The 2009 Grammy Awards, fighting a downtrend in viewership over the past couple of years, is trying to drum up interest for next year's edition with a novel approach. For the announcement of the 2009 Grammy Award nominations / nominees tonight, they have done away with the usually drab early morning show. In fact, what they're doing is the exact opposite, with top nominees revealed by invading prime time television with a concert-like show complete with live performances from potential nominees.

Taylor Swift is likely among them. The 18-year-old was nominated last year for a best new artist Grammy and was named favorite female country artist at last month's American Music Awards.
Her debut album, released in 2006, has sold more than 3 million copies and her new CD, "Fearless," topped the charts when it was releases last month. Mariah Carey is another Grammy favorite who could be nominated for her latest CD, 'EMC2'. Other potential nominees include Coldplay, Radiohead, Lil Wayne and Rihanna, who won a Grammy last year for best rap/sung collaboration with Jay Z on the smash "Umbrella." Her hit-filled 2007 album, "Good Girl Gone Bad," was rereleased over the summer with additional hits, giving her another shot at Grammy love. British singer Duffy, who shot to No. 1 with her catchy single, "Mercy," is likely to be among best new artist nominees, along with fellow Brit Estelle, who raked in accolades for her track, "American Boy," with Kanye West.

Dubbed "The Grammy Nominations Concert Live! — Countdown to Music's Biggest Night," the Grammy show will be hosted by Taylor Swift and LL Cool J and will announce nominees in just a handful of the Grammy Awards' 110 categories. Swift will also be performing in the show, as well as Mariah Carey, John Mayer, Foo Fighters, Celine Dion and B.B. King. According the the Recording Academy, this may well become an annual event, a perfect way to initiate and get the ultimate amount of attention for the Grammy season.

Personally, I think this is a great move. Nothing gets more interest and attention than moving the 2009 Grammy nominations/nominees show to prime time. Who watches the early morning announcements anyway? In a world where almost all information is available on the internet, why bother to wake up early in the morning for such a list. A simple click of the mouse will give you that, anytime, anywhere. On the other hand, a prime time show with live performances from some of our favorite recording artists, will help connect the Grammys once more to its audience and add excitement for the announcement of the winners in a couple of months time.

Partial List: 2009 Grammy Awards Nominees / Nominations

Record of the Year
Chasing Pavements, Adele
Viva La Vida, Coldplay
Bleeding Love, Leona Lewis
Paper Planes, M.I.A.
Please Read the Letter, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

Album of the Year
Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, Coldplay
Tha Carter III, Lil Wayne
Year of the Gentleman, Ne-Yo
Raising Sand, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
In Rainbows, Radiohead

Song of the Year
American Boy, Estelle feat. Kanye West
Chasing Pavements, Adele
I'm Yours, Jason Mraz
Love Song, Sarah Bareilles
Viva La Vida, Coldplay

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
Kid Rock, All Summer Long,
John Mayer, Say
Paul McCartney, That Was Me
Jason Mraz, I'm Yours
Ne-Yo, Closer
James Taylor, Wichita Lineman

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
Adele, Chasing Pavements
Sara Bareilles, Love Song
Duffy, Mercy
Leona Lewis, Bleeding Love
Katy Perry, I Kissed a Girl
Pink, So What

Best New Artist
Adele
Duffy
Jonas Brothers
Lady Antebellum
Jazmine Sullivan

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
Coldplay, Viva La Vida
Eagles, Waiting in the Weeds
Gnarls Barkley, Going On
Maroon 5, Won't Go Home Without You
One Republic, Apologize

Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
Alicia Keys & John Mayer, Lesson Learned
Madonna, Justin Timberlake & Timbaland, Four Minutes
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Rich Woman
Rihanna & Maroon 5, If I Never See Your Face Again
Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown, No Air

Best Pop Instrumental Album
Sax For Stax, Gerald Albright
Greatest Hits Rerecorded Volume One, Larry Carlton
Jingle All The Way, Béla Fleck & The Flecktones
The Spice Of Life, Earl Klugh
A Night Before Christmas, Spyro Gyra

Best Pop Instrumental Performance
Steve Cropper & Felix Cavaliere, Love Appetite
Eagles, I Dreamed There Was No War
Fourplay, Fortune Teller
Stanley Jordan, Steppin' Out
Marcus Miller, Blast!

