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Tag: GRAMMY AWARDS

  • 64th Grammy Awards postponed indefinitely

    64th Grammy Awards postponed indefinitely

    The 64th Grammy Awards has been postponed indefinitely amid an unprecedented wave of COVID Omicron variant.

    Recording Academy announced that the awards was postponed indefinitely for safety reasons.

    The awards show had been scheduled for Jan. 31; no new date has been set yet.

    CBS and Recording Academy in a statement said holding the show on January 31 simply contains too many risks given the uncertainty surrounding the Omicron variant.

    Part of the statement read, “After careful consideration and analysis with city and state officials, health and safety experts, the artist community and our many partners, the Recording Academy and CBS have postponed the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards Show.”

    CBS noted that the health and safety of those in our music community, the live audience, and those who tirelessly to produce the award show remains our top priority.

    “We look forward to celebrating Music’s Biggest Night® on a future date, which will be announced soon,” the statement read.

  • My parents asked me for a Grammy, I am a product of sacrifice- Burna Boy

    My parents asked me for a Grammy, I am a product of sacrifice- Burna Boy

    Grammy award-winning artiste, Burna Boy, has received his Grammy award, which was delivered to him on Thursday.

    The ‘Odogwu’ crooner noted that all his siblings delivered on the promises they made to their parents.

    TheNewsGuru recalls that Burna Boy won his Grammy award in the Best Global Music Album category at the 2021 Grammy Awards with his ‘Twice as Tall’ album.

    Burna further revealed that while his sisters promised their parents of an excellent result, he promised them a Grammy award.

    Showing off the plaque his plaque, the ‘Way too big’ singer wrote, “Early Morning deliveries from across the pond! My parents prayed for excellent children, not houses, cars or ‘things’.

    “They asked my sisters for stellar degrees; one got a first-class in Finance, the other got a Distinction in Engineering. They asked me for a Grammy, and here we are. I am a product of sacrifice! Thank God and thank you all again!”

    A-list artistes in the music industry took to his comment section to applaud him.

    Popular disc jockey, DJ Spinall, lauded the talented singer. He wrote, “Congratulations again brother.”

    In addition, melodious singer, Waje wrote, “Congratulations.”

    Ace music producer, Don Jazzy said:” Odogwu congrats again oooo”

     

  • Homecoming: ‘You are our Pride,’ Wike showers praises on Grammy Award winner, Burna boy

    Homecoming: ‘You are our Pride,’ Wike showers praises on Grammy Award winner, Burna boy

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has described Grammy award-winning Afrobeat artist, Burna Boy, whose real name is, Damini Ogulu, as the pride of the state.

    Wike spoke when Burna Boy, his parents and management team paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Saturday.

    The governor said the state was proud of Burna Boy for the rare distinction of becoming a winner of the prestigious Grammy award.

    He said: “There is no Rivers person that will say he or she is not happy with the kind of pride you’ve brought us. I am very happy and I can tell you, whatever you think we can do to promote you, we will continue to do it.”

    Wike congratulated Burna Boy for the honour he did to the people of the state all over the world explaining that when news broke that Burna Boy was the winner in the Best Global Music Album category with his Twice As Tall album, the entire state was elated.

    Earlier, Burna Boy said he was deeply grateful and incredibly humbled to the reception and honour to be conferred on him by the Government of Rivers State.

    He said: “I really appreciate being here. This is probably the biggest honour that will be bestowed on me since I was born. It is one thing to win the Grammy and to be applauded everywhere else in the world and another thing to be loved in your own home and that to me is worth more than anything I can get. So I appreciate you my Governor for taking your time out to do this.”

  • Burna Boy, Wizkid grammy awards, example of services to export – Okonjo-Iweala

    Burna Boy, Wizkid grammy awards, example of services to export – Okonjo-Iweala

    Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of World Trade Organisation (WTO), has applauded Nigeria’s Afrobeats stars, Burna Boy and Wizkid, for wining awards at the 2021 Grammy, saying such services should be encouraged for export in Nigeria.

