Tina Weymouth

Tina Weymouth

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Tina Weymouth Of Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club Inducted Into Connecticut Women's Hall Of Fame

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The co-founder of Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club is among the latest to be inducted, but has resisted attention focused on her gender in the past
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Nov 6, 2018 - 1:35 pm

The Connecticut Women's Hall Of Fame has inducted new wave pioneer Tina Weymouth along with Broadway's Anika Noni Rose and American Ballet Theatre co-founder Lucia Chase for their accomplishments in the arts.

Having co-founded Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club, Weymouth's personal touches on bass have become iconic, especially for her interesting rhythms. Her musical origin story began when she took to the bass naturally and became an extemely valuable member of all her projects, eventually earning three GRAMMY nominations over the course of her career. 

Weymouth's first nomination was for "Burning Down The House" at the 26th GRAMMY Awards for Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal. The most recent of her three nominations was voicing Noodle with Gorillaz on their first nomination at the 44th GRAMMY Awards with "Clint Eastwood" up for Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group. From rock to rap sums up a lot of what makes Weymouth's range so special.

What she has resisted in the past is having the focus on her overly emphasize the fact that she is a woman. "Is that all you think about when you see me? As a woman?" Weymouth told Paper was the problem with being singled out for her gender. "You don't see me as an artist? You don't see me as a musician?" In a 1981 interview she said she resisted speaking about her gender in order not to discourage others about what was really an "uphill trek."

Having proved herself as a musician and foundational musical influence, the Connecticut Women's Hall Of Fame's event was unique for providing a suitable occasion where Weymouth could feel comfortable receiving the recognition, although in this case it proudly singles out far more than gender. Past Connecticut inductees include Marian Anderson and Laura Nyro, great women of song to stand beside.

Kimberly Nichole Lets Out A Stirring Performance For Press Play

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ASCAP Makes Disaster Relief Donation To MusiCares

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Donation will help music community members most affected by the fires
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Dec 27, 2018 - 11:59 am

Performing rights organization ASCAP announced on Dec. 18 that it is donating to MusiCares to support music's creators including those "affected by the recent wildfires in northern and southern California" needing help with food, shelter and replacement of instruments or equipment.

"We are truly grateful for the support and ongoing partnership of ASCAP," said Recording Academy and MusiCares President/CEO Neil Portnow. "Their work on behalf of music people is vital, and their generosity to the music community is equally strong. This donation demonstrates how the music industry works together to take care of their own."

"We have all been stunned by the devastation caused by the California fires and the heartache and loss suffered by our members who reside there," said ASCAP Chairman of the Board and President Paul Williams, winner of three GRAMMY awards as a songwriter. "ASCAP has always been an advocate for music creators, and faced with these terrible circumstances, we have their backs. We are pleased to work with MusiCares to get help to those who need it most."

Members may make disaster relief requests by contacting MusiCares toll-free at 1.800.687.4227.

For those wishing to donate, the "Gift Designation" choice at MusiCares' donation page offers "Disaster Relief" as a selection.

"The music community knows that it can turn to MusiCares in times of distress," said ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews. "They have the organization and the infrastructure necessary to respond to these horrible events and help members of the music community in times of need. We're glad to work with MusiCares once again to ensure that our funds reach the people most affected by the fires."

Learn Why "She Is The Music" & ASCAP's Female Songwriting Camp Felt "Essential"

Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco

Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco

Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

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Firefly Festival 2019 Lineup Announced With Panic! At The Disco & More

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Find out who will headline and who will serve as supporting acts at next year's Delaware fest
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Dec 12, 2018 - 1:37 pm

The Firefly Music Festival 2019 lineup was announced on Dec. 11 for next summer, June 21–23, in Dover, Delaware. The eighth annual, open-air fest features headliners Panic! At The Disco, Post Malone and Travis Scott. All three are past or present GRAMMY nominees.

GRAMMY winners in the lineup include TLC, Vampire Weekend and Zedd. Artists who received GRAMMY nominations, on the bill, include Courtney Barnett, Death Cab For Cutie, DJ Snake, and Tyler, The Creator.

Some of what makes festivals so unforgettable are the performances by newcomers and emerging artists. With many more expected on Firefly's multiple stages, a few who we've written about or spoken to include Alison Wonderland, Brockhampton, Dashboard Confessional, GRiZ, Kygo, Gucci Mane, Jessie Reyez, Snail Mail, Walk The Moon, and Young The Giant.

