Awards
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The winners of the 53rd annual ASCAP Foundation Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Awards for outstanding print, broadcast, liner notes, new media and radio coverage of music cover a wide range of musical subjects, from legends such as Dolly Parton and Billie Holiday to less-celebrated figures such as soul and blues singer Denise LaSalle and jazz pianists Hasaan Ibn Ali and Mary Lou Williams.
These awards were established in 1967 to honor the memory of composer, critic and commentator Deems Taylor, who had died the previous year after a distinguished career that included six years as president of ASCAP.
In 2021, the competition opened to articles and liner notes published in 2020. For this year’s 2022 Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Award program, books published in 2020 and books, articles and liner notes published in 2021 were accepted.
Nora Guthrie and Robert Santelli were among the winners for their book Woody Guthrie: Songs and Art * Words and Wisdom, published by Chronicle Books. Nora Guthrie is Woody Guthrie’s daughter. Santelli is a noted Guthrie authority. She won a Grammy 15 years ago for best historical album as a compilation producer of The Live Wire — Woody Guthrie in Performance 1949. He received a Grammy nomination 10 years ago in that same category as a compilation producer of Woody at 100: The Woody Guthrie Centennial Collection.
Here are the winners in various categories:
Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Book Awards in pop music for titles published in 2020:
Lydia Hamessley, Unlikely Angel: The Songs of Dolly Parton, University of Illinois Press (2020)Denise LaSalle with David Whiteis, Always the Queen: The Denise LaSalle Story, University of Illinois Press (2020)A special recognition award goes to Ashley Kahn for George Harrison on George Harrison: Interviews and Encounters, Chicago Review Press (2020)
Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Book Awards in the concert music field for titles published in 2020:
Music by Max Steiner, The Epic Life of Hollywood’s Most Influential Composer, Steven C. Smith, Oxford University Press (2020)Sonic Overload: Alfred Schnittke, Valentin Silvestrov, and Polystylism in the Late USSR, by Peter Schmelz, Oxford University Press (2020)
Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Award for an article in the pop music field:
Jon Ross for “Marion Brown’s Musical Portrait of Georgia,” published in The Bitter Southerner.
Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Award for an article in the concert music field:
Rita Pyrillis for “Native Sounds,” published by Symphony.
Virgil Thomson Award for Outstanding Music Criticism in the pop music field:
Lewis Porter for “The United States vs. Billie Holiday vs. the Truth,” published in JazzTimes.
Virgil Thomson Award for Outstanding Music Criticism in the concert music field:
Nancy Malitz for her Symphony article, “Musicians in the Spotlight.”
Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Book Awards in pop:
Nora Guthrie and Robert Santelli for Woody Guthrie: Songs and Art * Words and Wisdom, published by Chronicle BooksDeanna Witkowski for Mary Lou Williams: Music for the Soul, published by Liturgical PressA special recognition award goes to David Hajdu and John Carey for A Revolution in Three Acts: The Radical Vaudeville of Bert Williams, Eva Tanguay, and Julian Eltinge, published by Columbia University Press
Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Book Awards in the concert field:
Bryan Simms and Charlotte Erwin for Berg, published by Oxford University PressJoseph Horowitz’ Dvořák’s Prophecy: and the Vexed Fate of Black Classical Music, published by W. W. Norton & Company
ASCAP Foundation Paul Williams “Loved the Liner Notes” Award in pop music:
Alan Sukoenig for Retrospect in Retirement of Delay: The Solo Recordings by Hasaan Ibn Ali on Omnivore Recordings.
(This award was established in 2016 and is funded by Paul Williams, president of The ASCAP Foundation.)
A special recognition award is given to Ted Olson for Doc Watson’s– Life’s Work: A Retrospective on Craft Recordings.
Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Broadcast/Media Award in concert music:
The Houston Symphony streaming concerts, for their creative ensembles during the lockdowns and the uninterrupted continuation of their programming.
Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Broadcast/Media Award in pop music:
Toward Castle Films’ The Songpoet (Paul Lamont, producer/director and Scott Sackett, producer), a biographical documentary on Eric Andersen, a singer-songwriter in the vanguard of the folk music scene in the ’60s whose career continues to the present day.
The ASCAP Foundation Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Awards are made possible by the generous support of the Virgil Thomson Foundation. Virgil Thomson (1896 – 1989) was a top American composer and critic of the 20th century, and a former member of the ASCAP board of directors.
The ASCAP Foundation Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Awards judging panel is comprised of ASCAP members Stella Sung, Paul Moravec, (2020/21 concert), Terry Radigan and Dom Flemons, (2021 pop), Julie Flanders and David Massengill (2020 pop). Former ASCAP executive Jim Steinblatt provided professional guidance and advice.
