria Schneider, arranger (David Bowie)

"When I Come Home"

Jimmy Greene, arranger (Jimmy Greene With Javier Colon)

Packaging

Best Recording Package

Alagoas

Alex Trochut, art director (Alagoas)

Bush

Anita Marisa Boriboon, art director (Snoop Dogg)

How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful (Deluxe Edition)

Brian Roettinger, art director (Florence + The Machine)

My Happiness

Nathanio Strimpopulos, art director (Elvis Presley)

Still The King: Celebrating The Music Of Bob Wills And His Texas Playboys

Sarah Dodds, Shauna Dodds & Dick Reeves, art directors (Asleep At The Wheel)

Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package

Beneath The Skin (Deluxe Box Set)

Leif Podhajsky, art director (Of Monsters And Men)

I Love You, Honeybear (Limited Edition Deluxe Vinyl)

Sasha Barr & Josh Tillman, art directors (Father John Misty)

The Rise & Fall Of Paramount Records, Volume Two (1928-32)

Susan Archie, Dean Blackwood & Jack White, art directors (Various Artists)

Sticky Fingers (Super Deluxe Edition)

Stephen Kennedy & James Tilley, art directors (The Rolling Stones)

30 Trips Around The Sun

Doran Tyson & Steve Vance, art directors (Grateful Dead)

What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World (Deluxe Box Set)

Jeri Heiden & Glen Nakasako, art directors (The Decemberists)

Notes

Best Album Notes

Folksongs Of Another America: Field Recordings From The Upper Midwest, 1937-1946

James P. Leary, album notes writer (Various Artists)

Lead Belly: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection

Jeff Place, album notes writer (Lead Belly)

Love Has Many Faces: A Quartet, A Ballet, Waiting To Be Danced

Joni Mitchell, album notes writer (Joni Mitchell)

Portrait Of An American Singer

Ted Olson, album notes writer (Tennessee Ernie Ford)

Songs Of The Night: Dance Recordings, 1916-1925

Ryan Barna, album notes writer (Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra)

Historical

Best Historical Album

The Basement Tapes Complete: The Bootleg Series Vol. 11

 Steve Berkowitz, Jan Haust & Jeff Rosen, compilation producers; Peter J. Moore, mastering engineer (Bob Dylan And The Band)

The Complete Concert By The Sea

Geri Allen, Jocelyn Arem & Steve Rosenthal, compilation producers; Jessica Thompson, mastering engineer (Erroll Garner)

Native North America (Vol. 1): Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966–1985

Kevin Howes, compilation producer; Greg Mindorff, mastering engineer (Various Artists)

Parchman Farm: Photographs And Field Recordings, 1947–1959

Steven Lance Ledbetter & Nathan Salsburg, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer (Various Artists)

Songs My Mother Taught Me

Mark Puryear, compilation producer; Pete Reiniger, mastering engineer (Fannie Lou Hamer)

Engineered Album

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

Before This World

Dave O'Donnell, engineer; Ted Jensen, mastering engineer (James Taylor)

Currency Of Man

Maxime Le Guil, engineer; Bernie Grundman, mastering engineer (Melody Gardot)

Recreational Love

Greg Kurstin & Alex Pasco, engineers; Emily Lazar, mastering engineer (The Bird And The Bee)

Sound & Color

Shawn Everett, engineer; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer (Alabama Shakes)

Wallflower

Steve Price, Jochem van der Saag & Jorge Vivo, engineers; Paul Blakemore, mastering engineer (Diana Krall)

Best Engineered Album, Classical

Ask Your Mama

Leslie Ann Jones, John Kilgore, Nora Kroll-Rosenbaum & Justin Merrill, engineers; Patricia Sullivan, mastering engineer (George Manahan & San Francisco Ballet Orchestra)

Dutilleux: Métaboles; L'Arbre Des Songes; Symphony No. 2, 'Le Double'

Dmitriy Lipay, engineer; Alexander Lipay, mastering engineer (Ludovic Morlot, Augustin Hadelich & Seattle Symphony)

Monteverdi: Il Ritorno D'Ulisse In Patria

Robert Friedrich, engineer; Michael Bishop, mastering engineer (Martin Pearlman, Jennifer Rivera, Fernando Guimarães & Boston Baroque)

Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil

Beyong Joon Hwang & John Newton, engineers; Mark Donahue, mastering engineer (Charles Bruffy, Phoenix Chorale & Kansas City Chorale)

Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3, 'Organ'

Keith O. Johnson & Sean Royce Martin, engineers; Keith O. Johnson, mastering engineer (Michael Stern & Kansas City Symphony);

Producer

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

Jeff Bhasker

"Ain't Gonna Drown" (Elle King)

"Burning Doves" (Mikky Ekko)

"Burning House" (Cam)

