EMI Music Publishing songwriters including Jay-Z and Kanye West lead the way at the Grammy nominations

December 6, 2008 by Dennis Amith

New York/Los Angeles, 4 December 2009 — EMI Music Publishing songwriters once again led the way in the nominations for the annual GRAMMY Awards, which were announced in Los Angeles yesterday. Jay-Z, Kanye West, Duffy, Stargate, Death Cab For Cutie, Snoop Dogg, Mary Mary and Alicia Keys all earned multiple nominations for the awards to be held at the Staples Center in LA on February 8, 2009.

Jay-Z scored a mammoth six nominations, following the release of ‘American Gangster’ which is recognized in the Album of the Year and Best Rap Album categories. ‘Roc Boys (And The Winner Is)’ is nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance, while ‘Swagga Like Us’ (by Jay-Z and T.I. featuring Kanye West and Lil Wayne) scores two nominations for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. He receives an additional nomination in the latter category for ‘Mr Carter’, which he co-wrote and performed alongside Lil Wayne.

Kanye West, who won five Grammys at the 50th annual awards in February this year, picks up another six nominations this year. ‘American Boy’, which Kanye performed on alongside Estelle, is nominated for Song of the Year and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. He shares two nominations in the Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group section (‘Swagga Like Us’ and ‘Put On’), as well as the nomination for ‘Swagga Like Us’ for Best Rap Song. He additionally features on Lil Wayne’s album ‘Tha Carter III’, which is nominated for Album of the Year. Lil Wayne’s chart-topping hit ‘Lollipop’ (recognized for Best Rap Song) was co-written by EMI Music Publishing songwriters Jim Jonsin and the late Static Major.

Duffy, whose debut album ‘Rockferry’ became a worldwide hit this year on the back of hit songs including ‘Mercy’ and ‘Warwick Avenue’, picked up three nominations including a nod in the prestigious Best New Artist category. ‘Rockferry’ is nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album, while the Welsh singer is additionally recognized for Female Pop Vocal Performance (‘Mercy’). Also nominated in the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance category is Pink (‘So What’), while Cathy Dennis’s songwriting helped Katy Perry get recognition for ‘I Kissed A Girl’.

EMI Music Publishing writers dominate the R&B and rap sections, with nominations in multiple categories. Stargate songwriters and producers Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel Eriksen grabbed two nominations for Best R&B Song, for their work on Jennifer Hudson’s ‘Spotlight’ and Ne-Yo’s ‘Miss Independent’. Their songwriting helped Ne-Yo score seven nominations in total, including Album of the Year and Best Contemporary R&B Album for ‘Year of the Gentleman’.

Salaam Remi is also nominated in the Best R&B Song category for his work on Jazmine Sullivan’s ‘Bust Yer Windows’, from the album ‘Fearless’ which is recognized in the Best Contemporary R&B Album category. Also nominated are Beyonce (Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for ‘Me Myself & I’), Usher (Best Male R&B Performance, ‘Here I Stand’) and Chrisette Michele (Best Urban/Alternative Performance, ‘Be OK’ featuring will.i.am).

Alicia Keys earned three more Grammy nominations, this time picking up nods for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals (‘Lesson Learned’ with John Mayer), Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (‘Superwoman’) and Best Short Form Music Video (‘Another Way To Die’, with Jack White).

In the rap section, Snoop Dogg scores two nominations for ‘Sexual Eruption’ for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Solo Performance. Ludacris is nominated alongside T.I for Best Rap Performance (‘Wish You Would’), as is Young Jeezy (featuring Kanye West) for ‘Put On’.

Death Cab For Cutie earned two nominations following the release of their chart-topping album ‘Narrow Stairs’ earlier this year. ‘I Will Possess Your Heart’ picked up a nod in the Best Rock Song category, while ‘Narrow Stairs’ was recognized in the Best Alternative Album section.

EMI Music Publishing’s writers are well-represented in the rock and metal categories. Dragonforce pick up a debut nomination in the Best Metal Performance section, for ‘Heroes Of Our Time’. They’ll go up against Slipknot, who received recognition for ‘Psychosocial.’ AC/DC are nominated for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals (‘Rock’n’Roll Train’).

Critically acclaimed artist Sam Sparro is nominated in the Best Dance Recording section for ‘Black & Gold’ (written with fellow EMI writer Jesse Rogg). Also nominated in the category is EMI Music Publishing songwriter Rihanna, for hit song ‘Disturbia’. Rihanna is additionally nominated for Best Pop Collaboration with vocals (‘If I Never See Your Face Again’ with Maroon 5) and Best Long Form Music Video (‘Good Girl Gone Bad Live’).

American gospel duo Mary Mary picked up three nominations in the gospel category, with the sisters grabbing nods for Best Gospel Song, Best Gospel Performance for (‘Get Up’) and Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album.

Country duo Sugarland, featuring EMI Music Publishing songwriter Kristian Bush, is nominated in the Best Country Duo or Group and Best Country Song categories for ‘Stay’, as well as Best Country Collaboration for ‘Life In A Northern Town’ with Jake Owen and Little Big Town.

EMI Music Publishing Nashville writer Jamey Johnson picked up three nominations, including two for Best Male Country Performance and Best Country Song for the self-written and performed ‘In Color’, as well as Best Country Album for ‘That Lonesome Song’. Brad Paisley earned two more Grammy nominations, for Best Male Country Performance (‘Letter To Me’) and Best Country Instrumental Performance (‘Cluster Pluck’), while Lee Thomas Miller was recognized in the Best Country Song section for his work on Trace Adkins’ ‘You’re Gonna Miss This’.

Monty Holmes wrote the title track and single for George Strait’s ‘Troubadour’, which is nominated for Best Country Album, while newest signing Hillary Scott of the band Lady Antebellum scored two Grammy nods for Best New Country Artist and Best Country Duo or Group. In all, EMI Music Publishing Nashville’s songwriters and artists are represented on 16 of the 35 total award nominations in the country section.

British singer and EMI Music Publishing songwriter Leona Lewis, who sprang to fame after winning the UK talent show ‘The X Factor’ picks up three nominations, for Best Pop Vocal Album (‘Spirit’), Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (‘Bleeding Love’).

EMI Music Publishing singer/songwriter Julio Ramos (aka Voltio) wrote on all the songs of his album ‘En Lo Claro’, which picks up a nomination in the Best Latin Urban Album category. Also nominated in the same category are brothers Sergio & Francisco Gomez who, as the band Akwid, wrote on all songs on the ‘La Novela’ album.