Founded in 1975, The ASCAP Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to supporting American music creators and encouraging their development through music education and talent development programs. This encompasses songwriting workshops, grants, scholarships, awards, recognition and community outreach programs for songwriters, composers and lyricists.
The purpose of the Virgil Thomson Foundation is to further and promote the performance, preservation, dissemination and public appreciation of serious music in general and the music and writings of Virgil Thomson in particular.
More information about The ASCAP Foundation Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Awards is available here.
Singer-songwriter Alan Jackson will be celebrated during the upcoming CMA Awards, when he receives the 2022 CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. The ceremony will air live on ABC on Nov. 9 from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
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Feting Jackson will be Dierks Bentley, Jon Pardi, Carrie Underwood, and Lainey Wilson, who will all take to the CMA Awards stage for an all-star tribute to the Country Music Hall of Famer.
The CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an artist who has reached the highest degree of recognition in country music, and recognizes an artist who has earned national and international prominence through concert performances, humanitarian efforts, philanthropy, streaming numbers, record sales and public representation, and has contributed to the growth of the country music genre throughout a number of years that have had unprecedented historical impact on fans and the industry.
Previous recipients of the CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award include Willie Nelson (2012), Kenny Rogers (2013), Johnny Cash (2015), Dolly Parton (2016), Kris Kristofferson (2019), Charley Pride (2020), and Loretta Lynn (2021).
Jackson may be “a singer of simple songs,” as he croons in “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning),” but it is those songs, paired with his relatable, straightforward vocal, that have gained Jackson his status as a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, among other accolades.
Since the release of his debut single, “Blue Blooded Woman” in 1989, Jackson has earned 26 Billboard No. 1 country songs (and 51 top 10 singles), with hits including “Midnight in Montgomery,” “Chattahoochee,” and “Livin’ on Love,” and was the sole songwriter behind many of his fan-favorite songs. Jackson has won the CMA’s entertainer of the year honor three times. Following the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001, Jackson saw his song “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” become an anthem of hope and healing. The song earned Jackson his first Grammy Award (for best country song), and in November 2001, Georgia congressman Mac Collins read the song’s lyrics on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, securing it in the permanent Congressional Record.
He’s released more than 20 albums and collections during his career, and in 2014 was given the first ASCAP Heritage Award, which recognized him as the most-performed country music songwriter-artist of the last century. Jackson has sold nearly 60 million albums, and has won more than 150 awards during his career.
“We are thrilled to honor Alan Jackson this year with the CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA CEO “A three-time CMA Entertainer of the Year, he is responsible for so many iconic moments in CMA Awards history. Just as Alan has been influenced by many Country legends throughout his career, he too has inspired a generation of artists to stay true to the authenticity of Country Music. We are so excited to bring Dierks, Jon, Carrie and Lainey together on the CMA Awards stage for what will surely be an incredible and touching tribute to an artist they each deeply admire. Having had the great fortune of working with Alan over the years, I am delighted we are honoring him with this milestone award next month.”
Fans who tune into the 2022 MTV EMAs on Nov. 13 have an excellent chance of seeing David Guetta and Bebe Rexha perform their international hit “I’m Good (Blue),” which jumps from No. 16 to No. 14 on this week’s Billboard Hot 100. MTV has announced that both stars are set to perform on the show, along with Ava Max, Gorillaz, Lewis Capaldi and Muse.
The 2022 MTV EMAs, hosted by Rita Ora and Taika Waititi, are set to air live from the PSD Bank Dome in Düsseldorf, Germany.
Five of these six acts are nominated for 2022 EMAs. Guetta is vying for best electronic and best collaboration with Rexha for “I’m Good (Blue).” Max is also up for best collaboration for “The Motto” with Tiësto.Gorillaz is nominated for best alternative. Muse is up for best rock.
Three of these acts have albums slated for release in the first half of 2023. Max’s sophomore album Diamonds & Dancefloors is due Jan. 27. Gorillaz’ eighth studio album Cracker Island is due Feb. 24. Capaldi’s sophomore album Broken by Desire to be Heavenly Sent is due May 19. “Forget Me,” the first single from Capaldi’s album, dips from No. 95 to No. 99 on this week’s Hot 100. But it may very well turn around. The Scottish artist topped that chart in November 2019 with “Someone You Loved” and climbed as high as No. 9 in September 2020 with “Before You Go.”
Muse’s ninth studio album, Will of the People, debuted and peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 in September. It was the band’s sixth consecutive album to reach the top 15.The album did even better on the Official U.K. Albums chart, where it became the band’s seventh album to reach No. 1.
Rexha hosted the 2016 EMAs in Rotterdam. Max took home best push artist at the 2019 show. Capaldi is making his EMAs debut.
