Innholdsfortegnelse for January 5, 2013 i Billboard Magazine

WHAT AN AMAZING YEAR IT WAS FOR MUSIC! In reviewing the charts and essays in our just-published yearend double issue, it was hard to pick a favorite. Taylor Swift’s Red sold 1.2 million copies its first week. Adele sold her 10 millionth copy of 21. And let’s be honest, who knew that either of these things could still happen in the music business? Adele vindicated her fairy-tale 2012 Grammy night in more ways than one. She was Billboard’s artist of the year for the second year in a row, the first act to accomplish this feat since Dest iny’s Child in 2000 and 2001. Even more impressive? 21 was album of the year for the second straight year, becoming the first act to pull off that nifty trick since Michael…

Twenty-seven titles will be added to the Grammy Hall of Fame this year, ranging from a 1920s jug-band classic and the first Cajun song to be recorded up through the debut LP from Whitney Houston. Now in its 40th year, and with 933 titles in its collection, the Grammy Hall of Fame honors culturally and historically significant recordings that are at least 25 years old. ACT NATURALLY BUCK OWENS Capitol (1963) Owen’s first country & western No. 1 was the first prime example of his trademark “freight train” sound rooted in western swing, and its success allowed him to hire his first full-time band. AIN’T NOBODY HERE BUT US CHICKENS LOUIS JORDAN & HIS TYMPANY FIVE Decca (1946) The 11th of saxophonist/singer/songwriter Jordan’s 18 chart-toppers, “Ain’t Nobody Here but Us…

The A Team SONGWRITER: Ed Sheeran PERFORMER: Ed Sheeran FROM: + PUBLISHER: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LABEL:Elektra “The A Team,” about a heroinaddicted prostitute, is from English singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran’s full-length debut, +, which debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200. In an April interview with Billboard, Sheeran revealed the song was inspired by a performance he did at a homeless shelter when he was 18 years old. “I wanted to write it kind of upbeat so you wouldn’t know what it’s about, because it’s obviously a dark subject,” he said. Adorn SONGWRITER: Miguel Pimentel PERFORMER: Miguel FROM: Kaleidoscope Dream PUBLISHER: Art Dealer Chic LABEL:Bystorm Entertainment/RCA Records “These lips can’t wait to taste your skin, baby/And these eyes can’t wait to see your grin/Just let my love adorn you,” Miguel…

BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE Set Fire to the Rain (Live) FROM: Live at the Royal Albert Hall SONGWRITERS: Fraser T. Smith, Adele Adkins PUBLISHERS: Universal Music Publishing/Chrysalis Music Publishing LABEL:XL Recordings/Columbia Records Since scoring the trophies for best new artist and best female pop vocal performance in 2009, Adele has become a staple at the Grammys. Last year, the British songstress swept the ceremony with six wins for her sophomore album, 21 (album of the year, pop vocal album); ÒRolling in the DeepÓ (record of the year, song of the year, best short form music video); and ÒSomeone Like YouÓ (this category). Her live performance of ÒSet Fire to the Rain,Ó included on her DVD/Blu-ray/CD release Live at the Royal Albert Hall, keeps her Grammy momentum steady. Stronger (What Doesn’t…

BEST URBAN CONTEMPORARY ALBUM Fortune LABEL:RCA Records EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Chris Brown, Tina Davis, Mark Pitts, Team Breezy PRODUCERS: The Underdogs, Fuego, Andrew “Pop” Wansel, Danja, Harmony aka H-Money, the Messingers, Adonis, Kevin “K-Mac” McCall, the Runners, the Monarch, Polow Da Don, Jason “JP” Perry, Tha Bizness, Brian “BK” Kennedy, Dante Jones, Tommy Hitz, Boi-1da, Chris Brown, Benny & Alle Benassi, Free School, William Orbit, Jerome “JRoc” Harmon ENGINEERS/MIXERS: John Hanes, Phil Seaford, Serban Ghenea, Jaycen Joshua, Manny Marroquin Chris Brown earned his first Grammy last year: best R&B album for F.A.M.E. Reaching No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, follow-up Fortune percolates with R&B/hip-hop, pop, EDM and rock. The 14-track set includes the hits ÒTurn Up the Music,Ó ÒStripÓ featuring Kevin McCall and ÒDon’t Wake…

