Sony Music Label Group U.S. Artists Garner 65 Grammy Nominations in More Than 30 Categories

Artists and recordings from the Sony Music Label Group U.S. garnered 65 nominations in some 30 Grammy categories for recordings released during the Grammy Eligibility Year October 1, 2004 through September 30, 2005. Nominations for the 48th Annual Grammy Awards were announced in New York City today, Thursday, December 8 by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences.

Columbia Records artists nominated for Grammys this year include John Legend (with 8 nominations), Bruce Springsteen (5 nominations), Destiny's Child and Beyonce (6 nominations), Mary Mary (2 nominations), Burt Bacharach (2 nominations), Tony Bennett (2 nominations), Dixie Chicks (2 nominations), Rodney Crowell (2 nominations), Amerie (2 nominations), Carly Simon, Johnny Mathis, Joe Perry, System Of A Down, and Chris Botti.

Sony Urban Music artists made a strong showing at this year's Grammy nominations with Sony Urban artists gathering a healthy 24 nominations in categories including pop, rap, R&B and gospel.

Gretchen Wilson leads the Epic group with 4 nominations. Franz Ferdinand and CeCe Winans each earned 2. Other Epic artists up for Grammys this year are Fiona Apple, Los Lonely Boys, Audioslave, Mudvayne, Omarion, Jamiroquai, Israel and New Breed, BeBe Winans, Martha Munizzi and Shakira, whose nomination arrives the same week her new album, "Oral Fixation Vol. 2," delivers her 2nd Top 5 debut of the year.

Sony Music Nashville counted 4 nominations for Gretchen Wilson, 2 for the Dixie Chicks and 2 for Rodney Crowell in its tally.

  COLUMBIA RECORDS GRAMMY NOMINATIONS
  (* denotes a non-label nomination for a recording by a Columbia Records
   artist)

  JOHN LEGEND (8)
  Song Of The Year: "Ordinary People"
  Best New Artist
  Best Male R&B Vocal Performance: "Ordinary People"
  Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals: " So High" (featuring
   Lauryn Hill)
  Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: "Stay With You" (track from: Get
   Lifted)
  Best R&B Song: " Ordinary People" - W. Adams & J. Stephens, songwriters
  Best R&B Album: Get Lifted

  *Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: "They Say" - Common featuring Kanye West &
   John Legend (track from: Be [Geffen])

  BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN (5)
  Song Of The Year: "Devils & Dust"
  Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance: "Devils & Dust"
  Best Rock Song: "Devils & Dust"
  Best Contemporary Folk Album: Devils & Dust
  Best Long Form Music Video: "Devils & Dust" - Danny Clinch, video
   director; Lindha Narvaez, video producer

  DESTINY'S CHILD (4)
  Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals: "Cater 2 U" (track
   from: Destiny Fulfilled)
  Best R&B Song: "Cater 2 U" - Rodney Jerkins, Beyonce Knowles, Ricky Lewis,
   Kelly Rowland, Robert Waller & Michelle Williams, songwriters
  Best R&B Album: Destiny Fulfilled
  Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: "Soldier" - Destiny's Child featuring T.I. &
   Lil Wayne (track from: Destiny Fulfilled)

  BEYONCE (2)
  Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: "Wishing On A Star" (track from: Roll
  Bounce [Music World/Sanctuary Urban])
  *Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals: "So Amazing" (track
   from: So Amazing - An All Star Tribute To Luther Vandross [J Records]

  BURT BACHARACH (2)
  Best Pop Instrumental Performance: "In Our Time" (with Chris Botti)
  Best Pop Instrumental Album: At This Time

  TONY BENNETT (2)
  Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album: The Art of Romance
  Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s): "Time To Smile"
   (track from: The Art of Romance") - Jorge Calandrelli, arranger

  AMERIE (2)
  Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: "1 Thing" (track from: Touch)
  Best Contemporary R&B Album: Touch

  DIXIE CHICKS (2)
  Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal: "I Hope"
  Best Country Song: "I Hope" - Keb Mo, Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines &
   Emily Robison, songwriters

  RODNEY CROWELL (2)
  Best Country Collaboration With Vocals: "Shelter From The Storm" - Rodney
   Crowell & Emmylou Harris (track from: The Outsider)
  Best Contemporary Folk Album: The Outsider

  MARY MARY (2)
  Best Gospel Song: "Heaven" - Erica Campbell, Joi Campbell, Trecina
   Campbell & Warryn Campbell, songwriters
  Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album: Mary Mary