Best Pop Vocal Album
Detours, Sheryl Crow
Rockferry, Duffy
Long Road Out Of Eden, Eagles
Spirit, Leona Lewis
Covers, James Taylor

Best Dance Recording
Harder Better Faster Stronger, Daft Punk
Ready for the Flow, Hot Chip
Just Dance, Lady Gaga & Colby O'Donis
Give It 2 Me, Madonna
Disturbia, Rihanna
Black & Gold, Sam Sparro

Best Electronic or Dance Album
New York City, Brazilian Girls
Alive 2007, Daft Punk
Bring Ya to the Brink, Cyndi Lauper
X, Kylie Minogue
Last Night, Moby
Robyn, Robyn

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Still Unforgettable, Natalie Cole
The Sinatra Project, Michael Feinstein
Noël, Josh Groban
In The Swing Of Christmas, Barry Manilow
Rufus Does Judy At Carnegie Hall, Rufus Wainwright

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance
John Mayer, Gravity
Paul McCartney, I Saw Her Standing There
Bruce Springsteen, Girls in Their Summer Clothes
Eddie Vedder, Rise
Neil Young, No Hidden Path

Best Metal Performance
DragonForce, Heroes Of Our Time
Judas Priest, Nostradamus
Metallica, My Apocalypse
Ministry, Under My Thumb
Slipknot, Psychosocial

Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
AC/DC, Rock N Roll Train
Coldplay, Violet Hill
Eagles, Long Road Out of Eden
Kings of Leon, Sex on Fire
Radiohead, House of Cards

Best Hard Rock Performance
Disturbed, Inside The Fire
Judas Priest, Visions
The Mars Volta, Wax Simulacra
Mötley Crüe, Saints of Los Angeles
Rob Zombie, Lords of Salem

Best Rock Instrumental Performance
David Gilmour, Castellorizon
Metallica, Suicide & Redemption
Nine Inch Nails, 34 Ghosts I-IV
Rush, Hope (Live For The Art Of Peace)
Zappa Plays Zappa, Peaches En Regalia

Best Rock Song
Girls in Their Summer Clothes, Bruce Springsteen
House Of Cards, Radiohead
I Will Possess Your Heart, Death Cab For Cutie
Sex On Fire, Kings of Leon
Violet Hill, Coldplay

Best Rock Album
Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends, Coldplay
Rock N Roll Jesus, Kid Rock
Only By The Night, Kings of Leon
Death Magnetic, Metallica
Consolers Of The Lonely, The Raconteurs

Best Alternative Music Album
Modern Guilt, Beck
Narrow Stairs, Death Cab for Cutie
The Odd Couple, Gnarls Barkley
Evil Urges, My Morning Jacket
In Rainbows, Radiohead

Best Urban/Alternative Performance
Kenna, Say Goodbye to Love
Maiysha, Wanna Be
Chrisette Michele feat. will.i.am, Be OK
Janelle Monae, Many Moons
Wayna feat. Kokayi, Lovin You (Music)

Best R&B Song
Bust Your Windows, Jazmine Sullivan
Customer, Raheem DeVaughn
Heaven Sent, Keyshia Cole
Miss Independent, Ne-Yo
Spotlight, Jennifer Hudson

Best R&B Album
Love & Life, Eric Benet
Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA, Boyz II Men
Lay It Down, Al Green
Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Hudson
The Way I See It, Raphael Saadiq

Best Contemporary R&B Album
Growing Pains, Mary J. Blige
Back Of My Lac', J. Holiday
First Love, Karina
Year Of The Gentleman, Ne-Yo
Fearless, Jazmine Sullivan