If Mumford & Sons’ sophomore album, Babel (Glassnote Records), takes home the Grammy for album of the year on Feb. 10, it will mark the fifth year in a row an indie act has won the top prize, if you count indies by ownership. The run began with Robert Plant & Alison Krauss’Raising Sand on Rounder Records in 2009; followed by Taylor Swift’s Fearless (Big Machine); Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs (Merge); and Adele’s 21, which, while issued in the United States through Columbia, originated on indie label XL, where the singer is signed in the United Kingdom. Even if Babel doesn’t triumph and breaks that streak, the 2013 Grammy nominations are packed with independent releases in both major and minor categories. The American Assn. of Independent Music (A2IM) counts 210…

Wednesday, February 6 Grammy Camp: Basic Training University of Southern California 8 A.M.-2 P.M. The Grammy Foundation Formerly known as Grammy Career Day, top music industry professionals discuss the realities of the music business and careers in music with Los Angeles-area high school students. Producers & Engineers Wing Event Celebration HONOREES Quincy Jones, al Schmitt The Village 8 P.M.-12 A.M. The recording academy Now in its sixth year, this event honors the legacy of iconic producers and engineers. This year’s “An Evening of Jazz” celebration honors 27-time Grammy winner and multitalented music producer Quincy Jones and 18-time Grammy winner and producer/engineer Al Schmitt. Grammy in the Schools Live! Grand Ballroom, University of Southern California 7 P.M. DINNER 8 P.M. PERFORMANCE The Grammy Foundation Top high school musicians personify the intersection…

It’s an honor just to be nominated—but everyone knows the Grammys aren’t just about the awards. Grammy time is also about the parties, and these hot spots are where to find the most celebrated A-listers hanging out away from the cameras and red carpet, out and about during music’s biggest night of the year. The Rising Stars BARDOT bardothollywood.com Just a short limo ride from the festivities, this intimate Hollywood boite with a serious door policy is where to find music’s rising stars around the big night. Bruno Mars played a secret show here on the eve of his first Grammy noms in 2011, and Gotye performed here back when he was somebody you didn’t yet know. The Superstars CHATEAU MARMONT chateaumarmont.com A classic Hollywood institution, the Chateau Marmont is…

Four storylines were in place in the weeks leading up to the 54th annual Grammy Awards, held on Feb. 12, 2012. Adele would be making her first appearance since throat surgery, Bruce Springsteen had a new song, Paul McCartney was MusiCares’ Person of the Year, and the Beach Boys were reuniting for the first time in a couple of decades. In the long run, however, it will be known as the year Whitney Houston died and more than 39 million people tuned in, according to Nielsen, the second-largest audience ever for a Grammy show. This year the overwhelming storyline appears to be putting the focus on emerging talent. The nominations, especially in the general categories, are packed with newer artists. To Grammys producer Ken Ehrlich, that presents a great opportunity…

El Camino THE BLACK KEYS PRODUCERS: The Black Keys, Danger Mouse ENGINEERS/MIXERS: Tchad Blake, Tom Elmhirst, Kennie Takahashi MASTERING ENGINEER: Brian Lucey LABEL: Nonesuch Blues-rock duo the Black Keys embarked on its first North American arena headlining tour on the strength of its seventh studio album (and fourth for Nonesuch), El Camino. Recorded in Nashville and produced by Danger Mouse and the Black Keys (guitarist/vocalist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney), the 11-song set debuted on the Billboard 200 in December 2011, spawning Alternative chart No. 1 singles “Lonely Boy” and “Gold on the Ceiling.” In 2010, the group nabbed its first Grammy wins for best alternative music album (Brothers) and best rock performance by a duo or group with vocals (“Tighten Up”). This time around, the Black Keys will…

