LOS ANGELES (Dec. 06, 2013) — Nominations for the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards^® were announced tonight by The Recording Academy^® and reflected one of the most diverse years with the Album Of The Year category alone representing the rap, pop, country and dance/electronica genres, as determined by the voting members of The Academy. Once again, nominations in select categories for the annual GRAMMY Awards were announced on primetime television as part of "The GRAMMY^® Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night^®," a one-hour CBS entertainment special broadcast live from Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE. The 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held on "GRAMMY Sunday," Jan. 26, 2014, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and once again will be broadcast live in high-definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on CBS from 8 – 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). For updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy's social networks on Twitter and Facebook. For a complete nominations list, please visit www.grammy.com.

Jay Z tops the nominations with nine; Kendrick Lamar, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Justin Timberlake, and Pharrell Williams each garner seven nods; Drake and mastering engineer Bob Ludwig are up for five awards.
 
"This year's nominations reflect the talented community of music makers who represent some of the highest levels of excellence and artistry of the year in their respective fields," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. "Once again, The Academy's awards process and its voting membership have produced an impressive list of nominations across various genres promising music fans a spectacular show filled with stellar performances and unique 'GRAMMY Moments.' We are off to a great start and look forward to GRAMMY Sunday as Music's Biggest Night takes the stage."

Following is a sampling of nominations in 82 categories from the GRAMMY Awards' 30 Fields:
 
GENERAL FIELD
Album Of The Year:
The Blessed Unrest — Sara Bareilles
Random Access Memories — Daft Punk
Good Kid, M.A.A.D City — Kendrick Lamar
The Heist — Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Red — Taylor Swift
 
Record Of The Year:
"Get Lucky" — Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams
"Radioactive" — Imagine Dragons
"Royals" — Lorde
"Locked Out Of Heaven" — Bruno Mars
"Blurred Lines" — Robin Thicke Featuring T.I. & Pharrell Williams
 
Song Of The Year:
"Just Give Me A Reason" — Jeff Bhasker, Pink & Nate Ruess, songwriters (Pink Featuring Nate Ruess)
"Locked Out Of Heaven" — Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine & Bruno Mars, songwriters (Bruno Mars)
"Roar" — Lukasz Gottwald, Max Martin, Bonnie McKee, Katy Perry & Henry Walter, songwriters (Katy Perry)
"Royals" — Joel Little & Ella Yelich O'Connor, songwriters (Lorde)
"Same Love" — Ben Haggerty, Mary Lambert & Ryan Lewis, songwriters (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring
Mary Lambert)
 
Best New Artist:
James Blake
Kendrick Lamar
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Kacey Musgraves
Ed Sheeran
 
POP FIELD
Best Pop Solo Performance:
"Brave" — Sara Bareilles 
"Royals" — Lorde 
"When I Was Your Man" — Bruno Mars 
"Roar" — Katy Perry
"Mirrors" — Justin Timberlake
 
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance:
"Get Lucky" — Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams
"Just Give Me A Reason" — Pink Featuring Nate Ruess
"Stay" — Rihanna Featuring Mikky Ekko
"Blurred Lines" — Robin Thicke Featuring T.I. & Pharrell Williams 
"Suit & Tie" — Justin Timberlake & Jay Z 
 
DANCE FIELD
Best Dance/Electronica Album:
Random Access Memories — Daft Punk
Settle — Disclosure
18 Months — Calvin Harris
Atmosphere — Kaskade
A Color Map Of The Sun — Pretty Lights
 
ROCK FIELD
Best Rock Performance:
"Always Alright" — Alabama Shakes
"The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" — David Bowie
"Radioactive" — Imagine Dragons
"Kashmir" (Live) — Led Zeppelin
"My God Is The Sun" — Queens Of The Stone Age
"I'm Shakin'" — Jack White
 
Best Rock Album:
13 — Black Sabbath
The Next Day — David Bowie
Mechanical Bull — Kings Of Leon
Celebration Day — Led Zeppelin
…Like Clockwork — Queens Of The Stone Age
Psychedelic Pill — Neil Young With Crazy Horse
 
ALTERNATIVE FIELD
Best Alternative Music Album:
The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You — Neko Case
Trouble Will Find Me — The National
Hesitation Marks — Nine Inch Nails
Lonerism — Tame Impala
Modern Vampires Of The City — Vampire Weekend
 
