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60th GRAMMY Awards: First-Round Voting Launches

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Learn more about the key dates surrounding the 60th GRAMMY Awards voting process
Tim McPhate
GRAMMYs
Oct 16, 2017 - 2:45 pm

Today, Oct. 16, marked the kick-off of Recording Academy member first-round voting for the 60th GRAMMY Awards.

Following the closing of first-round voting on Oct. 29, nominations for the 60th GRAMMY Awards will be announced on Nov. 28.

Subsequently, the final-round ballot period will kick off on Dec. 7, closing on Dec. 21. Recipients will then be announced at the 60th GRAMMY Awards, taking place Jan. 28, 2018, at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The eligibility period for the 60th GRAMMY Awards was Oct. 1, 2016, through Sept. 30, 2017. For this year's awards process, the Recording Academy received 22,030 submission entries for GRAMMY consideration, up slightly from last year's entry total of 21,719 submissions.

Earlier this year, the Academy announced a transition to online voting, a move that provides the Recording Academy's more than 13,000 voting members greater access and flexibility than ever before.

GRAMMY 101: More Information On The GRAMMY Awards Voting Process

Neeti Mohan

Neeti Mohan

Photo: AFP/Getty Images

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How Mobile Phones And YouTube Are Helping India's Bollywood Bring In Music Hits

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The newly available world of mobile internet in India has millions regularly going to YouTube for music
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Nov 16, 2018 - 5:54 pm

India's internet population is huge and growing, thanks to mobile phones, and music on YouTube is one of the market's most popular destinations. As a result of this, Bollywood music is thriving, along with modern renditions of traditional songs and diverse videos targeted to smaller, linguistically unique demographics. Indian music label T-Series has been a big winner with 70 million subscribers on its main channel and new subscribers growing by more than 100,000 daily.

The New York Times found that T-Series gets video averages of 6.5 million views with a bottom-line total, overall, of 53 billion views, making it one of YouTube's most successful channels ever. Since 2016 more than 200 million people in India have internet access through mobile phones and 85 percent of India's internet users visit YouTube. One hit by T-Series artist Guru Randhawa notched more than 615 million views.

"The last two years have been really action packed," is how T-Series President Neeraj Kalyan described his company's exponential growth. With dozens of additional channels targeting loyal groups that speak many of India's diverse languages, T-Series' growth has many bases besides YouTube, and they are also growing into television and movie production as well.

Cross-Pacific Pop: Album Sales Boom For Asian Breakout Solo Artists

Ultra Music Festival 2018

Photo: Sergi Alexander/Getty Images

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Ultra Music Festival Moves To Bigger, Better Location In Miami For 2019 Event

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The dance music event will celebrate its 21st year in its new home in Virginia Key
Ana Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Nov 16, 2018 - 5:52 pm

On Nov. 15 Ultra Music Festival announced their flagship festival will officially move to a new, larger location in Miami, Virginia Key, following approval from the City of Miami. The 21st edition of the huge electronic dance music event will take place on March 29-31, 2019, following Winter Music Conference and to close out Miami Music Week.

Virginia Key is an 863-acre freeway-accessible island in Miami home to the Historic Virginia Key Beach Park and Miami Marine Stadium Flex Park, the festival's new event space. Ultra explains the new ocean-side location is significantly larger than their former venue at Bayfront Park, located in downtown Miami. The new, bigger space has allowed Ultra to increase their attendee capacity and offer more tickets than in prior years, as well as extending the event end time until 2:00 a.m. each day.

"We are excited to announce that the City of Miami has agreed to a deal to relocate Ultra Music Festival to the beautiful and historic Virginia Key," Ultra said in a statement. "The new venue will allow the festival to evolve into its new, larger home, ultimately creating a more enjoyable experience for all festival attendees. We look forward to a long-term and mutually beneficial relationship with our partners at the City of Miami and Historic Virginia Key Beach Park as we commemorate keeping Ultra in the City of Miami."
 
Ultra also acknowledged the "cultural and historic significance" of Virginia Key Beach, which was a safe gathering place for Miami's black population during the dark times of segregation, and has committed to honor the location's history and take care of its natural environment. The partnership with Ultra and the city will allow around $20 million to be set aside for the county's first African American Museum.