    OKonjo-Iweala, on Tuesday in Abuja, while meeting with captains of industry sector, said with Nigeria’s large number of educated people, it has a comparative advantage in services with rooms to improve.

    Burna Boy, whose real name is Damini Ogulu, won the Best Global Music Album category with his `twice as tall’, while Wizkid won the Best Video for his song with Beyonce.

    The WTO director-general described the entertainment industry as a vibrant services sector embodied by artists, writers and the new generation of Nigerian musicians, actors and film makers.

    “Recently Nigeria’s Burna Boy and Wizkid won the grammy award for their music and I will like to congratulate and applaud them because they were an example of services we can export.

    “We are exporting so much of our creative arts abroad and this seems to be encouraged,” she said.

    She further said Nigeria’s economy was at a critical juncture, adding that insufficient structural change had made Nigeria more vulnerable to shocks from the fall in oil prices five years ago.

    This, she said, was coupled with the impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

    She said the looming transition to a low carbon global economy implied more changes ahead, hence careful economic planning and management will be vital.

    Speaking on change, she said Nigeria and WTO could help support the process of change because economic growth had been sluggish since 2016 when fallen oil prices pushed Nigeria’s economy to reccession.

    The director-general recalled that before COVID-19 hit the global economy, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in 2018 and 2019 was in the neigbourhood of two per cent with population growth at around 2.5 per cent.

    “The world bank estimates that even without the pandemic two million Nigerians would have fallen into poverty in 2020, the pandemic induced recession is likely to have pushed an additional five million Nigerians into poverty in 2020.

    “Nigeria’s economy shrinked by 2.2 per cent in 2020 and will only recover to 1.5 per cent growth in 2021 according to IMF data.

    “With the domestic market of over 200 million people accounting to close to Africa’s economics outlook Nigeria has the potential to be an engine of investment, innovation and job creation in West Africa,” she said.

    Okonjo-Iweala further said that in 2019 Nigeria accounted for 0.3 per cent of global machendise trade according to WTO data.

    She stated that though the seventh most populous country in the world ranked 48th in the mechandise export and 84th for export of commercial services like cargo, transport and business, among others.

    The former finance minister noted that Nigeria’s trade with other African countries made up of 19 per cent of intra African trade in 2019, roughly in line with the country share in continental.

    This, she said, indicated that only 6.5 per cent of Nigeria’s import came from elsewhere in Africa.

  • [FULL LIST] Winners of 2021 Grammy Awards

    [FULL LIST] Winners of 2021 Grammy Awards

    The 63rd annual Grammy Awards has come and gone but this year’s edition is special for Nigerians as two of our Superstars emerged winners.

    Wizkid and Burna Boy made the list of winners of the prestigious entertainment awards.

    Trevor Noah, South African US-based comedian, hosted the show from the Los Angeles Convention Center.

    It was originally scheduled to take place in January but was postponed due to COVID-19 concerns.

    Here’s the full list of winners

    Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
    WINNER: Lady Gaga with Ariana

    Best R&B Album
    WINNER: John Legend – Bigger Love

    Best Progressive R&B Album
    WINNER: Thundercat – It Is What It Is

    Best R&B Song
    WINNER: Robert Glasper Featuring H.E.R. & Meshell Ndegeocello – Better Than I Imagine

    Best Traditional R&B Performance
    WINNER: Ledisi – Anything for You

    Best Latin Jazz Album
    WINNER: Arturo O’Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra – Four Questions

    Chico Pinhero – City of Dreams

    Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
    WINNER: Maria Schneider Orchestra – Data Lords

    Best Jazz Instrumental Album
    WINNER: Chick Corea, Christian McBride & Brian Blade – Trilogy 2

    Redman Mehldau McBride Blade – Roundagain

    Best Jazz Vocal Album
    WINNER: Kurt Elling featuring Danilo Pérez – Secrets Are the Best Stories