Muse are Matt Bellamy, Dominic Howard and Chris Wolstenholme. Gorillaz, created by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, currently consists of singer 2D, bassist Murdoc Niccals, drummer Russel Hobbs and guitarist Noodle.
Additional performers and presenters will be announced at a later date.
The 2022 MTV EMAs will broadcast live on MTV in more than 170 countries and on Pluto TV in select territories across the U.S., Latin America and Europe and Comedy Central in Germany on Nov. 13. The show will be available on Paramount+ and Pluto TV globally beginning Nov. 14.
Fans may vote for their favorites across 17 gender-neutral categories at www.mtvema.com until Nov. 9 at 11:59pm CET. There are two new categories this year, best longform video and best metaverse performance.
Bruce Gillmer and Richard Godfrey are executive producers of the 2022 MTV EMAs. Debbie Phillips and Chloe Mason are producers.
Bad Bunny and Harry Styles are the top music nominees for the 2022 People’s Choice Awards, with Bad Bunny racking up seven nods and Styles six.
Both are nominated for the male artist of 2022, the song of 2022, the album of 2022 and the music video of 2022. (As you can see, the People’s Choice Awards uses the article “the” and the year in the name of each of its 40 categories.)
In addition to the four categories in which Bad Bunny and Styles are going head-to-head, Bunny is nominated for the Latin artist of 2022, the collaboration song of 2022 and the social celebrity of 2022. Styles’ additional nominations are for the music video of 2022 and the drama movie star of 2022 for his performance in the widely panned Don’t Worry Darling.
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Luke Combs, Selena Gomez, Lizzo and Charlie Puth each received four nominations. Gomez’s tally includes two nominations for her work on the hit TV show Only Murders in the Building. In addition to Lizzo’s four nods in music categories, Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls is nominated for the competition show of 2022.
The 2022 People’s Choice Awards will air simultaneously on NBC and E! on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 9 p.m. ET/PT from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. Live From E!: The 2022 People’s Choice Awards will kick off the night with a red carpet special at 7 p.m. ET/PT on E!
Actor and comedian Kenan Thompson will return to host the annual ceremony for the second consecutive year. Thompson is nominated in the comedy TV star category for Saturday Night Live. Thompson is currently in his 20th season as the longest-running cast member on SNL. For two seasons, Thompson executive produced and starred as the title character in the NBC comedy series Kenan. Thompson hosted the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2022.
“I’m beyond excited to host the People’s Choice Awards again this year and celebrate the incredible talent and fans that this show unites,” Thompson said in a statement. “I’m so grateful to be nominated – shoutout to the fans and congrats to all the nominees. Get ready for round two!!”
Thompson is represented by UTA, Michael Goldman, and Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein Lezcano Bobb & Dang.
Voting for the 2022 People’s Choice Awards runs today through Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Fans can either vote online at VotePCA.com or on Twitter. Additionally, votes cast on “Turbo Tuesday,” Nov. 1 will count twice, equaling up to a maximum of 50 votes per day, per category, per voting method.
Voting Methods:
Online – VotePCA.com
Twitter – Fans can send a public tweet or retweet and include one category hashtag and one corresponding nominee hashtag.
The complete rules can be found at: https://votepca.com/rules
The complete list of category and nominee hashtags can be found at: https://votepca.com/faqs
People’s Choice Awards and Live from E!: The 2022 People’s Choice Awards are both produced by Den of Thieves with executive producers Jesse Ignjatovic, Evan Prager and Barb Bialkowski.
Here’s a complete list of 2022 People’s Choice Awards nominees.
