Today, the nominees for the 56th Annual Grammy Awards were announced. There are a few surprises. The big take away is that Jay-Z, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis lead in the nominations.
88Nine artists Lorde and Daft Punk are both nominated for Record of The Year for their songs "Royals" and "Get Lucky." Surprisingly, Kendrick Lamar and James Blake were nominated for Best New Artist as well as Ed Sheeran, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Kasey Musgraves. Highly-rated newcomers Valerie June and Lorde were skipped over for Best New Artist.
The National was nominated for Best Alternative Album for Trouble Will Find Me. Rhythm Lab Radio favorite Hiatus Kaiyote was nominated for best R&B Performance for their amazing song Nakamarra featuring Q-Tip. Check out the rest of the nominees and let us know what you think.
Album of the Year
Sara Bareilles, The Blessed Unrest
Daft Punk, Random Access Memories
Kendrick Lamar, good kid, m.A.A.d city
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, The Heist
Taylor Swift, Red
Record of the Year
Daft Punk feat. Pharrell, “Get Lucky”
Imagine Dragons, “Radioactive”
Lorde, “Royals”
Bruno Mars, “Locked Out of Heaven”
Robin Thicke feat. T.I. and Pharrell, “Blurred Lines”
Song of the Year
Pink feat. Nate Ruess, “Just Give Me a Reason”
Bruno Mars, “Locked Out of Heaven”
Katy Perry, “Roar”
Lorde, “Royals”
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, “Same Love”
Best New Artist
James Blake
Kendrick Lamar
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Kacey Musgraves
Ed Sheeran
Best Pop Vocal Album
Lana Del Rey, Paradise
Lorde, Pure Heroine
Bruno Mars, Unorthodox Jukebox
Robin Thicke, Blurred Lines
Justin Timberlake, The 20/20 Experience
Best Pop Solo Performance
Sara Bareilles, “Brave”
Lorde, “Royals”
Bruno Mars, “When I Was Your Man”
Katy Perry, “Roar”
Justin Timberlake, “Mirrors”
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
Daft Punk feat. Pharrell, “Get Lucky”
Pink feat. Nate Ruess, “Just Give Me a Reason”
Rihanna feat. Mikky Ekko, “Stay”
Robin Thicke feat. Pharrell and T.I., “Blurred Lines”
Justin Timberlake feat. Jay Z, “Suit & Tie”
Best Rock Performance
Alabama Shakes, “Always Alright”
David Bowie, “The Stars (Are Out Tonight)”
Imagine Dragons, “Radioactive”
Led Zeppelin, “Kashmir”
Queens of the Stone Age, “My God is the Sun”
Jack White, “I’m Shakin’”
Best Metal Performance
Anthrax, “T.N.T.”
Black Sabbath, “God Is Dead?”
Dream Theater, “The Enemy Inside”
Killswitch Engage, “In Due Time”
Volbeat feat. King Diamond, “Room 24″
Best Rock Album
Black Sabbath, 13
David Bowie, The Next Day
Kings of Leon, Mechanical Bull
Led Zeppelin, Celebration Day
Queens of the Stone Age, …Like Clockwork
Neil Young With Crazy Horse, Psychedelic Pill
Best Rock Song
Gary Clark Jr., “Ain’t Messin’ ‘Round”
Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, and Pat Smear, “Cut Me Some Slack”
The Rolling Stones, “Doom and Gloom”
Black Sabbath, “God Is Dead?”
