Gappy Ranks Featuring in L3 Magazine March Issue

Fans know the artist Gappy Ranks musically as does the industry, but L3 Magazine’s Portia Clarke takes us into the world of Jacob Williams as well as Gappy Ranks where we learn everything from decisions he makes as an artist, to running his record label Hot Coffee Music to what he cooks for his family come dinner time.

When Portia asked Gappy about the beef between he and fellow UK artist Stylo-G, how did he answer?!

Find out >>> www.L3Magazine.com!

Tricia ‘ZJ Sparks’ Spence sits down with the lyrical Fiyah Cali P who gives insight into his new album produced by legendary producer Bobby ‘Digital-B’ Dixon, and Ayeola George speaks to Bahamian sensation Sammi Starr where fans get to know the artist in 20 questions.

Our features of the month includes our pick of influential women of the Caribbean, a provocative look at payola or ‘pay for play,’ as well as music reviews of the Gyal Season Riddim produced by Justin Jus Bus Nation and Bambino Muzic, The Soul Reggae Riddim and the Sparkling Riddim produced by Twelve 9 Records and Zion Freeze Records.

Rounding out the March issue is a new section on Food (recipe included!), our centerfold Jasmine shot through the lens of our star photographer, Jerome ‘Neu Era’ Dupont, music charts, new releases and an expose on the Rosenblum Foundations art exhibit called ‘Futurespective’ and more.

Don’t miss our Editor-In-Chief, Natasha Von Castle’s fiery editorial to the Grammy’s about the Bob Marley tribute.  All of this and more at www.L3Magazine.com!

The Grammy's for 2013!

Music's Biggest Night®, the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards®, returns to Los Angeles' STAPLES Center on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, and will air live on the CBS Television Network from 8 – 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). The eligibility year for the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards is Oct. 1, 2011, to Sept. 30, 2012. Additionally, "The GRAMMY® Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night®" — which officially kicks off GRAMMY season by revealing nominations in several categories while featuring unique performances with past GRAMMY winners and/or nominees — will air live on CBS Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012. For GRAMMY coverage, updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy's social networks on Twitter and Facebook: www.twitter.com/thegrammys, www.facebook.com/thegrammys.

GRAMMY Week — a weeklong series of cultural events culminating in Music's Biggest Night — will again feature celebrations of music, education and philanthropy, including GRAMMY Camp — Basic Training, the Entertainment Law Initiative® luncheon, the Producers & Engineers Wing® event, the GRAMMY Foundation®'s Music Preservation Event, the annual MusiCares® Person of the Year tribute, the Special Merit Awards Ceremony, and Clive Davis and The Recording Academy's Pre-GRAMMY Gala, among others.

Commemerative Grammy Book with the Stars!

The Recording Academy^® has partnered with FX Marketing Group to offer the official 54th GRAMMY Awards^® program book to fans for the first time in bookstores and on newsstands nationwide. The book will be on sale starting in mid-January in major U.S. markets and will celebrate and provide unique insights into the GRAMMY Awards telecast, which will be held on Feb. 12, 2012, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast live in high-definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on CBS from 8–11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). For updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy's social networks on Twitter and Facebook: www.twitter.com/thegrammys, www.facebook.com/thegrammys. For a complete nominations list, please visit www.grammy.com.

"We are extremely excited to be able to offer music and GRAMMY^® fans at home more interaction with Music's Biggest Night^® through our commemorative program book," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. "This is the first time in our history that we are making the book available to consumers and we look forward to further celebrating the GRAMMYs through this new endeavor."

The GRAMMYprogram book is a 200-plus-page glossy, celebratory souvenir guide to the annual GRAMMY Awards, the premier music awards telecast and the focus of the music industry and fans alike each February. The program profiles current GRAMMY nominees, presents engaging features, provides in-depth reviews of the year's GRAMMY Hall Of Fame selections, and Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement, Trustees and Technical GRAMMY Award recipients, and documents the important year-round initiatives of The Academy. The end result is a beautifully designed commemorative book that complements Music's Biggest Night with thoughtfully written examinations of each major nominee and well-researched historical perspectives on other honorees and subjects.