"Grand Romantic" (Nate Ruess)

"Last Damn Night" (Elle King)

"Never Let You Down" (Woodkid Featuring Lykke Li)

"Runaway Train" (Cam)

"Uptown Special" (Mark Ronson)

Dave Cobb

"Delilah" (Anderson East)

"Little Neon Limelight" (Houndmouth)

"Smoke" (A Thousand Horses)

"Something More Than Free" (Jason Isbell)

"Southernality" (A Thousand Horses)

"3" (Honeyhoney)

"Traveller" (Chris Stapleton)

Diplo

"Bitch I'm Madonna" (Madonna Featuring Nicki Minaj)

"Doctor Pepper" (Diplo Featuring CL, Riff Raff & OG MacO)

"Golden" (Travie McCoy Featuring Sia)

"Lean On" (Major Lazer Featuring MØ & DJ Snake)

"Peace Is The Mission" (Major Lazer)

"Skrillex And Diplo Present" Jack Ü (Skrillex And Diplo)

"Where Are Ü Now" (Skrillex And Diplo With Justin Bieber)

Larry Klein

"Currency Of Man" (Melody Gardot)

"Freedom & Surrender" (Lizz Wright)

"Heartland" (Indra Rios-Moore)

"I'm Leaving You" (Florence K)

"Parker's Place" (Parker Bent)

"Speaking In Tongues" (Luciana Souza)

"Tenderness" (JD Souther)

Blake Mills

"Sound & Color" (Alabama Shakes)

Producer of the Year, Classical

Blanton Alspaugh

"Hill: Symphony No. 4; Concertino Nos. 1 & 2; Divertimento" (Peter Bay, Anton Nel & Austin Symphony Orchestra)

"Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil" (Charles Bruffy, Phoenix Chorale & Kansas City Chorale)

"Sacred Songs Of Life & Love" (Brian A. Schmidt & South Dakota Chorale)

"Spirit Of The American Range" (Carlos Kalmar & The Oregon Symphony)

"Tower: Violin Concerto; Stroke; Chamber Dance" (Giancarlo Guerrero, Cho-Liang Lin & Nashville Symphony)

Manfred Eicher

"Franz Schubert" (András Schiff)

"Galina Ustvolskaya" (Patricia Kopatchinskaja, Markus Hinterhäuser & Reto Bieri)

"Moore: Dances & Canons" (Saskia Lankhoorn)

"Rihm: Et Lux" (Paul Van Nevel, Minguet Quartet & Huelgas Ensemble)

"Visions Fugitives" (Anna Gourari)

Marina A. Ledin, Victor Ledin

"Dances For Piano & Orchestra" (Joel Fan, Christophe Chagnard & Northwest Sinfonietta)

"Tempo Do Brasil" (Marc Regnier)

"Woman At The New Piano" (Nadia Shpachenko)

Dan Merceruio

"Chapí: String Quartets 1 & 2" (Cuarteto Latinoamericano)

"From Whence We Came" (Ensemble Galilei)

"Gregson: Touch" (Peter Gregson)

"In The Light Of Air" - ICE Performs Anna Thorvaldsdottir (International Contemporary Ensemble)

"Schumann" (Ying Quartet)

"Scrapyard Exotica" (Del Sol String Quartet)

"Stravinsky: Petrushka" (Richard Scerbo & Inscape Chamber Orchestra)

"What Artemisia Heard" (El Mundo)

"ZOFO Plays Terry Riley" (ZOFO)

Judith Sherman

"Ask Your Mama" (George Manahan & San Francisco Ballet Orchestra)

"Fields: Double Cluster; Space Sciences" (Jan Kučera, Gloria Chuang & Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra)

"Liaisons - Re-Imagining Sondheim From The Piano" (Anthony de Mare)

"Montage - Great Film Composers & The Piano" (Gloria Cheng)

"Multitude, Solitude" (Momenta Quartet)

"Of Color Braided All Desire - Music Of Eric Moe" (Christine Brandes, Brentano String Quartet, Dominic Donato, Jessica Meyer, Karen Ouzounian, Manhattan String Quartet & Talujon)

"Rzewski: The People United Will Never Be Defeated!" (Ursula Oppens)

"Sirota: Parting The Veil - Works For Violin & Piano" (David Friend, Hyeyung Julie Yoon, Laurie Carney & Soyeon Kate Lee)

"Turina: Chamber Music For Strings & Piano" (Lincoln Trio)

Remixer

Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical

"Berlin By Overnight " (CFCF Remix)

CFCF, remixer (Daniel Hope)

"Hold On" (Fatum Remix)

Bill Hamel & Chad Newbold, remixers (JES, Shant, & Clint Maximus)

"Runaway (U & I)" (Kaskade Remix)

Ryan Raddon, remixer (Galantis)