Alabama Shakes Mixing blues-rock and Southern soul, Alabama Shakes began building major buzz following a glowing New York Times review about its 2011 performance at the CMJ Music Marathon. In the months leading up to the April release of its debut album, Boys & Girls, the Athens, Ga., band—vocalist/guitarist Brittany Howard, guitarist Heath Fogg, bassist Zac Cockrell and drummer Steve Johnson—played sold-out club gigs across North America. With a Zales commercial synch and a push of its single “Hold On” to triple A and noncommercial radio, Boys & Girls peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard 200. Fun. Fun. was born following the 2008 breakup of frontman Nate Ruess’ previous rock band, the Format. For his new pop-leaning project, Ruess recruited bandmates Andrew Dost and Jack Antonoff, who respectively played…

BEST DANCE RECORDING Le7els PRODUCERS: Tim Bergling, Ash Pournouri MIXER: Tim Bergling LABEL:Levels/Atom Empire/Interscope From Super Bowl ads to weddings across the country, “Le7els” was omnipresent this year. Upstart DJ/producer Avicii married an Etta James vocal sample to a sweeping synth melody, as hummable as any top 40 hit. The result was both DJ-friendly and palatable to a mainstream audience, pushing EDM further toward the crossover line. Sold to Interscope for a cool $1 million, “Le7els” reportedly made its money back and then some, in the process launching Avicii as a formidable touring force and securing his alliance with Ralph Lauren Denim Supply. Let’s Go CALVIN HARRIS FEATURING NE-YO PRODUCER: Calvin Harris MIXER: Calvin Harris LABEL:Ultra Music In the dance music world of the ’90s, this track might have been…

BEST RAP ALBUM Take Care PRODUCERS: Noah “40” Shebib, Boi-1da, Carlo Montagnese, the Weeknd, Jamie “XX” Smith, Dwayne Chin-Quee, T-Minus, Just Blaze, Drake, Chase N. Cashe, Doc McKinney, Chantal Kreviazuk ENGINEERS/MIXERS: Les Bateman, Noel Campbell, Noel Cadastre, Travis Sewchan, Greg Morrison, Noah “40” Shebib, Jon Nettlesbey, David Strickland, Sean Buchanan, Becky Campbell, Sam Holland, Andrew Wright, Just Blaze, Drew White, Lyttleton Carter, Elizabeth Gallardo LABEL:Young Money/Cash Money/Republic Records With three nods this time, rap wunderkind Drake brings his total number of Grammy nominations to 12. The other two: best rap song for “The Motto” and best rap performance for “HYFR (Hell Ya F***ing Right).”Take Care—the follow-up to Grammy-nominated first album Thank Me Later—debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, spinning off three hit singles: “Headlines,” “Make Me Proud” and…

RECORD OF THE YEAR Lonely Boy PRODUCERS: The Black Keys and Danger Mouse ENGINEERS/MIXERS: Tom Elmhirst and Kennie Takahashi MASTERING ENGINEER: Brian Lucey FROM: El Camino Nonesuch Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) KELLY CLARKSON PRODUCER: Greg Kurstin ENGINEERS/MIXERS: Serban Ghenea, John Hanes, Greg Kurstin and Jesse Shatkin MASTERING ENGINEER: Chris Gehringer FROM: Stronger RCA Records/19 Recordings Limited We Are Young FUN. FEATURING JANELLE MONÁ PRODUCER: Jeff Bhasker ENGINEERS/MIXERS: Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dawson and Stuart White MASTERING ENGINEER: Chris Gehringer FROM: Some Nights Fueled By Ramen Somebody That I Used To Know GOTYE FEATURING KIMBRA PRODUCER: Wally De Backer ENGINEERS/MIXERS: Wally De Backer and Francois Tetaz MASTERING ENGINEER: William Bowden FROM: Making Mirrors Universal Republic Thinkin Bout You FRANK OCEAN PRODUCER: Frank Ocean ENGINEERS/MIXERS: Jeff Ellis, Pat Thrall and Marcos Tovar…