Muse, “Panic Station”
Best Alternative Music Album
Neko Case, The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You
The National, Trouble Will Find Me
Nine Inch Nails, Hesitation Marks
Tame Impala, Lonerism
Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City
Best Dance/Electronica Album
Daft Punk, Random Access Memories
Disclosure, Settle
Calvin Harris, 18 Months
Kaskade, Atmosphere
Pretty Lights, A Color Map of the Sun
Best R&B Performance
Tamar Braxton, “Love and War”
Anthony Hamilton, “Best of Me”
Hiatus Kaiyote feat. Q-Tip, “Nakamarra”
Miguel feat. Kendrick Lamar, “How Many Drinks? (Remix)”
Snarky Puppy with Lalah Hathaway, “Something”
Best Urban Contemporary Album
Tamar Braxton, Love and War
Fantasia, Side Effects of You
Salaam Remi, One: In the Chamber
Rihanna, Unapologetic
Mack Wilds, New York: A Love Story
Best R&B Album
Faith Evans, R&B Divas
Alicia Keys, Girl on Fire
John Legend, Love in the Future
Chrisette Michele, Better
TGT, Three Kings
Best R&B Song
Anthony Hamilton, “Best of Me”
Tamar Braxton, “Love and War”
PJ Morton feat. Stevie Wonder, “Only One”
Justin Timberlake, “Pusher Love Girl”
Fantasia feat. Kelly Rowland and Missy Elliot, “Without Me”
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
J. Cole feat. Miguel, “Power Trip”
Jay Z feat. Beyoncé, “Part II (On the Run)”
Jay Z feat. Justin Timberlake, “Holy Grail”
Kendrick Lamar feat. Mary J. Blige, “Now or Never”
Wiz Khalifa feat. the Weeknd, “Remember You”
Best Rap Performance
Drake, “Started From the Bottom”
Eminem, “Berzerk”
Jay Z, “Tom Ford”
Kendrick Lamar, “Swimming Pools (Drank)”
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz, “Thrift Shop”
Best Rap Album
Drake, Nothing Was the Same
Jay Z, Magna Carta Holy Grail
Kendrick Lamar, good kid, m.A.A.d city
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, The Heist
Kanye West, Yeezus
Best Rap Song
A$AP Rocky feat. Drake, 2 Chainz, and Kendrick Lamar, “Fuckin’ Problems”
Jay Z feat. Justin Timberlake, “Holy Grail”
Kanye West, “New Slaves”
Drake, “Started From the Bottom”
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, “Thrift Shop”
Best Latin Pop Album
Frankie J, Faith, Hope, Y Amor
Ricardo Montaner, Viajero Frecuente
Draco Rosa, Vida
Aleks Syntek, Syntek
Tommy Torres, 12 Historias
Best Dance Recording
Duke Dumont feat. A*M*E* and MNEK, “Need U (100%)”
Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch, “Sweet Nothing”
Kaskade, “Atmosphere”
Armin Van Buuren feat. Trevor Guthrie, “This Is What It Feels Like”
Zedd feat. Foxes, “Clarity”
Best Country Solo Performance
Lee Brice, “I Drive Your Truck”
Hunter Hayes, “I Want Crazy”
Miranda Lambert, “Mama’s Broken Heart”
Darius Rucker, “Wagon Wheel”
Blake Shelton, “Mine Would Be You”
Best Country Duo/Group Performance
The Civil Wars, “From This Valley”
Kelly Clarkson feat. Vince Gill, “Don’t Rush”
Little Big Town, “Your Side of the Bed”
Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, and Keith Urban, “Highway Don’t Care”
Kenny Rogers with Dolly Parton, “You Can’t Make Old Friends”
Best Country Album
Jason Aldean, Night Train
Tim McGraw, Two Lanes of Freedom
Kacey Musgraves, Same Trailer Different Park
Blake Shelton, Based on a True Story
Taylor Swift, Red
Best Americana Album
Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell, Old Yellow Moon
Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, Love Has Come for You
Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale, Buddy and Jim
Mavis Staples, One True Vine
Allen Toussaint, Songbook
Producer of the Year
Rob Cavallo
Dr. Luke
Ariel Rechtshaid
Jeff Tweedy
Pharrell Williams
Best Music Video
Capital Cities, “Safe and Sound”
Jay Z, “Picasso Baby: A Performance Art Film”
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton, “Can’t Hold Us”
Justin Timberlake feat. Jay Z, “Suit & Tie”
Jack White, “I’m Shakin’”
