FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 7, 2016
The American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) recognizes the Independent music labels and artists who control their own copyrights by congratulating them on their nominations for the 59th annual Grammy Awards, earning 283 out of 420 non-producer category nominations. This is the seventh year in the row for the achievement, and Independents continue to reach new heights through diverse music, composition, arrangement and songwriting, scoring the majority of nominations in 38 of the 84 non-producer categories.
Independent labels received several nominations in key categories, including Record of the Year, Best New Artist, Best R&B Album, Best Rap Album, Best New Age Album, Best Alternative Music Album, Best Urban Contemporary Album, Best Rap/Sung Performance, and Best R&B Performance. For eight of the categories, including Best Latin Jazz Album, Best Traditional Blues Album, Best Reggae Album, Best Engineered Album/Classical, Best Orchestral Field/Classical, Best Opera Recording/Classical, and Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance and Best Contemporary Classical Composition, Independents secured 100% of the nominations.
Leading the way with multiple nominations from the A2IM Independent member community were Entertainment One, Rounder Records, ATO Records, Motema Music, Concord Music Group and Naxos.
“Congratulations to all of our members who have recordings nominated for the 59th Annual Grammy awards. We are proud to announce that independent labels garnered 67% of the 420 nominations, the highest number yet.” Said A2IM CEO Richard James Burgess. “This is the seventh year in a row that independent labels have received a majority of the Grammy nominations proving, yet again, that independent labels are able to attract the very best artists, make great records, and consummate hits.”
Rihanna (Westbury Road Entertainment) leads the independent artist nominations, receiving nods in eight categories, including Record of the Year, Best Urban Contemporary Album, Best R&B Song, Best R&B Performance, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best Rap/Sung Performance, Best Rap Song and Best Recording package categories. Also an independent artist, Chance The Rapper (Chance The Rapper) scored the most nominations of any Best New Artist contender with six nominations in the Best Rap Performance, Best Rap/Sung Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Album categories.
A2IM member Entertainment One received eight nominations and is up for awards in the Best R&B Performance (Music Soulchild), Best Traditional R&B Performance (Lalah Hathaway), Best R&B Album (Lalah Hathaway), Best Gospel Performance/Song (Shirley Caesar feat. Anthony Hamilton, Jekalyn Carr, Hezekiah Walker) and Best Gospel Album (Shirley Caesar, Todd Delaney) categories.
Rounder Records received five nominations, including Best Americana Album (The Time Jumpers), Best Bluegrass Album, Blue Highway, The O’Connor Band), Best Traditional Blues Album (Bobby Rush) and Best Folk Album (Sierra Hull).
ATO Records and Motema Music received four nominations each. ATO’s nominations included Best Rock Performance (Alabama Shakes), Best Reggae Album (SOJA), Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package (Paper Wheels) and Best Surround Sound Album (Primus & The Chocolate Factory), and Motema Music received nods in the Best Improvised Jazz Solo (Joey Alexander, soloist), Best Jazz Vocal Album (Rene Marie), Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album (Ted Nash Big Band), and Best Instrumental Composition (Ted Nash, composer) categories.
Concord Music Group received three nominations, including Best Contemporary Blues Album (The Record Company), Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals (Alan Broadbent, arranger) and Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package (Simon Earth & James Musgrave, art directors).
Naxos proved once again to be the Classical music powerhouse with five nominations for Best Engineered Album, Best Choral Performance, Best classical Instrumental Solo, Best Classical Compendium and Best Contemporary Classical Composition.
Other A2IM members receiving nominations: Big Machine, 300 Entertainment, Curb Records, Black River Entertainment, Mom+Pop Music/Future Classic, Ghostly International, Jagjaguwar, Vagrant, Secretly Canadian, Loma Vista Recordings, BMG, Archeophone Records, Mack Avenue Records, Numero Group, XL Recordings, Alligator Records, Mascot Records, Sugar Hill Records, Compass Records, Provogue, Cleopatra Records, Bloodshot Records, Canyon Records, VP Records, Ghostlight, Blue Engine Records, Roughtrade, Six Degrees Records and Domino Recordings.