R&B FIELD
Best R&B Performance:
"Love And War" — Tamar Braxton
"Best Of Me" — Anthony Hamilton
"Nakamarra" — Hiatus Kaiyote Featuring Q-Tip
"How Many Drinks?" — Miguel Featuring Kendrick Lamar
"Something" — Snarky Puppy With Lalah Hathaway
 
Best Urban Contemporary Album:
Love And War — Tamar Braxton
Side Effects Of You — Fantasia
One: In The Chamber — Salaam Remi
Unapologetic — Rihanna
New York: A Love Story — Mack Wilds
 
Best R&B Album:
R&B Divas — Faith Evans
Girl On Fire — Alicia Keys
Love In The Future — John Legend
Better — Chrisette Michele
Three Kings — TGT
 
RAP FIELD
Best Rap Performance:
"Started From The Bottom" — Drake
"Berzerk" — Eminem
"Tom Ford" —  Jay Z
"Swimming Pools (Drank)" — Kendrick Lamar
"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz
 
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration:
"Power Trip" — J.Cole Featuring Miguel
"Part II (On The Run)" — Jay Z Featuring Beyoncé
"Holy Grail" — Jay Z Featuring Justin Timberlake   
"Now Or Never" — Kendrick Lamar Featuring Mary J. Blige
"Remember You" — Wiz Khalifa Featuring The Weeknd
 
Best Rap Album:
Nothing Was The Same — Drake
Magna Carta…Holy Grail — Jay Z
Good Kid, M.A.A.D City — Kendrick Lamar
The Heist — Macklemore  & Ryan Lewis
Yeezus — Kanye West
 
COUNTRY FIELD
Best Country Solo Performance:
"I Drive Your Truck" — Lee Brice
"I Want Crazy" — Hunter Hayes           
"Mama's Broken Heart" — Miranda Lambert
"Wagon Wheel" — Darius Rucker
"Mine Would Be You" — Blake Shelton
 
Best Country Album:
Night Train — Jason Aldean
Two Lanes Of Freedom — Tim McGraw
Same Trailer Different Park — Kacey Musgraves
Based On A True Story — Blake Shelton
Red — Taylor Swift
 
JAZZ FIELD 
Best Jazz Instrumental Album:
Guided Tour — The New Gary Burton Quartet
Money Jungle: Provocative In Blue — Terri Lyne Carrington
Life Forum — Gerald Clayton
Pushing The World Away — Kenny Garrett
Out Here — Christian McBride Trio
 
GOSPEL/CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC FIELD 
Best Gospel Album:
Grace (Live) — Tasha Cobbs
Best For Last: 20 Year Celebration Vol. 1 — Donald Lawrence
Best Days Yet — Bishop Paul S. Morton
God Chaser (Live) — William Murphy
Greater Than (Live) — Tye Tribbett
 
LATIN FIELD
Best Tropical Latin Album:
3.0 — Marc Anthony
Como Te Voy A Olvidar — Los Angeles Azules
Pacific Mambo Orchestra — Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sergio George Presents Salsa Giants — Various Artists
Corazón Profundo — Carlos Vives
 
AMERICAN ROOTS FIELD 
Best Americana Album:
Old Yellow Moon — Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell
Love Has Come For You — Steve Martin & Edie Brickell
Buddy And Jim — Buddy Miller And Jim Lauderdale
One True Vine — Mavis Staples
Songbook — Allen Toussaint
 
COMEDY FIELD
Best Comedy Album:
Calm Down Gurrl — Kathy Griffin
I'm Here To Help — Craig Ferguson
A Little Unprofessional — Ron White
Live — Tig Notaro
That's What I'm Talkin' About — Bob Saget

This year's Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical nominations go to Rob Cavallo, Dr. Luke, Ariel Rechtshaid, Jeff Tweedy, and Pharrell Williams.
 
This year's GRAMMY Awards process registered more than 22,000 submissions over a 12-month eligibility period (Oct. 1, 2012 – Sept. 30, 2013). GRAMMY ballots for the final round of voting will be mailed on Dec. 11 to the voting members of The Recording Academy. They are due back to the accounting firm of Deloitte by Jan. 8, 2014, when they will be tabulated and the results kept secret until the 56th GRAMMY telecast.

The 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich is executive producer, and Louis J. Horvitz is director.
 