Best 2008 FAITH HILL Country girl Faith Hill turned city-slicker chic in Valentino at the 2008 Grammys. “This look is just f lawless,” Kotsiopoulos says. “The gown is classic and elegant, her hair and make-up is perfect, and I love how her big ruby earrings add just a little pop.” 2009 LADY GAGA Only Lady Gaga could transform a gown from the usually dignified Giorgio Armani Prive collection into an outfit that looks like Judy Jetson’s prom dress. “I admire the sheer commitment it took to not only get into this, but to also walk the carpet in those extreme heels,” Kotsiopoulos says. “She looks incredible.” 2010 KATY PERRY If the Academy Awards are Meryl Streep in Lanvin, the Grammys are Katy Perry in a Zac Posen dress . .…

THE BIGGEST MUSIC STARS IN THE WORLD—David Bowie, Aretha Franklin, John Lennon, Barbra Streisand and Stevie Wonder among them— descended on Times Square on March 1, 1975, for the live broadcast of the 17th annual Grammy Awards ceremony from the Uris Theatre (later rechristened the Gershwin). Legendary rock photographer Bob Gruen had the special vantage point of shooting the megawatt ceremony from both the audience and backstage, as a guest of his longtime friends Lennon and Yoko Ono. Here, in his own words, he recalls the moment. That night I was able to move around—I had tickets for the audience. In the early ’70s, right after I started getting hired by record companies to do a few record covers, I joined [the Recording Academy]. Being a part of a professional…

Are you thinking of becoming a member of the Recording Academy? Senior VP of member services Nancy Shapiro tells Billboard why joining the Academy is important, what membership offers and new details about the summer 2013 relaunch of the organization’s members-only website, Grammy365.com. HOW IT WORKS The Recording Academy offers three levels of membership: voting member, associate member and student member. “Basically, everyone in the music community can become one of those three,” says Shapiro, a 28-year veteran of the Academy who splits her time between Nashville and Los Angeles. The Academy comprises 21,000 industry personnel, nearly 12,000 of whom are voting members. In addition to musicians and singers, the Academy consists of producers, engineers and other music professionals. To become a voting member, applicants need at least six credits…

Lonely Boy THE BLACK KEYS PRODUCERS: The Black Keys, Danger Mouse ENGINEERS/MIXERS: Tom Elmhirst, Kennie Takahashi, Brian Lucey FROM: El Camino LABEL:Nonesuch “Lonely Boy” is the lead single from the Black Keys’El Camino, which arrived in December 2011 and is nominated for album of the year. The Akron, Ohio, rock duo’s seventh studio album is its third straight full-length collaboration with producer Danger Mouse, who took home the Grammy for producer of the year, non-classical in 2011. After the Keys’ punchy blues-rock hit “Tighten Up” snagged an award for best rock performance by a duo or group with vocal in 2011, Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney tightened their pop hooks and injected a gospel f lair into their oeuvre with “Lonely Boy.” The track has sold 700,000 copies, according to…

BEST COUNTRY SONG Blown Away SONGWRITERS: Josh Kear, Chris Tompkins ARTIST: Carrie Underwood FROM: Blown Away PUBLISHERS: Global Dog Music/Lunalight Music, Big Loud Songs/Angel River Songs LABEL:19 Recordings/Arista Nashville Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins won the best country song Grammy in 2007 for writing Carrie Underwood’s revenge-filled hit “Before He Cheats.” “Blown Away” took a similarly dark tone after Tompkins ran across a thunderstorm sound effect on his keyboard. It was part of the inspiration for what became an ominous piece about domestic abuse with a twister metaphor, which Underwood carried out in a “Wizard of Oz”-inspired video. Underwood also supported the song live with a swirling, faux tornado. Cost of Livin’ SONGWRITERS: Phillip Coleman, Ronnie Dunn ARTIST: Ronnie Dunn FROM: Ronnie Dunn PUBLISHERS: Tractor Radio Songs, Sony/ATV Tree Publishing,…