  JOHNNY MATHIS (1)
  Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album: Isn't It Romantic

  CARLY SIMON (1)
  Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album: Moonlight Serenade

  SYSTEM OF A DOWN (1)
  Best Hard Rock Performance: "B.Y.O.B" (track from: Mezmerize)

  JOE PERRY (1)
  Best Rock Instrumental Performance: "Mercy" (track from: Joe Perry)

  THE DUKES OF HAZZARD - SOUNDTRACK (1)
  Best Male Country Vocal Performance: "Good Ol' Boys" - Willie Nelson

  CHRIS BOTTI (1)
  Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s): "What Are You
   Doing For The Rest Of Your Life?" - Chris Botti & Sting; Billy Childs,
   Gil Goldstein & Heitor Pereira, arrangers (Chris Botti & Sting) (track
   from: To Love Again: The Duets)

  *TREY ANASTASIO (1)
  *Best Pop Instrumental Performance: "Gelo Na Montanha" - Herbie Hancock
   featuring Trey Anastasio (track from: Possibilities [Starbucks Hear
   Music/Hancock Music/Vector Recordings])

  BOB DYLAN - NO DIRECTION HOME (2)
  Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television or Other
   Visual Media: No Direction Home: The Soundtrack - Bootleg Series, Vol.7
  Best Long Form Music Video: No Direction Home - Martin Scorsese, video
   director; Margaret Bodde, Susan Lacy, Jeff Rosen, Martin Scorsese, Nigel
   Sinclair & Anthony Wall, video producers

  JOHNNY CASH - THE LEGEND (3)
  Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package: The Legend - Ian Cuttler,
   art director
  Best Album Notes: The Legend - Patrick Carr, album notes writer
  Best Historical Album: The Legend - Gregg Geller, compilation producer;
   Vic Anesini, mastering engineer

  CHARLIE POOLE AND THE ROOTS OF COUNTRY MUSIC (3)
  Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package: You Ain't Talkin' To Me -
   Charlie Poole and the Roots of Country Music - Howard Fritzson &
   Michelle Holme, art direction
  Best Album Notes: You Ain't Talkin' To Me - Charlie Poole And The Roots Of
   Country Music - Henry Sapoznik, album notes writer
  Best Historical Album: You Ain't Talkin' To Me - Charlie Poole And The
   Roots Of Country Music - Henry Sapoznik, compilation producer;
   Christopher King, Andreas Meyer & Darcy Proper, mastering engineers

  Special Columbia mentions go to:

  Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, whose work on Jessica Simpson's "These Boots
  Are Made For Walkin'" for the "Dukes of Hazzard" soundtrack album helped
  earn the team a Producer of the Year, Non-Classical nomination.

  Columbia Records A&R SVP Steve Lillywhite, whose work on albums by U2 and
  Jason Mraz earned him a nomination as Producer of the Year, Non-Classical.

  SONY URBAN MUSIC GRAMMY NOMINATIONS
  (* denotes a non-label nomination for a recording by a label artist)

  JOHN LEGEND (8)
  Song Of The Year: "Ordinary People"
  Best New Artist
  Best Male R&B Vocal Performance: "Ordinary People"
  Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals: " So High" (featuring
   Lauryn Hill)
  Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: "Stay With You" (track from: Get
   Lifted)
  Best R&B Song: " Ordinary People" - W. Adams & J. Stephens, songwriters
  Best R&B Album: Get Lifted

  *Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: "They Say" - Common featuring Kanye West &
  John Legend (track from: Be [Geffen])

  DESTINY'S CHILD (4)
  Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals: "Cater 2 U" (track
   from: Destiny Fulfilled)
  Best R&B Song: "Cater 2 U" - Rodney Jerkins, Beyonce Knowles, Ricky Lewis,
   Kelly Rowland, Robert Waller & Michelle Williams, songwriters
  Best R&B Album: Destiny Fulfilled
  Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: "Soldier" - Destiny's Child featuring T.I. &
   Lil Wayne (track from: Destiny Fulfilled)

  BEYONCE (2)
  Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: "Wishing On A Star" (track from: Roll
   Bounce [Music World/Sanctuary Urban]
  *Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals: "So Amazing" (track
   from: So Amazing - An All Star Tribute To Luther Vandross [J Records]

  AMERIE (2)
  Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: "1 Thing" (track from: Touch)
  Best Contemporary R&B Album: Touch