"The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night," hosted by two-time GRAMMY winner LL COOL J featured the announcement of nominations in several categories as well as performances by Lorde; Macklemore & Ryan Lewis; Miguel and Keith Urban; Katy Perry; Taylor Swift; and Robin Thicke with T.I and members of Earth, Wind, & Fire. Presenters included Melissa Etheridge, Arsenio Hall, Enrique Iglesias, Pauley Perrette, Kelly Rowland, and Ed Sheeran.
 
Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter, like "The GRAMMYs" on Facebook, and join The GRAMMYs' social communities on Foursquare, GetGlue, Google +, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and YouTube.

Recipient and Finalists to Receive Cash Honorariums, with Generous Support and Resources Provided by the GRAMMY Foundation^®'s Education Champions Box Tops For Education^®, Converse,
Ford Motor Company Fund, Journeys, And Microsoft Surface, With Additional Support From
Universal Music Group
 
Inaugural Award will be Presented at the Special Merit Awards Ceremony &Nominees Reception
during GRAMMY^® Week 2014

WHO:            
A total of 10 music teachers from ten cities across eight states have been announced as finalists for the first annual Music Educator Award™ presented by The Recording Academy^® and the GRAMMY Foundation^®. In total, more than 30,000 initial nominations were submitted from all 50 states.

WHAT:          
The Music Educator Award was established to recognize current educators (kindergarten through college, public and private schools) who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education and who demonstrate a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining music education in the schools. A joint partnership and presentation of The Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Foundation, this special award will have its inaugural presentation at the Special Merit Awards Ceremony & Nominees Reception honoring recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Trustees Award and Technical GRAMMY^® Award during GRAMMY Week 2014.

As announced on the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards^® by President/CEO of The Recording Academy and GRAMMY Foundation Neil Portnow, TV and radio host/producer and GRAMMY Foundation Honorary Board Chair Ryan Seacrest, and six-time GRAMMY^® winner Justin Timberlake, the award was open to current U.S. music teachers, and anyone could nominate a teacher — students, parents, friends, colleagues, community members, school deans, and administrators. Teachers were also able to nominate themselves, and nominated teachers were notified and invited to fill out an application.

One recipient will be selected from 10 finalists each year, and will be recognized for his/her remarkable impact on students' lives. The winner will be flown to Los Angeles to accept the award, attend the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards ceremony, and receive a $10,000 honorarium. The nine finalists will receive a $1,000 honorarium, and the schools of all 10 finalists also will receive matching grants. The honorariums and grants provided to the finalists and schools are made possible by the generosity and support of the GRAMMY Foundation's Education Champions Box Tops For Education^®, Converse, Ford Motor Company Fund, Journeys, and Microsoft Surface, with additional support from Universal Music Group.

WHEN:          
A complete list of finalists is below. The winner will be announced in January. Applications for the second annual Music Educator Award are currently online; to nominate a teacher, visit GRAMMYMusicTeacher.com. The deadline to nominate is March 31, 2014. The application process will adjust each year to allow the broad array of effective teaching styles and methods used in the discipline to be recognized and awarded.

First Name      Last Name                  School                                                 City                             State
Lisa                  Bianconi                      Kurn Hattin Homes for Children          Westminster                 Vt.
Charles            Cushinery                    Ed W. Clark High School                      Las Vegas                    Nev.
Andrew           DeNicola                      John P. Stevens High School                Edison                         N.J.
Vivian              Gonzalez                     South Miami K-8 Center                      Miami                          Fla.
Kent                 Knappenberger           Westfield Academy and Central School   Westfield                 N.Y.
Kathrine           Kouns                          Horizon High School                           Scottsdale                    Ariz.
Glen                 McCarthy                    George Mason University                    Fairfax                         Va.
Steve                Vutsinas                       Grassfield High School                        Chesapeake                  Va.
Jo                     Wallace-Abbie             Plano West Senior High School            Plano                           Texas
Mary Jo           West                            George Mason High School                 Falls Church                Va.

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter, like "The GRAMMYs" on Facebook, and join The GRAMMYs' social communities on Foursquare, GetGlue, Google +, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and YouTube.