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
Eric Benét, You're The Only One
Chris Brown, Take You Down
Ne-Yo, Miss Independent
Trey Songz, Can't Help But Wait
Usher, Here I Stand

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
Beyoncé, Me, Myself And I
Keyshia Cole, Heaven Sent
Jennifer Hudson, Spotlight
Alicia Keys, Superwoman
Jazmine Sullivan, Need U Bad

Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
Boyz II Men, Ribbon In The Sky
Anthony David feat. India.Arie, Wordsl
Al Green feat. John Legend, Stay With Me (By The Sea)
Jennifer Hudson feat. Fantasia, I'm His Only Woman
Raphael Saadiq feat. Stevie Wonder & CJ Hilton, Never Give You Up

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
Wayne Brady, A Change Is Gonna Come
Al Green feat. Anthony Hamilton, You've Got The Love I Need
(Linda Jones) With Helen Bruner & Terry Jones, Baby I Know
Raphael Saadiq, Love That Girl
Jazmine Sullivan, In Love With Another Man

Best Rap Solo Performance
Jay-Z, Roc Boys (And The Winner Is)...
Lil Wayne, A Milli
Lupe Fiasco, Paris, Tokyo
Nas, N.i.-.-.e.r. (The Slave And The Master)
Snoop Dogg, Sexual Eruption

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group
Big Boi feat. Raekwon And Andre 3000, Royal Flush
Jay-Z & T.I. feat. Kanye West & Lil Wayne, Swagga Like Us
Lil Wayne feat. Jay-Z, Mr. Carter
Ludacris feat. T.I., Wish You Would
Young Jeezy feat. Kanye West, Put On

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Estelle feat. Kanye West, American Boy
Flo Rida feat. T-Pain, Low
John Legend & Andre 3000, Green Light
Lil Wayne feat. T-Pain, Got Money
Lupe Fiasco feat. Matthew Santos, Superstar

Best Rap Song
Lollipop, Lil Wayne feat. Static Major
Low, Flo Rida feat. T-Pain
Sexual Eruption, Snoop Dogg
Superstar, Lupe Fiasco feat. Matthew Santos
Swagga Like Us, Jay-Z & T.I. feat. Kanye West & Lil Wayne

Best Rap Album
American Gangster, Jay-Z
Tha Carter III, Lil Wayne
The Cool, Lupe Fiasco
Nas, Nas
Paper Trail, T.I.

Best Female Country Vocal Performance
Martina McBride, For These Times
LeAnn Rimes, What I Cannot Change
Carrie Underwood, Last Name
Lee Ann Womack, Last Call
Trisha Yearwood, This Is Me You're Talking To

Best Male Country Vocal Performance
Trace Adkins, You're Gonna Miss This
Jamey Johnson, In Color
James Otto, Just Got Started Lovin' You
Brad Paisley, Letter To Me
George Strait, Troubadour

Best Country Song
Dig Two Graves, Randy Travis
I Saw God Today, George Strait
In Color, Jamey Johnson
Stay, Sugarland
You're Gonna Miss This, Trace Adkins

Best Country Album
That Lonesome Song, Jamey Johnson
Sleepless Nights, Patty Loveless
Troubadour, George Strait
Around The Bend, Randy Travis
Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love, Trisha Yearwood

Postscript: BTW, Here are the important dates to remember in the 2009 Hollywood awards calendar: the 2009 Golden Globe nominations on December 11, the SAG nominations on December 18, the 2009 Golden Globe Awards on January 11, the 2009 Oscar nominations/Academy Award nominations on January 22, the SAG Awards winners/results on January 25 and the 2009 Oscar Awards on February 22, 2009. And while we're on the subject of awards, let's throw in the 2009 Grammy nominations announced last December 3 and 2009 Grammy Awards (winners and results) on February 8, 2009.

If you like this post, then please consider subscribing to my RSS feed. You can also subscribe by email and have new posts sent directly to your inbox.

Your Ad Here