Thursday, December 4, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lil Wayne — the most prolific, ubiquitous and successful performer on today’s music scene — was the most rewarded by the Recording Academy on Wednesday, receiving eight Grammy nominations including album of the year for “Tha Carter III.”
Following close behind was Coldplay, whose “Viva La Vida” is one of the year’s best-selling CDs.
It was in album of the year contention, along with Radiohead for their groundbreaking CD “In Rainbows”; singer-songwriter Ne-Yo’s “Year of the Gentleman”; and Robert Plant’s collaboration with Alison Krauss, “Raising Sand.”
The nominations were announced in a brand-new format: with a live prime-time CBS concert special.
Coldplay and Plant & Krauss were also nominated in the coveted record of the year category for the respective songs “Viva La Vida” and “Please Read the Letter.”
Other record of the year nominees were British songstress Leona Lewis for “Bleeding Love”; another British newcomer, Adele, for chasing pavement; and M.I.A. for her breakthrough hit, “Paper Planes.”
Some surprising omissions: Katy Perry, who had one of the year’s biggest hits with “I Kissed a Girl,” was shut out of the top categories , including record of the year and best new artist.
The Grammy Awards are scheduled for live broadcast on CBS on Feb 8.