The Buck Stop Here: Grammy Party Cutbacks

via Showbiz 411

This shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise since record or CD or download sales are literally at a fraction of what they used to be: on Grammy night, the two biggest record companies are not having after parties. As of now, Universal Music–the leader–has nothing scheduled. It’s unclear where their artists-like Lady GaGa, Justin Bieber, and Eminem will go to celebrate. Of course, as one UMG insider pointed out, Bieber is nowhere drinking age and Monday is a school day. Right.

Meanwhile Sony Music–second in the business–is having a small gathering for what they say will be 150 people including execs, nominees, and people like Barbra Streisand and Tony Bennett. Sounds like fun. Exec wise, Sony is in a muddle over trying to get 72 year old Doug Morris extricated from his UMG contract to come run their company.

R&B artist NeYo has cancelled his annual late night brunch that usually starts at 2am on Sunday after Clive Davis’s Saturday night NARAS backed gala at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Also not happening: LA Reid’s annual party, even though the Def Jam chief is celebrating his producer’s credit on the Justin Bieber 3D movie (which is not called Leave it to Biever).

The Davis event is still on, honoring David Geffen, with rumors of a Dionne Warwick tribute featuring her cousin, Whitney Houston. The Davis night is one of two big soirees on a weekend that’s incredibly diminished from what it used to be. The other is Friday night’s MusiCares Person of the Year dinner honoring Barbra Streisand, a hot hot ticket at the Convention Center.

At the same time that Sony and UMG have skipped spending big bucks, there’s word that EMI–a company in financial jeopardy and recently seized by Citigroup–his having a “big” party in town. Well, they do have artists to entertain like Katy Perry and Lady Antebellum, so it’s not totally nuts. Past EMI parties have always been fun. And there’s a rumor of a Lyor Cohen after party hosted by the Warner Music exec.

There’s also the NARAS Governor’s Ball right after the show, although it’s not usually a place to see stars. But what a difference in a business that used to live on lavish parties. The heyday is really over.

Roots Jam Session Returns To L.A. During Grammy Weekend

After last year's absence, the Roots return with their 6th annual all-star jam session which took place at the revamped Key Club in West Hollywood, CA Saturday January 30. Seen here, Mos Def, Foreign Exchange and Jay Electronica all took the stage with the Roots as the hip hop house band, running through each others hip hop classic catalogs.

Photos from the red carpet & more:
Getty Images
Film Magic
Wire Image
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more footage from red carpet below.



(video footage courtesy of ok player & UrbanSpinOnline)

Eminem: Los Angeles Times Favors 'Relapse' As Best Rap Album At Grammys

The category: Best rap album

The field at a glance: Three of the last five years, the best rap album went to Kanye West. During the eligibility period for the 2010 awards, West drifted from his hip-hop past, offering up a collection of moody pop with "808s and Heartbreak," and thus opening up the rap album field.

But West isn't the only superstar absent from this category. Due to a one-month advance in the eligibility period from Sept. 31 to Aug. 31, Jay-Z's "The Blueprint 3" missed the window to be considered for the 2010 awards, having been released on Sept. 8. The omission of the 2010 Coachella headliner will be felt, as the album has sold more than 1.5 million copies in just four months, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

What's left, however, is a rather broad snapshot of hip-hop over 2009. Flo Rida maintained his dominance as a singles artist, as his "Right Round" featuring Ke$ha sold more than 4 million downloads throughout 2009. His album "R.O.O.T.S.," however, didn't make the same impact as its individual cuts.

Introspective rapper and perennial nominee Common went the party route with his more lighthearted "Universal Mind Control," and indie-minded artists such as Mos Def and Q-Tip are also represented in the field. Q-Tip's album, "The Renaissance," was released in late 2008 and featured him melding hip-hop and neo-soul, as well as working with an impressive group of collaborators including Norah Jones and Nelly Furtado. It should be the kind of easily approachable album Grammy voters love, but it's far from the biggest success in the category, as Eminem's first album in five years, "Relapse," rounds out the field.

And the Grammy goes to: Book it for Eminem. Though some of the rapper's outrageous attacks at times felt a bit dated or obvious (Jessica Simpson? Hannah Montana?), the album still achieved the kind of sales success that voters won't pass up. To date, the spring release has sold more than 1.75 million copies, and whether making borderline violent videos or lashing out at Mariah Carey, Eminem proved to still be adept at garnering headlines. Q-Tip deserves it, but Eminem will get his fourth best rap album Grammy on Jan. 31. (source)

52nd Annual Grammy List Of Nominees

A huge Grammy snub towards Kanye West. Maybe next year Kanye.

RECORD OF THE YEAR

"Halo," Beyonce

"I Gotta Feeling," The Black Eyed Peas

"Use Somebody," Kings of Leon

"Poker Face," Lady Gaga

"You Belong With Me," Taylor Swift

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

"I Am...Sasha Fierce," Beyonce

"The E.N.D.," The Black Eyed Peas

"The Fame," Lady Gaga

"Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King," Dave Matthews Band

"Fearless," Taylor Swift

BEST NEW ARTIST

Zac Brown Band

Keri Hilson

MGMT

Silversun Pickups

The Ting Tings

For the complete list:
52nd Annual Grammy Awards Nominees List