For your chance to see what makes "the east coast's largest music and camping festival" unforgettable at The Woodlands beside Dover International Speedway, tickets and special packages go on sale Friday Dec. 14 at the Firefly Festival website.

Primavera Sound 2019 Features A "New Normal" Equal-Gender Lineup

Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse Best New Artist winner for 2007 | Photo: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

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How Does An Artist Qualify For The Best New Artist GRAMMY Category?

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Take a closer look at the Recording Academy's qualification rules to determine which artists can be considered in the Best New Artist category
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Dec 8, 2018 - 8:59 am

Each year the selection of GRAMMY nominees is the result of careful consideration and voting by Recording Academy members, who must both follow hard-and-fast rules as well as exercise their expert musical judgement. The Best New Artist category highlights newcomers — whether a solo artist, duo or group — but since "new" is a relative term, let's take a closer look at how making the cut is determined.

First of all, eligible artists must have achieved a breakthrough into the public consciousness and impacted the musical landscape during the year's eligibility period. This speaks to the essence of why Best New Artist is one of the most-anticipated categories each year, honoring exciting new talent in the music world. But sometimes rising stars take a while to reach this point, so numerical limits also help define the criteria for being "new" in this category.

The first numerical rule boils eligibility down to the number of an artist's releases. The minimum required is five singles or tracks or a complete album. The maximum is either three albums or a total of 30 singles or tracks previously released. Having more than this number of releases results in being ineligible even when an artist breaks through into public consciousness and impacts the musical landscape in a given eligibility period.

However, even if this numerical release criterion is met, an artist may still be deemed ineligible if the artist achieved previous prominence, meaning the artist came into prominence prior to the current eligibility year.

Another numerical limit is that an artist cannot have been considered more than three times previously for Best New Artist. This also applies to solo artists who emerge from having performed as a member in previous groups. That's right, being previously considered three times either as a solo artist, in a previous band, or some mixture of the two means an artist is not eligible for Best New Artist consideration.

For more valuable and illuminating information on all things GRAMMY Awards process, head over to GRAMMY101.com, or reach out to the Awards Help Desk at 877.637.6816, and don't forget to tune in Feb. 10.

See The Full List Of Nominees For The 61st GRAMMY Awards

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CBS, Apple Music, Artists Team Up To Reveal 61st GRAMMY Nominations

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Alessia Cara, Zane Lowe, Shawn Mendes, and Janelle Monáe will join to reveal nominees for the 61st GRAMMY Awards
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Dec 6, 2018 - 11:36 am

UPDATE: See the full list of 61st GRAMMY Nominations

On Friday morning, Dec. 7 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time, Alessia Cara, Apple Music host Zane Lowe, Shawn Mendes, and Janelle Monáe will join the hosts of "CBS This Morning" to begin announcing the nominations for the 61st GRAMMY Awards. Simultaneously, on Apple Music, nominations will also be revealed in selected categories.

At 8:45 a.m. Eastern time, the complete list of nominations for the 61st GRAMMY Awards, held on Feb. 10, 2019, will be available right here on GRAMMY.com.

No stranger to the Awards, Cara went into the 60th GRAMMY Awards nominated in four categories, winning the coveted honor of Best New Artist. She also performed the anti-suicide anthem "1-800-273-8255" with Khalid and Logic on the broadcast.

Apple Music Beats 1 DJ Zane Lowe was nominated at the 57th GRAMMY Awards for his work with Sam Smith on In The Lonely Hour. His spoken and musical insights became internationally admired thanks to his broadcasts on BBC Radio 1.

Speaking at the GRAMMY Museum, singer/songwriter Shawn Mendes said, "I think the most incredible part about … having this career is that all of the fans have been going through it with me." Last summer the Canadian performer had his third No. 1 album on the Billboard 200.

Janelle Monáe released her third album, Dirty Computer, in April 2018, continuing to demonstrate her ability to expand beyond expectations. Musically, visually, and in the movies, her ability to extend her range somewhere new is inspiring. She has had six GRAMMY nominations to date.

So get ready, take a look at what to expect and tune in tomorrow, Dec. 7 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time to find out who will be in contention on Music's Biggest Night, Feb. 10.

61st GRAMMY Awards Nominations Rescheduled To Dec. 7