  MARY MARY (2)
  Best Gospel Song: "Heaven" - Erica Campbell, Joi Campbell, Trecina
   Campbell & Warryn Campbell, songwriters
  Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album: Mary Mary

  CECE WINANS (2)
  Best Gospel Performance: "Pray" (track from: Purified)
  Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album: Purified

  OMARION (1)
  Best Contemporary R&B Album: O

  ISRAEL AND NEW BREED (1)
  Best Gospel Song: "Again I Say Rejoice"

  BEBE WINANS (1)
  Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album: Dream

  MARTHA MUNIZZI (1)
  Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album: Say The Name

  ALSO RECOGNIZED
  Producer of the Year:
  The Neptunes - Touch (Omarion)

  EPIC RECORDS GRAMMY NOMINATIONS

  GRETCHEN WILSON (4)
  Best Female Country Vocal Performance: "All Jacked Up" (track from: All
   Jacked Up)
  Best Country Collaboration w/Vocals: "Politically Uncorrect" (Gretchen
   Wilson and Merle Haggard - track from: All Jacked Up)
  Best Country Song: "All Jacked Up"
  Best Country Album: All Jacked Up

  CECE WINANS (2)
  Best Gospel Performance: "Pray" (track from: Purified)
  Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album: Purified

  FRANZ FERDINAND (2)
  Best Rock Performance by Duo or Group w/Vocals: "Do You Want To" (track
   from: You Could Have It So Much Better)
  Best Alternative Music Album: You Could Have It So Much Better

  SHAKIRA (1)
  Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album: Fijacion Oral Vol.1

  FIONA APPLE (1)
  Best Pop Vocal Album: Extraordinary Machine

  LOS LONELY BOYS (1)
  Best Pop Duo or Group w/Vocals: "More Than Love" (track from: Los Lonely
   Boys)

  AUDIOSLAVE (1)
  Best Hard Rock Performance: "Doesn't Remind Me" (track from: Out of Exile)

  MUDVAYNE (1)
  Best Metal Performance: "Determined" (track from: Lost and Found)

  OMARION (1)
  Best Contemporary R&B Album: O

  JAMIROQUAI (1)
  Best Music Video, Short Form: Feels Just Like It Should

  ISRAEL AND NEW BREED (1)
  Best Gospel Song: "Again I Say Rejoice"

  STEVE VAI (1)
  Best Rock Instrumental Performance: "Lotus Feet" (track from: Real
   Illusions: Reflections)

  BEBE WINANS (1)
  Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album: Dream

  MARTHA MUNIZZI (1)
  Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album: Say The Name

  ALSO RECOGNIZED
  Producer of the Year:
  Jimmy Jam - Dance with My Father (Celine Dion)
  The Neptunes - Touch (Omarion)

  SONY MUSIC NASHVILLE GRAMMY NOMINATIONS

  GRETCHEN WILSON (4)
  Best Female Country Vocal Performance: "All Jacked Up" (track from: All
   Jacked Up)
  Best Country Collaboration w/Vocals: "Politically Uncorrect" (Gretchen
   Wilson and Merle Haggard - track from: All Jacked Up)
  Best Country Song: "All Jacked Up"
  Best Country Album: All Jacked Up

  DIXIE CHICKS (2)
  Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal: "I Hope"
  Best Country Song: "I Hope" - Keb Mo, Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines &
   Emily Robison, songwriters

  RODNEY CROWELL (2)
  Best Country Collaboration With Vocals: "Shelter From The Storm" - Rodney
   Crowell & Emmylou Harris (track from: The Outsider)
  Best Contemporary Folk Album: The Outsider

  THE DUKES OF HAZZARD - SOUNDTRACK (1)
  Best Male Country Vocal Performance: "Good Ol' Boys" - Willie Nelson

SOURCE: Sony Music Label Group U.S.

CONTACT: Fran DeFeo, Columbia Records, +1-212-833-5784,
Fran.DeFeo@sonybmg.com; Yvette Noel-Schure, Sony Urban Music, +1-212-833-4483,
Yvette.Noel-Schure@sonybmg.com; Lois Najarian, Epic Records, +1-212-833-7983,
Lois.Najarian@sonybmg.com; Craig Campbell, Sony Music Nashville,
+1-615-858-1300, Craig.Campbell@sonybmg.com

Web site: http://www.columbiarecords.com/