The GRAMMY Foundation was established in 1989 to cultivate the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music to American culture. The Foundation accomplishes this mission through programs and activities that engage the music industry and cultural community as well as the general public. The Foundation works in partnership year-round with its founder, The Recording Academy^®, to bring national attention to important issues such as the value and impact of music and arts education and the urgency of preserving our rich cultural heritage. In recognition of the significant role of teachers in shaping their students' musical experiences, The Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Foundation are partnering to present their Music Educator Award. Open to current U.S. music teachers in kindergarten through college, the first Music Educator Award will be presented at the Special Merit Awards Ceremony & Nominees Reception during GRAMMY Week 2014. To nominate a teacher for the second annual Music Educator Award, please visit GRAMMYMusicTeacher.com. For more information about the Foundation, please visit www.grammyfoundation.org. For breaking news and exclusive content, please like "GRAMMY in the Schools^®" on Facebook at www.facebook.com/grammyintheschools, follow the GRAMMY Foundation on Twitter @GRAMMYFdn at www.twitter.com/GRAMMYFdn and join us on Instagram @GRAMMYFdn at www.instagram.com/GRAMMYfdn.

America's schools have earned more than $558 million through the Box Tops for Education^® program since the program started in 1996, including $80 million in the 2012–2013 school year alone. More than 90,000 schools use that cash to purchase items such as computers, library books, art supplies, and playground equipment. Schools can earn up to $20,000 by clipping Box Tops from 250 products and can earn eBoxTops® by shopping online through the Box Tops Marketplace. To learn more and for a list of participating products, visit www.btfe.com. Facebook at www.facebook.com/BoxTopsforEducation, Twitter at www.twitter.com/BTFE and Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/Boxtops.

Converse Inc., based in N. Andover, Massachusetts, is a wholly owned subsidiary of NIKE, Inc. Established in 1908, the Converse brand has built a reputation as "America's Original Sports Company"™ and has been associated with a rich heritage of legendary shoes such as the Chuck Taylor^® All Star^® shoe, the Jack Purcell^® shoe and the One Star^® shoe. Today, Converse offers a diverse portfolio including lifestyle men's, women's and children's footwear, apparel and accessories. Converse product is sold globally by retailers in over 160 countries and through 78 company-owned retail locations in the U.S. For more information, visit media.converse.com.

Ford Motor Company Fund & Community Services works with community partners to advance driving safety, education and community life. For more than 60 years, Ford Motor Company Fund has operated with ongoing funding from Ford Motor Company. The award-winning Ford Driving Skills for Life program teaches new drivers through a variety of hands-on and interactive methods. Innovation in education is encouraged through national programs that enhance high school learning and provide college scholarships and university grants. Through the Ford Volunteer Corps, more than 25,000 Ford employees and dealers work on projects each year that better their communities in more than 40 countries. For more information, visit www.community.ford.com.

Journeys is a leader in the teen specialty retail scene, with more than 800 stores in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Canada. Journeys uses fashion savvy and merchandising science to keep in step with the fast-paced footwear and accessories market for 13- to 22-year-old guys and girls. Journeys offers a wide variety of trendy, relevant brands that cater to teens that seek the hottest, new styles. However, the Journeys store is more than a retail environment — it's an extension of the teen lifestyle. From the plasma TVs playing exclusive content and the latest music videos, to the visual merchandising strategy and promotions, to the employees whose image and style reflect the customers' lifestyle and attitude. In addition, Journeys reaches its customers through www.journeys.com, a mobile website, catalog, national advertising, strategic cross-promotions, social media and grass-roots events like the Noise Tour. Journeys — An Attitude You Can Wear! Journeys is a division of Genesco Inc.

Microsoft's Surface tablet is designed to be the one device for everything in your life. Every Surface offers ports, Office, and covers on which you can type. Whatever you want to imagine, create, and share—Surface makes it possible to do it all. And more. For more information about Surface, please visit ww.surface.com.

Universal Music Group is the global music leader, with wholly owned operations in 60 territories. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, one of the industry's premier music publishing operations worldwide. Universal Music Group's labels include A&M/Octone, Angel, Astralwerks, Blue Note Records, Capitol Christian Music Group, Capitol Records, Capitol Records Nashville, Caroline, Decca, Def Jam Recordings, Deutsche Grammophon, Disa, Emarcy, EMI Records Nashville, Fonovisa, Geffen Records, Harvest, Interscope Records, Island Records, Machete Music, Manhattan, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Motown Records, Polydor Records, Republic Records, Universal Music Latino, Verve Music Group, Virgin Records, Virgin EMI Records, as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalogue of music in the industry, which includes the last 100 years of the world's most popular artists and their recordings. UMG's catalogue is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Universal Strategic Marketing (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes Global Digital Business, its new media and technologies division and Bravado, its merchandising company. Universal Music Group is a fully owned subsidiary of Vivendi.