Emilio Gonzalez, Miami City Manager, said the agreement "keeps this world-renowned event in our global city, while providing operating funds for a long-desired African American History Museum at Historic Virginia Key Beach."

Ultra Music Festival began in 1999 in Miami when now-President/CEO Russell Faibisch threw the first event with the late Alex Omes. It began as a celebratory event in March the weekend following Winter Music Conference, as many world-renowned DJs and producers from around the world were already in town for the conference. As both events grew and the festival gained more and more loyal fans and performers, Ultra grew to offer spin-off festivals worldwide, under the Ultra Worldwide brand.

The company announced last year that they had purchased the conference, streamlining all events as part of Miami Music Week. The revamped conference, traditionally geared towards those working in electronic music, will now include two segments: an educational segment for music consumers to learn about the industry in addition to one aimed at industry professionals.

More info and tickets for Ultra Music Festival are available on their website.

Envision Festival 2019 Is Dance Floor Ready: Bedouin, Griz, Tycho, Lee Burridge & More

Notorious B.I.G.

Photo: Clarence Davis/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

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Picture This: Brooklyn Will Have A Street Named For Notorious B.I.G.

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Brooklyn Community Board 2 voted to approve the re-naming of the late rapper's childhood street. Find out here what the street will be called
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Nov 16, 2018 - 5:46 pm

Brooklyn has spoken and late rapper Notorious B.I.G. will get the block he grew up on named after him. “Christopher Wallace Way,” the rapper's given name, would become what is now a section of St. James between Gates Avenue and Fulton Street.

Rolling Stone reports that Brooklyn Community Board 2 approved the re-naming petition 33-1, with four abstentions. While expected to be approved, the name change still has to pass through the City Council and Mayor Bill De Blasio.

“Honoring Biggie symbolizes more than just one man,” the man who spearheaded the re-naming LeRoy McCarthy told Rolling Stone. “It symbolizes a culture. It symbolizes a borough. It symbolizes a people, and hip-hop is worldwide.”

Wallace, a four-time GRAMMY nominated artist, is known as one of the East Coast's most iconic rappers that helped bring attention to the hip-hop scene in New York with Sean "P Diddy" Combs in the 90s. Outside of New York, he is known as one of the most influential rappers in hip-hop history.

Flashback To 1993: A Good Year In Music Or The Best Year In Music?

Hosts Carlos Rivera and Ana de la Reguera

Hosts Carlos Rivera and Ana de la Reguera

Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

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What Was Your Favorite Moment From The 19th Latin GRAMMY Awards?

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Of the night's many great performances and acceptances speeches, and the red carpet as well, what moment stands out the most?
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Nov 16, 2018 - 4:59 pm

With so many magical moments to choose from, last night's 19th Latin GRAMMY Awards stays fresh in our memories. But what stands out to you the most? The performances were remarkable but so were the wins and acceptance speeches. Many winners paid tribute to traditions and to being part of today's Latin music scene keeping those traditions fresh. The wins by J Balvin and Karol G were also recognition for reggaetón, and Rosalía's acceptance speech shouted out to other great women of music. The red carpet was unforgettable, too. So what stands out for you?

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What Was Your Favorite Moment From The 19th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards?

After his Salvavidas De Hielo received Best Singer-Songwriter Album at the Premiere ceremony, Uruguayan Jorge Drexler was moved when he won Song Of The Year for "Telefonía" to thank his competition, as well as the writers Jorge Luis Borges and Fernando Pessoa. When it was announced that "Telefonía" had won Record Of The Year, Drexler was visibly surprised. At the 15th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards Drexler's Bailar En La Cueva had won Best Singer-Songwriter Album as well, and its "Universos Paralelos" won Record Of The Year, making last night's Record Of The Year win his fifth Latin GRAMMY Award and his second time winning the category.

2018 Latin GRAMMYs Highlights From Las Vegas

Rosalía Thanks Women In Music At Latin GRAMMYs

J Balvin Latin GRAMMY Speech Honors Reggaeton

Karol G Wins Best New Artist At 2018 Latin GRAMMYs

Red Carpet Style At The 2018 Latin GRAMMYs

Let us know what makes the top of your list as your most lasting memory from the 19th Latin GRAMMY Awards.