BEST ROCK ALBUM El Camino LABEL:Nonesuch PRODUCERS: Danger Mouse, the Black Keys ENGINEER: Kennie Takahashi MIXERS: Tchad Blake, Tom Elmhirst The Black Keys took home the best alternative album Grammy in 2010 for their breakthrough release Brothers. The blues-rock duo—guitarist/vocalist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney—hopes to repeat that success for best rock album this year with its seventh studio set, El Camino. The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and has sold 1 million copies. It also spent five weeks at No. 1 on Top Rock Albums. Meanwhile, Auerbach is competing for producer of the year, nonclassical for his work on albums by Dr. John and Hacienda. Mylo Xyloto COLDPLAY LABEL:Capitol PRODUCERS: Markus Dravs, Daniel Green, Rik Simpson ENGINEERS: Robyn Baynton, Markus Dravs, Rik Simpson MIXERS:…

BEST LATIN ROCK, URBAN OR ALTERNATIVE ALBUM Campo LABEL:Bizarro Records PRODUCERS: Juan Campodónico, Gustavo Santaolalla, Anibal Kerpel ENGINEERS/MIXERS: Joe Chiccarelli, Julio Berta, Anibal Kerpel The debut album from producer Juan Campodónico together with Academy Award winner Gustavo Santaolalla, founder/co-producer of the Bajofondo Collective, Campo mixes elements of pop, electro and rock with neo-tango, neo-cumbia, Latin retro and pop music. It was recently also nominated for a Latin Grammy. Déjenme Llorar CARLA MORRISON LABEL:Cosmica Records PRODUCERS: Andres Landon, Juan Manuel Torreblanca ENGINEERS/MIXERS: Alejandro Jimenez, Christopher Manhey, Diego Suarez At the 13th annual Latin Grammys in November, Carla Morrison took home two trophies for best alternative music album and best alternative song. A strong pop balladeer known for her deep, lovelorn lyrics and passionate live performances, the Mexican-born singer/songwriter is scheduled to…

Despite the ongoing downward trend of TV ratings and pressures on the music industry, the Grammys are bigger than ever. Last year’s ceremony, the 54th in the Recording Academy’s history, drew nearly 40 million viewers to CBS, according to Nielsen, making it the second-mostwatched Grammys of all time. Only the 1984 show, a Thriller-era coronation for the late Michael Jackson, attracted a larger audience. Getting to 40 million was partly the result of solemn circumstances—vocal icon and six-time Grammy winner Whitney Houston was found dead little more than 24 hours before the show’s live broadcast, prompting large numbers of mournful music fans to tune in to commemorate the loss. But it was also the product of a deliberate promotional strategy that leaned heavily on social media, capitalizing on digital platforms…

TWO DAYS BEFORE GET A FACIAL. For that Grammy glow, Madonna and Ke$ha go to New York’s Tracie Martyn, whose facials are said to plump and tighten skin for that face-lift-without-surgery look. $250 and up. traciemartyn.com Country divas Shania Twain and Jennifer Nettles are said to head straight to in-demand dermatologist Dr. David Colbert, whose famed Triad facials are a star must before any awards show. $800. nydg.com TOUCH UP THE HAIR COLOR. New York’s Rita Hazan has given Jennifer Lopez her signature chestnut waves and transformed Katy Perry’s hair from Elvira black to Smurf blue. Jessica Simpson and Mariah Carey are also clients. Single process, $250; highlights, $600 and up. ritahazan.com ONE DAY BEFORE Pick up a slim-cut Band of Outsiders suit or chic, sleek Margiela blazer from celeb…