    Carmen Lundy – Modern Ancestors

    Best Improvised Jazz Solo
    WINNER: Chick Corea – All Blues

    Best Alternative Music Album
    WINNER: Fiona Apple – Fetch the Bolt Cutters

    Best Musical Theater Album
    WINNER: Jagged Little Pill

    Best Comedy Album
    WINNER: Tiffany Haddish – Black Mitzvah

    Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling)
    WINNER: Rachel Maddow – Blowout: Corrupted Democracy, Rogue State Russia, and the Richest, Most Destructive Industry on Earth

    Best Children’s Music Album
    WINNER: Joanie Leeds – All the Ladies

    Best Global Music Album
    WINNER: Burna Boy – Twice As Tall

    Best Reggae Album
    WINNER: Toots & the Maytals – Got to Be Tough

    Best Regional Roots Music Album
    WINNER: New Orleans Nightcrawlers – Atmosphere

    Best Folk Album
    WINNER: Gillian Welch & David Rawlings – All the Good Times

    Best Contemporary Blues Album
    WINNER: Fantastic Negrito – Have You Lost Your Mind Yet?

    Best Traditional Blues Album
    WINNER: Bobby Rush – Rawer Than Raw

    Best Bluegrass Album
    WINNER: Billy Strings – Home

    Best Americana Album
    WINNER: Sarah Jarosz – World on the Ground

    Best American Roots Song
    WINNER: John Prine – I Remember Everything

    Best American Roots Performance
    WINNER: John Prine – I Remember Everything

    Best Song Written for Visual Media
    WINNER: Billie Eilish – No Time to Die

    Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
    WINNER: Hildur Guðnadóttir – Joker

    Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
    WINNER: Jojo Rabbit

    Best Contemporary Classical Composition
    WINNER: Christopher Rouse – Rouse: Symphony No. 5

    Best Classical Compendium
    WINNER: Isabel Leonard – Thomas, M.T.: From the Diary of Anne Frank & Matt Haimovitz – Woolf, L.P.: Fire and Flood

    Best Classical Solo Vocal Album
    WINNER: Sarah Brailey & Dashon Burton – Smyth: The Prison

    Best Classical Instrumental Solo
    WINNER: Richard O’Neill – Theofanidis: Concerto for Viola and Chamber Orchestra

    Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance
    WINNER: Pacifica Quartet – Contemporary Voices

    Best Choral Performance
    WINNER: James K. Bass, J’Nai Bridges, Timothy Fallon, Kenneth Overton, Hila Plitmann & Matthew Worth; Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra; Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus & UCLA Chamber Singers – Danielpour: The Passion of Yeshua.

    Best Opera Recording
    WINNER: The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera

    Best Orchestral Performance
    WINNER: Los Angeles Philharmonic – Ives: Complete Symphonies

    Best Tropical Latin Album
    WINNER: Grupo Niche – 40

    Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)
    WINNER: Natalia Lafourcade – Un Canto por México, Vol. 1

    Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album
    WINNER: Rito Paez – La Conquesta del Espacio

    Producer of the Year, Classical
    WINNER: David Frost

    Best Engineered Album, Classical
    WINNER: Riccardo Muti & Chicago Symphony Orchestra – Shostakovich: Symphony No. 13, “Babi Yar”

    Best Remixed Recording
    WINNER: Saint Jhn – Roses (Imanbek Remix)

    Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
    WINNER: Beck – Hyperspace

    Best Historical Album
    WINNER: Mister Rogers – It’s Such a Good Feeling: The Best of Mister Rogers

    Best Album Notes
    WINNER: The Replacements – Dead Man’s Pop

    Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package
    WINNER: Wilco – Ode to Joy

    Best Recording Package
    WINNER: Desert Sessions – Vols. 11 & 12

    Best Roots Gospel Album
    WINNER: Fisk Jubilee Singers – Celebrating Fisk! (The 150th Anniversary Album)

    Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
    WINNER: Kanye West – Jesus Is King

    Best Gospel Album
    WINNER: PJ Morton – Gospel According to PJ.

    Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
    WINNER: Zach Williams & Dolly Parton – There Was Jesus

    Best Gospel Performance/Song
    WINNER: Jonathan McReynolds & Mali Music – Movin’ On

    Best New Age Album
    WINNER: Jim “Kimo” West – More Guitar Stories

    Best Music Film
    WINNER: Linda Ronstadt – Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice

    Best Music Video
    WINNER: Beyoncé – Brown Skin Girl

    Best Arrangement, Instruments, and Vocals
    WINNER: Jacob Collier – He Won’t Hold You

    Best Arrangement, Instrumental, or A Cappella
    WINNER: John Beasley – Donna Lee

    Best Instrumental Composition
    WINNER: Maria Schneider – Sputnik

    Best Contemporary Instrumental Album
    WINNER: Snarky Puppy – Live at the Royal Albert Hall

    Best Dance/Electronic Album
    WINNER: Kaytranada – Bubba

    Best Dance Recording
    WINNER: Kaytranada Featuring Kali Uchis – 10%

  • Beyonce breaks Grammy record, becomes female artist with most wins

    Beyonce breaks Grammy record, becomes female artist with most wins

    International music sensation, Beyonce made Grammys history on Sunday after a latest win to become most decorated singer with 28 career wins.

    She secured the record after winning Best R&B Song for her hit “Black Parade,” a single celebrating Black culture and activism that dropped in the wake of mass protests ignited by the death of George Floyd in police custody in the summer of 2020.

    “I am so honored. I’m so excited. Thank you,” said the singer, who made a surprise showing at the gala she has skipped for the past several years.

    “As an artist I believe it’s my job and all of our jobs to reflect our times. So I wanted to uplift, encourage, celebrate all of the beautiful Black queens and kings that continue to inspire me and inspire the whole world,” she continued, wearing a curve-hugging black leather mini dress.

    “It’s such a magical night, thank you so much,” Beyonce said, adding her gratitude to her children — after the eldest, Blue Ivy, won her first Grammy for her appearance in the music video “Brown Skin Girl.”

    “I’m so honored to be your mommy, all of your mommies. Y’all are my babies. And I’m so proud of y’all. I love you so much, my rock,” she said, nodding to her husband, rapper Jay-Z.

    It is a major moment for the 39-year-old Beyonce, whose repeated snubs in top award fields have raised eyebrows and stirred controversy.

    She is the Grammy’s most nominated female artist ever with 79, tied with Paul McCartney as the second most nominated act and only one behind husband Jay-Z and industry legend Quincy Jones.

    Prior to 2021, the megastar boasted 24 Grammy wins to her name — but notoriously lost Album of the Year in 2017 to British balladeer Adele, a controversial snub often cited as an example of the Recording Academy’s diversity issues.

    Critics praised “Black Parade” for Beyonce’s strong vocals as well as its lyrics that simultaneously condemn racism, issue a call for activism and pay homage to Black culture.

    Proceeds from the song benefit Beyonce’s Black Business Impact Fund, which supports Black-owned small businesses.

  • Naomi Campbell writes open letter to Grammy Awards organizers after Burna Boy’s loss

    Naomi Campbell writes open letter to Grammy Awards organizers after Burna Boy’s loss

    Supermodel Naomi Campbell has written an open letter to the organizers of Grammy Awards after Burna Boy’s loss to Angelique Kidjo at the 2020 edition of the awards.

    Naomi Campbell who praised Angelique for spreading light and opening minds through her music, stated that Burna Boy has not been given the accolades he truly deserves due to lack of education.

    The supermodel averred that categorization of afrobeats in the ‘World Music’ category of the 2020 Grammys, diminished an entire genre in which such a high standard of talent has emerged.

    Naomi who queried the recording academy on the voting pattern of the category, urged them to use the next 363 days to reassess and reflect on their perspective of ‘World Music.’

  • Burna Boy thrills guests at pre-Grammy Awards party

    Nigerians are anticipating the 2020 Grammy awards for none other reason but to hear if Burna Boy will emerge winner in the category he was nominated in.