The 54th GRAMMY program book includes celebrity editorial contributions from GRAMMY winners Common, Celine Dion, Merle Haggard, Booker T. Jones, and Sergio Mendes, as well as singer/songwriter Chris Isaak, rap/rock artist Kid Rock, and blues/rock artist Kenny Wayne Shepherd among others.

The official 54th GRAMMY Awards program book will be available for $9.95 at Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Target, and Walgreens stores as well as on newsstands throughout the country, and at the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles. Fans can also order the book at The Academy's online GRAMMY Store at www.grammy.com.

Sports & entertainment publishing firm FX Marketing Group will produce the official 54th GRAMMY Awards program book. FX Marketing Group has been publishing first-class official annuals for such national governing bodies and sports organizations as the National Football League Alumni, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Americas Cup, NASCAR Hall of Fame, among others.

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter, like "The GRAMMYs" on Facebook, and join The GRAMMYs' social communities on YouTube, Tumblr, Foursquare, GetGlue, and Instagram.

The Grammy's Congratuates Best Reggae album Nominees

MusiCares is a Win!

ARTISTS TORI AMOS, COLBIE CAILLAT,
THE ELI YOUNG BAND, MELANIE FIONA,
DEMI LOVATO, OWL CITY,
PARACHUTE, JENNI RIVERA,
PAULINA RUBIO, PATRICK STUMP,
AND SUGARLAND JOIN
MUSICARES^® "BE A PART OF THE HEART"
PHOTO MOSAIC FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN

Artists, Fans And Music Industry Professionals
Encouraged To Donate $1, $5, $10
And Upload Photo
Initiative Offers A Chance To Win
A Trip For Two To The 54thAnnual GRAMMY^®Awards

MusiCares^® announced today that Tori Amos, Colbie Caillat, the Eli Young Band, Melanie Fiona, Demi Lovato, Owl City, Parachute, Jenni Rivera, Paulina Rubio, Patrick Stump, and Sugarland are the latest group of artists to join the innovative "Be A Part Of The Heart" fundraising campaign, which invites the public to come together to create an online mosaic comprised of photo tiles. Artists such as Bon Jovi, Black Cards, Taio Cruz, Melissa Etheridge, Selena Gomez, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, and Gloria Trevi uploaded their photos at the launch of the campaign in Feb. 2011.

"Be A Part Of The Heart" encourages fans, recording artists, and corporate and media partners to come together in a digital photo mosaic to raise awareness and generate resources to help MusiCares continue to provide a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. The initiative also offers a chance to win a trip for two to the 54th Annual GRAMMY^® Awards on Feb. 12, 2012*. For more information, visit www.beapartoftheheart.com.

In addition, MusiCares has launched a separate contest in conjunction with its annual MusiCares Person of the Year tribute that will honor Paul McCartney on Feb. 10, which offers music bloggers —professional or amateur —a chance to earn a coveted spot on the red carpet as well as a credential to cover the exclusive concert portion of the event. For complete details on the blogger contest, visit http://blog.musicares.com/2011/09/09/music-blogger-contest/.

"Not only is this a chance for fans to join their favorite artists online in a shared effort to raise funds for MusiCares and help members of our music family," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy, MusiCares, and the GRAMMY Foundation^®. "It's also a way for people to join an online community and share their stories about music and its impact on their lives."

The "Be A Part Of The Heart"concept is straightforward. Participants can visit www.beapartoftheheart.com and make a contribution in any amount beginning with $1 to receive an online tile, where they can upload a photo and include their stories and links to websites and social media platforms. There is no limit to the donation amount and the tiles that go with it. Tiles can be created in honor of loved ones, to commemorate important milestones or holidays, and to engage other members of the public. There is also a place to include text about key musical influences.

