Blog Posts by Paul Grein

Photo: Leigh Vogel/FilmMagicThe Grammys' decision to cut or consolidate 31 categories this year has triggered growing controversy. Critics have charged that the Grammys were insensitive to the needs of artists who populate the less prominent categories, to whom a nomination or award can make a meaningful difference in their careers (in getting publicity and better concert bookings). The critics have a point that Lady Gaga and Katy Perry hardly need Grammy glory, while musicians in specialized categories do. The Rev. Jesse Jackson has called for a meeting with Neil Portnow, the President and CEO of the Recording Academy. The two have agreed to meet before the Grammys are presented on Feb. 12.

Several major Grammy winners have expressed their support of the musicians whose categories were cut or consolidated. These musicians include Carlos Santana, Paul Simon, Bonnie Raitt, Herbie Hancock and Alison Krauss.

Nicki Minaj has seemed to be the front-runner to win the Grammy for Best New Artist since her debut album, Pink Friday, entered The Billboard 200 at #2 in November 2010. The album later reached #1. Minaj has amassed five top 10 singles, counting featured credits on hits by Trey Songz, Drake, Big Sean and David Guetta. But there's a complicating factor: Grammy voters rarely vote for rap artists in the "Big Four" categories—Album, Record and Song of the Year and Best New Artist.

Although rap has been a key part of pop culture for three decades, just two hip-hop artists (Arrested Development and Lauryn Hill) have won for Best New Artist.

Glen Campbell will perform on the 54th annual Grammy Awards in a segment with nominees Blake Shelton and The Band Perry. This will allow the Grammys to make up for an unfortunate moment at the end of an otherwise first-rate tribute to Campbell on the Country Music Assn. Awards in November.

When Vince Gill, Keith Urban and Brad Paisley finished a warm tribute to the great country star, Campbell walked up to the stage and strapped on a guitar. As he pulled a guitar pick from his pants pocket and started strumming, to loud cheers from the audience, the producers abruptly cut to a commercial. They had evidently not budgeted time for a Campbell performance.

Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" jumps from #21 to #8 in its fifth week on the Hot 100. It's Clarkson's 10th top 10 hit, which is more, by far, than any other contestant that has ever walked across the American Idol stage. In fact, it's more than the next two contestants (in terms of their top 10 tallies) combined. Carrie Underwood has had four top 10 hits. Jordin Sparks has had three. And both of their top 10 tallies include a collabo. Underwood teamed with Randy Travis on a remake of Travis' "I Told You So." Sparks teamed with Chris Brown on "No Air."  By contrast, Clarkson has achieved every one of her 10 top 10 hits on her own.

For you Idol geeks, the list continues with Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard and Daughtry, each with two top 10 hits; and Fantasia, Bo Bice, Taylor Hicks, David Cook, David Archuleta and Adam Lambert, each with one.

Adele's 21 tops The Billboard 200 for the 17th week, which is the longest run by any album since Whitney Houston's The Bodyguard soundtrack logged 20 weeks on top in 1992-1993. It's the longest run at #1 for an album by a British artist since the Police's Synchronicity was #1 for 17 weeks in 1983. (Two of the three members of that trio were born in England.)

Only two albums by British (or majority-British) acts have had longer runs at #1. Fleetwood Mac's Rumours logged 31 weeks at #1 in 1977-'78. (Three of the five members the iconic pop-rock group were born in England.) The Bee Gees' Saturday Night Fever soundtrack logged 24 weeks at #1 in 1978. (All three members of the brother trio were born in England.)

We all know that Adele is going to sweep the Grammys on Feb. 12. She's nominated for six awards, and has a good chance of winning them all. That would enable her to tie Beyonce's record for most Grammys won in one night by a female artist and Eric Clapton's record for most Grammys won in one night by a British artist.

Adele is heading into Grammy night with the same combination of blockbuster sales, critical acclaim and industry respect that has fueled previous Grammy sweeps by such artists as Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder. (I wrote a blog last week about previous Grammy sweeps. If you missed it, here's a link.)

So does this mean that Grammy night is going to be completely devoid of suspense? No. There are 72 categories in which Adele isn't nominated, and which, as a result, remain competitive. Here are 12 that you should keep your eye on. They're listed in the order that they appear on the ballot.

John Williams today surpassed the late Alfred Newman for most career Oscar nominations for film scores. Williams has two scores in the running this year, War Horse and The Adventures Of Tintin, bringing his career total to 42. Williams received his first nomination for Best Score in 1967. Newman amassed 41 nominations for scores, from 1938 to 1970. That last nomination was posthumous: Newman, the uncle of Randy Newman, died in 1970.

Williams faces three foreign-born composers: France's Ludovic Bource, for The Artist; Canada's Howard Shore, for Hugo; and Spain's Alberto Iglesias, for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. This is the first score nomination for Bource; the third for both Shore and Iglesias. Shore won for scoring two installments in The Lord Of The Rings franchise. Iglesias was nominated for scoring The Constant Gardener and The Kite Runner.

Paul McCartney is set to perform on the Grammy Awards on Feb. 12, five days after the release of his album of standards, Kisses On The Bottom. That's McCartney's first major album release since Memory Almost Full in June 2007.

Two nights before the Grammys, McCartney will be the honoree at the MusiCares' Person of the Year concert. That's the primary fund-raising event of the Recording Academy's affiliated charity. This is the second year in a row that the MusiCares' honoree has agreed to perform on the Grammy telecast. Barbra Streisand sang "Evergreen (Love Theme From 'A Star Is Born')" on last year's show.