PRE-ORDERS START DEC. 6,
OFFERING FANS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND
THE 56TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS^®
 
Album Hits Stores and Digital Retailers on Jan. 21, 2014

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Dec. 6, 2013) — The Recording Academy^®'s GRAMMY Recordings^® and Atlantic Records have teamed to release the 2014 GRAMMY^® Nominees album, which will be available Jan. 21, 2014, in stores and via digital retailers. The 20th anniversary installment of the best-selling series will feature an array of this year's GRAMMY-nominated artists and hit songs across multiple genres. A portion of the proceeds from sales of the album will help support the year-round efforts of the GRAMMY Foundation^® and MusiCares Foundation^® — two charitable organizations of The Recording Academy. In conjunction with "The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! —  Countdown To Music's Biggest Night^®," music fans can log on to GRAMMY.com, GRAMMY.com/2014GRAMMYAlbum or CBS.com to pre-order the album and enter for a chance  to win a trip for two to the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.

"We are delighted to partner with Atlantic Records and produce an extraordinary album encompassing a variety of genres and highlighting this year's amazing talented artists and songs," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. "And once again we are excited to give one lucky fan the opportunity to attend Music's Biggest Night and experience the excitement live from STAPLES Center. We thank those who support and work hard to compile this chart-topping GRAMMY album, which supports the great work our charities do year-round and look forward to another successful compilation."

"Atlantic is thrilled to partner with The Recording Academy on this fantastic series for the first time," said Atlantic Chairman & CEO Craig Kallman. "The GRAMMY is the most prestigious award in our industry, and this collection will reflect the exceptional talent and diversity of the artists who have earned nominations this year. To be able to gather all this music together in one album to support the wonderful work being done by the GRAMMY charities is a testament to the generous spirit of our colleagues and artists throughout the music business."

"The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!!" Countdown To Music's Biggest Night airs on the CBS Television Network on Friday, Dec. 6 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The show will announce nominations in several categories as well as feature performances by past GRAMMY winners and/or nominees.

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter, like "The GRAMMYs" on Facebook, and join The GRAMMYs' social communities on Foursquare, GetGlue, Google +, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and YouTube.

*No purchase necessary to enter or win. Visit GRAMMY.com/2014GRAMMYAlbum for details and eligibility requirement

COUNTDOWN TO MUSIC'S BIGGEST NIGHT^®"  

  SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Dec. 05, 2013) — Singer/songwriter Katy Perry in a performance from Canada and seven-time GRAMMY winner Taylor Swift in a performance from Australia; members of six-time GRAMMY-winning group Earth, Wind & Fire and three-time GRAMMY winner T.I. to join previously announced Robin Thicke; Lorde; and GRAMMY winner Miguel to join previously announced four-time GRAMMY winner Keith Urban are the latest performers announced for "The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night^®." Other previously announced performers are Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. Actor/comedian/talk show host Arsenio Hall, GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY winner Enrique Iglesias, and singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran have been added as presenters. Two-time GRAMMY winner LL COOL J returns to host the one-hour special, which takes place at Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on Friday, Dec. 6. The show — which will announce nominations in several categories as well as feature performances by past GRAMMY winners and/or nominees — will be broadcast in HDTV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network from 10 – 11 p.m. ET/PT. Additional performers and presenters will be announced shortly. For updates and breaking news, please visit GRAMMY.com, and The Recording Academy^®'s social networks on Twitter and Facebook.

This concert special marks the sixth time nominations for the annual GRAMMY Awards^® will be announced live on primetime television. Last year's airing of the nominations special helped lead to stellar ratings for the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards, which garnered 28.37 million viewers — the second-largest audience for the awards broadcast since 1993. The telecast also nearly doubled its social media conversation from the previous year, generating 24.8 million comments (based on research compiled by Bluefin, PeopleBrowsr and Mass Relevance).

LL COOL J has hosted "The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night" since its inception in December 2008, and also hosted the annual GRAMMY Awards telecast for the second time earlier this year.

The road to Music's Biggest Night begins with "The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!!" and culminates with the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards, live from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, and broadcast on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

"The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night" is produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures, LLC. Ken Ehrlich is the executive producer. LL COOL J is producer.

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter, like "The GRAMMYs" on Facebook, and join The GRAMMYs' social communities on Foursquare, GetGlue, Google +, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and YouTube.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Credentialing for this event is closed. Directions for credential pickup will be given upon confirmation of credential status. ALL MEDIA MUST BE CREDENTIALED for this event.