MusiCares offers programs and services to members of the music community including emergency financial assistance for basic living expenses including rent, utilities and car payments; medical expenses including doctor, dentist and hospital bills; psychotherapy; and treatment for HIV/AIDS, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, hepatitis C, and other critical illnesses. MusiCares offers nationwide educational workshops covering a variety of subjects, including financial, legal, medical, and substance abuse issues, and programs in collaboration with healthcare professionals that provide services such as flu shots, hearing tests and medical/dental screenings. The MusiCares MAP Fund^SM allows access to addiction recovery treatment and sober living resources for members of the music community regardless of their financial circumstances. Staffed by qualified chemical dependency and intervention specialists, MusiCares Safe Harbor Rooms offer a support network to those in recovery while they are participating in the production of televised music shows and other major music events. MusiCares holds weekly addiction support groups for people to discuss how to best cope with the issues surrounding the recovery process. The MusiCares Sober Touring Network is a database of individuals across the United States who can take music people to recovery support meetings while on the road.

Established in 1989 by The Recording Academy, MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. MusiCares' services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, and each case is treated with integrity and confidentiality. MusiCares also focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community. For more information, please visit www.musicares.org.

*NO DONATION REQUIRED TO ENTER OR WIN. A DONATION WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 United States (including the District of Columbia), 13 years of age or older at time of entry. Void where prohibited by law. Sweepstakes commences at 8:00:00 a.m. Pacific Time ("PT") on 2/14/11 and ends at 8:59:00 p.m. PT on 11/25/11. To enter with or without making a donation, and to view official rules (which govern this Sweepstakes), visit www.beapartoftheheart.com. Sponsor: MusiCares Foundation, Inc.

How To Win A Grammy...

The Grammy's are the only peer-presented award to honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position.

 

To be nominated for a Grammy, artists must first submit their material for consideration.  This is done by the record label or a member of the recording academy.

 

Next, submissions are 'screened' by 150 screeners whose job it is to make sure the submissions have been placed in the right category (it has happened in the past that people have submitted their material, and entered the wrong category).

 

Next, first round ballots are sent to voting members who then cast their ballots.

 

Next, nominees with the most first round votes pass to the next round where the recording academy votes on the final ballot.

 

Lastly, the results!

 

As we are mainly Reggae in nature, we've included the past winners for Best Reggae Album for the past 5 years.  All of the names are familiar, and all artists kept their music 100% Reggae.  Listening to each album exposes an audience to true roots Reggae; no additives, no preservatives which leads me to the punchline:

 

We need to encourage our younger artists to strive towards the Grammy's, and accolades on that level.  While we are encouraging them, we must remind them to stay true to their roots which is Reggae.  Not Reggae with Hip Hip, or Reggae with R&B, but 100% Reggae.  There is nothing wrong with collaborations, but when collaborations become the 'new' Reggae,

they take themselves out of the running for awards such as these!  They also help to water down and destroy our industry, which in turn leads to festivals not needing 'authentic' Reggae because they can get a watered down version to satisfy the people.  This is also true of stage shows, and most importantly, music being played on the radio.  Believe it or not, the people

want and need the roots!

 

Here's a look at the past 5 Grammy winners for Best Reggae Album!  Maybe you can guess who'll be nominated for the 2012 season!

 

For more information on the Grammy's, visit Grammy's.com

 

Note:  The download links are not for entire albums, but an individual stand out song from the respective album...

 

>>> 2006-2007 - Ziggy Marley - Love is My Religion <<<

 

>>> 2007-2008 - Stephen Marley - Mind Control <<<

 

>>> 2008-2009 - Burning Spear - Jah Is Real <<<

 

 

>>> 2009-2010 - Stephen Marley - Mind Control Acoustic <<<

 

 

>>> 2010-2011 - Buju Banton - Before The Dawn <<<