    On Sunday, January 26, most of the biggest names in entertainment and music will gather in Los Angeles’ Staples Center for one of the most important nights in the history of music.

    This year’s Grammy award show will see new and old stars unite to celebrate their accomplishments in the music industry including our very own Burna Boy who was nominated in the Best World Music Album category, earning the top spot for his 2019 project African Giant.

    Earlier this week, Burna Boy joined a slew of other celebs for the pre-2020 Grammys party and also gave a thrilling performance of his hit single “Killin Dem“. Other celebs spotted at the party included music stars like Billie Eilish, Lil Nas, Bebe Rexha, Wiz Khalifa, Kehlani, JoJo, Lizzo.

    Watch the video below:

    In addition to this, the Killin Dem crooner recently got nominated for International Male Solo Artist at the upcoming Brits Awards. He will be going head-to-head with the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Tyler, the Creator, Dermot Kennedy, and Post Malone.

  • Ousted Grammys CEO Dugan threatens to ‘expose’ organisers

    Ousted Grammys CEO Dugan threatens to ‘expose’ organisers

    Eight days ahead of the 62nd Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy is in the throes of a ‘Dugan storm’ as the ousted CEO threatened to expose shenanigans in the organisation.

    CEO Deborah Dugan has been placed on “administrative leave” after six months on the job following a misconduct allegation, the Academy confirmed to USA TODAY in a statement provided by Lourdes Lopez.

    On Friday, Dugan said there’s more to the story in a statement to the Associated Press through her attorney Bryan Freedman.

    “What has been reported is not nearly the story that needs to be told. When our ability to speak is not restrained by a 28-page contract and legal threats, we will expose what happens when you ‘step up’ at the Recording Academy, a public nonprofit,” the statement read.

    In August, Dugan became the first woman to lead the Recording Academy, replacing longtime head Neil Portnow, who in 2018 suggested female artists should “step up” if they wanted to be recognized in the music industry. Dugan previously served as the CEO of Bono’s (RED) organization.

    Board Chair Harvey Mason Jr., a music producer who has worked with Chris Brown, Jennifer Hudson and more, will serve as interim president while the allegations are investigated by two independent third-parties.

    “The Board determined this action to be necessary in order to restore the confidence of the Recording Academy’s Membership, repair Recording Academy employee morale, and allow the Recording Academy to focus on its mission of serving all music creators,” the statement said.

    The Recording Academy added that the “Board of Trustees is committed to fostering a safe, diverse, and inclusive workplace, music industry, and society.”

    The 2020 Grammy Awards will be broadcast live on CBS from Los Angeles’ Staples Center on Jan. 26. The ceremony will again be hosted by Alicia Keys.

    This year’s Grammys are set to feature performances by Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Demi Lovato, Aerosmith, Bonnie Raitt, Tyler, the Creator, Run-DMC, Rosalía, H.E.R. and Lizzo, who is the top nominee with eight.

    Nigeria’s Burna Boy is also in the race for an award.

  • Grammy Awards boring- Seun Kuti declares

    Grammy Awards boring- Seun Kuti declares

    Afrobeat maestro, Seun Kuti has described music award ceremony, Grammy, as “boring.”

    The controversial saxophonist made this known in a chat with LITV.

    “Grammys are boring y’all. I’m sorry to tell you. First of all, it starts at 2, that’s what I didn’t know. Because on TV. it starts at 8.

    “That 2 hours on TV, that’s the ghen ghen part. Grammy starts at 2. And from 2 to 7 is a big Jesus Christ party. Nigerians will feel welcome in this place, I’m telling you … It is about 40 different gospel categories. You don’t even understand how big the Grammys is tied. That’s why I understood when Soweto Gospel Choir won,” he said.

     

    TheNewsGuru recalls that Seun Kuti lost out in the ‘World Music Award’ category to South African group, Soweto Gospel Choir, at the 2019 edition of the Grammys held in February at the Staples Centre, Los Angeles, California.

    The Soweto Gospel Choir clinched the award in that category to become the most successful African group in Grammy award history.