"Say My Name" (RAC Remix)

André Allen Anjos, remixer (Odesza Featuring Zyra)

"Uptown Funk" (Dave Audé Remix)

Dave Audé, remixer (Mark Ronson Featuring Bruno Mars)

Surround Sound

Best Surround Sound Album

Amdahl: Astrognosia & Aesop

Morten Lindberg, surround mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer (Ingar Heine Bergby & Norwegian Radio Orchestra)

Amused To Death

James Guthrie, surround mix engineer; James Guthrie & Joel Plante, surround mastering engineers; James Guthrie, surround producer (Roger Waters)

Magnificat

Morten Lindberg, surround mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer (Øyvind Gimse, Anita Brevik, Nidarosdomens Jentekor & Trondheimsolistene)

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7

Erdo Groot, surround mix engineer; Erdo Groot, surround mastering engineer; Philip Traugott, surround producer (Paavo Järvi & Russian National Orchestra)

Spes

Morten Lindberg, surround mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer (Tove Ramlo-Ystad & Cantus)

Classical

Best Orchestral Performance

Bruckner: Symphony No. 4

Manfred Honeck, conductor (Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra)

Dutilleux: Métaboles; L'Arbre Des Songes; Symphony No. 2, 'Le Double'

Ludovic Morlot, conductor (Seattle Symphony)

Shostakovich: Under Stalin's Shadow - Symphony No. 10

Andris Nelsons, conductor (Boston Symphony Orchestra)

Spirit Of The American Range

Carlos Kalmar, conductor (The Oregon Symphony)

Zhou Long & Chen Yi: Symphony 'Humen 1839'

Darrell Ang, conductor (New Zealand Symphony Orchestra)

Best Opera Recording

Janáček: Jenůfa

Donald Runnicles, conductor; Will Hartmann, Michaela Kaune & Jennifer Larmore; Magdalena Herbst, producer (Orchestra Of The Deutsche Oper Berlin; Chorus Of The Deutsche Oper Berlin)

Monteverdi: Il Ritorno D'Ulisse In Patria

Martin Pearlman, conductor; Fernando Guimarães & Jennifer Rivera; Thomas C. Moore, producer (Boston Baroque)

Mozart: Die Entführung Aus Dem Serail

Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor; Diana Damrau, Paul Schweinester & Rolando Villazón; Sid McLauchlan, producer (Chamber Orchestra Of Europe)

Ravel: L'Enfant Et Les Sortilèges; Shéhérazade

Seiji Ozawa, conductor; Isabel Leonard; Dominic Fyfe, producer (Saito Kinen Orchestra; SKF Matsumoto Chorus & SKF Matsumoto Children's Chorus)

Steffani: Niobe, Regina Di Tebe

Paul O'Dette & Stephen Stubbs, conductors; Karina Gauvin & Philippe Jaroussky; Renate Wolter-Seevers, producer (Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra)

Best Choral Performance

Performers who are not eligible for an award (such as orchestras, soloists or choirs) are mentioned in parentheses

Beethoven: Missa Solemnis

Bernard Haitink, conductor; Peter Dijkstra, chorus master (Anton Barachovsky, Genia Kühmeier, Elisabeth Kulman, Hanno Müller-Brachmann & Mark Padmore; Symphonieorchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks; Chor Des Bayerischen Rundfunks)

Monteverdi: Vespers Of 1610

Harry Christophers, conductor (Jeremy Budd, Grace Davidson, Ben Davies, Mark Dobell, Eamonn Dougan & Charlotte Mobbs; The Sixteen)

Pablo Neruda - The Poet Sings

Craig Hella Johnson, conductor (James K. Bass, Laura Mercado-Wright, Eric Neuville & Lauren Snouffer; Faith DeBow & Stephen Redfield; Conspirare)

Paulus: Far In The Heavens

Eric Holtan, conductor (Sara Fraker, Matthew Goinz, Thea Lobo, Owen McIntosh, Kathryn Mueller & Christine Vivona; True Concord Orchestra; True Concord Voices)

Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil

Charles Bruffy, conductor (Paul Davidson, Frank Fleschner, Toby Vaughn Kidd, Bryan Pinkall, Julia Scozzafava, Bryan Taylor & Joseph Warner; Kansas City Chorale & Phoenix Chorale)

Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance

Brahms: The Piano Trios

Tanja Tetzlaff, Christian Tetzlaff & Lars Vogt

Filament

Eighth Blackbird

Flaherty: Airdancing For Toy Piano, Piano & Electronics

Nadia Shpachenko & Genevieve Feiwen Lee

Render

Brad Wells & Roomful Of Teeth

Shostakovich: Piano Quintet & String Quartet No. 2

Takács Quartet & Marc-André Hamelin

Best Classical Instrumental Solo

Dutilleux: Violin Concerto, L'Arbre Des Songes

Augustin Hadelich; Ludovic Morlot, conductor (Seattle Symphony)

Grieg & Moszkowski: Piano Concertos

Joseph Moog; Nicholas Milton, conductor (Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern)

Mozart: Keyboard Music, Vol. 7

Kristian Bezuidenhout

Rachmaninov Variations

Daniil Trifonov (The Philadelphia Orchestra)

Rzewski: The People United Will Never Be Defeated!

Ursula Oppens (Jerome Lowenthal)

Best Classical Solo Vocal Album

Beethoven: An Die Ferne Geliebte; Haydn: English Songs; Mozart: Masonic Cantata

Mark Padmore; Kristian Bezuidenhout, accompanist

Joyce & Tony - Live From Wigmore Hall

Joyce DiDonato; Antonio Pappano, accompanist

Nessun Dorma - The Puccini Album

Jonas Kaufmann; Antonio Pappano, conductor (Kristīne Opolais, Antonio Pirozzi & Massimo Simeoli; Coro Dell'Accademia Nazionale Di Santa Cecilia; Orchestra Dell'Accademia Nazionale Di Santa Cecilia)

Rouse: Seeing; Kabir Padavali

Talise Trevigne; David Alan Miller, conductor (Orion Weiss; Albany Symphony)

St. Petersburg

Cecilia Bartoli; Diego Fasolis, conductor (I Barocchisti)

Best Classical Compendium

As Dreams Fall Apart - The Golden Age Of Jewish Stage And Film Music (1925-1955)

New Budapest Orpheum Society; Jim Ginsburg, producer

Ask Your Mama

George Manahan, conductor; Judith Sherman, producer

Handel: L'Allegro, Il Penseroso Ed Il Moderato, 1740

Paul McCreesh, conductor; Nicholas Parker, producer

Paulus: Three Places Of Enlightenment; Veil Of Tears & Grand Concerto

Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor; Tim Handley, producer

Woman At The New Piano

Nadia Shpachenko; Marina A. Ledin & Victor Ledin, producers

Best Contemporary Classical Composition

Barry: The Importance Of Being Earnest

Gerald Barry, composer (Thomas Adès, Barbara Hannigan, Katalin Károlyi, Hilary Summers, Peter Tantsits & Birmingham Contemporary Music Group)

Norman: Play

Andrew Norman, composer (Gil Rose & Boston Modern Orchestra Project)

Paulus: Prayers & Remembrances

Stephen Paulus, composer (Eric Holtan, True Concord Voices & Orchestra)

Tower: Stroke

Joan Tower, composer (Giancarlo Guerrero, Cho-Liang Lin & Nashville Symphony)

Wolfe: Anthracite Fields

Julia Wolfe, composer (Julian Wachner, The Choir Of Trinity Wall Street & Bang On A Can All-Stars)

Music Video/Film

Best Music Video

"LSD" – ASAP Rocky

Dexter Navy, video director; Shin Nishigaki, video producer

"I Feel Love (Every Million Miles)" – The Dead Weather

Cooper Roberts & Ian Schwartz, video directors; Candice Dragonas & Nathan Scherrer, video producers

"Alright" – Kendrick Lamar

The Little Homies & Colin Tilley, video directors; Brandon Bonfiglio, Dave Free, Andrew Lerios & Luga Podesta, video producers

"Bad Blood" – Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar

Joseph Kahn, video director; Ron Mohrhoff, video producer

"Freedom" – Pharrell Williams

Paul Hunter, video director; Candice Dragonas & Nathan Scherrer, video producers

Best Music Film

Mr. Dynamite: The Rise Of James Brown - (James Brown)

Alex Gibney, video director; Peter Afterman, Blair Foster, Mick Jagger & Victoria Pearman, video producers

Sonic Highways - Foo Fighters

Dave Grohl, video director; John Cutcliffe, John Silva, Gaby Skolnek & Kristen Welsh, video producers

What Happened, Miss Simone? - (Nina Simone)

Liz Garbus, video director; Liz Garbus, Amy Hobby, Jayson Jackson & Justin Wilkes, video producers

The Wall - Roger Waters

Sean Evans & Roger Waters, video directors; Clare Spencer & Roger Waters, video producers

Amy - (Amy Winehouse)

Asif Kapadia, video director; James Gay-Rees, video producer

Boy, sound like a big number of nominations for mainstream music like heavy metal and country music like Tim McGraw. As well as boring regular music like children's music. Yuck. This is popular music, not regular music. Anyway, that way, mainstream music like The Weeknd and country music like Blake Shelton will be able to win Grammy nominations.

Since Taylor Swift received seven along with The Weeknd, will she able to win the Grammy nominations including Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album? I hope so. Good luck, Taylor Swift.