The male artist of 2022Bad BunnyCharlie PuthDrakeHarry StylesJack HarlowKendrick LamarLuke CombsThe Weeknd
The female artist of 2022BeyoncéCamila CabelloDoja CatLady GagaLizzoMegan Thee StallionNicki MinajTaylor Swift
The group of 2022BTS5 Seconds of SummerBlackpinkColdplayImagine DragonsMåneskinOneRepublicPanic! At The Disco
The song of 2022“About Damn Time” – Lizzo“As It Was” – Harry Styles“Break My Soul” – Beyoncé“First Class” – Jack Harlow“Hold My Hand” – Lady Gaga“Me Porto Bonito” – Bad Bunny & Chencho Corleone“Super Freaky Girl” – Nicki Minaj“Wait For U” – Future Featuring Drake & Tems
The album of 2022Dawn FM – The WeekndGrowin’ Up – Luke CombsHarry’s House – Harry StylesMidnights – Taylor SwiftMr. Morale & The Big Steppers – Kendrick LamarRenaissance – BeyoncéSpecial – LizzoUn Verano Sin Ti – Bad Bunny
The country artist of 2022Carrie UnderwoodKane BrownKelsea BalleriniLuke CombsMaren MorrisMiranda LambertMorgan WallenThomas Rhett
The Latin artist of 2022AnittaBad BunnyBecky GShakiraKarol GRauw AlejandroRosalíaSebastián Yatra
The new artist of 2022ChlöeDove CameronGayleLattoLauren Spencer-SmithMuni LongSaucy SantanaSteve Lacy
The music video of 2022“Anti-Hero” – Taylor Swift“As It Was” – Harry Styles“Left and Right” (feat. Jung Kook of BTS) – Charlie Puth“Let Somebody Go” – Coldplay X Selena Gomez“Oh My God” – Adele“Pink Venom” – Blackpink“Provenza” – Karol G“Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment) Official” – BTS
The collaboration song of 2022“Left and Right” – Charlie Puth Featuring Jung Kook“Bam Bam” – Camila Cabello Featuring Ed Sheeran“Do We Have a Problem?” – Nicki Minaj X Lil Baby“Freaky Deaky” – Tyga X Doja Cat“Hold Me Closer” – Elton John & Britney Spears“Jimmy Cooks” – Drake Featuring 21 Savage“Party” – Bad Bunny & Rauw Alejandro“Sweetest Pie” – Megan Thee Stallion & Dua Lipa
The concert tour of 2022BTS Permission to Dance on StageBad Bunny: World’s Hottest TourBillie Eilish: Happier Than Ever, The World TourDua Lipa Future Nostalgia TourEd Sheeran TourHarry Styles Love on TourLady Gaga: The Chromatica BallLuke Combs: The Middle of Somewhere Tour
The social celebrity of 2022Bad BunnyCharlie PuthDoja CatLil Nas XLizzoReese WitherspoonSelena GomezSnoop Dogg
The movie of 2022Bullet TrainDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of MadnessElvisJurassic World DominionNopeThe BatmanThor: Love and ThunderTop Gun: Maverick
The comedy movie of 2022Fire IslandHustleHocus Pocus 2Marry MeSenior YearThe Adam ProjectThe Lost CityTicket to Paradise
The action movie of 2022Black AdamBullet TrainDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of MadnessJurassic World DominionThe BatmanThe Woman KingThor: Love and ThunderTop Gun: Maverick
The drama movie of 2022NopeDeath on the NileDon’t Worry DarlingElvisHalloween EndsLuckiest Girl AliveScreamWhere the Crawdads Sing
The male movie star of 2022Brad Pitt – Bullet TrainChris Hemsworth – Thor: Love and ThunderChris Pratt – Jurassic World DominionDaniel Kaluuya – NopeDwayne Johnson – Black AdamMiles Teller – Top Gun: MaverickRyan Reynolds – The Adam ProjectTom Cruise – Top Gun: Maverick
The female movie star of 2022Elizabeth Olsen – Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of MadnessGal Gadot – Death on the NileJennifer Garner – The Adam ProjectJennifer Lopez – Marry MeJoey King – Bullet TrainKeke Palmer – NopeQueen Latifah – HustleViola Davis – The Woman King
The drama movie star of 2022Austin Butler – ElvisDaniel Kaluuya – NopeFlorence Pugh – Don’t Worry DarlingGal Gadot – Death on the NileHarry Styles – Don’t Worry DarlingJamie Lee Curtis – Halloween EndsKeke Palmer – NopeMila Kunis – Luckiest Girl Alive
The comedy movie star of 2022Adam Sandler – HustleChanning Tatum – The Lost CityJennifer Garner – The Adam ProjectJennifer Lopez – Marry MeJulia Roberts – Ticket to ParadiseQueen Latifah – HustleRyan Reynolds – The Adam ProjectSandra Bullock – The Lost City
The action movie star of 2022Chris Hemsworth – Thor: Love and ThunderChris Pratt – Jurassic World DominionDwayne Johnson – Black AdamElizabeth Olsen – Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of MadnessJoey King – Bullet TrainTom Cruise – Top Gun: MaverickViola Davis – The Woman KingZöe Kravitz – The Batman
The show of 2022Abbott ElementaryBetter Call SaulGrey’s AnatomyHouse of the DragonObi-Wan KenobiSaturday Night LiveStranger ThingsThis Is Us
The drama show of 2022Better Call SaulCobra KaiEuphoriaGrey’s AnatomyLaw & Order: Special Victims UnitOzarkThe Walking DeadThis Is Us
The comedy show of 2022Abbott ElementaryBlack-ishOnly Murders in the BuildingNever Have I EverSaturday Night LiveThe Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the WindowYoung RockYoung Sheldon
The reality show of 202290 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 DaysBelow Deck Sailing YachtJersey Shore: Family VacationLove & Hip Hop: AtlantaThe KardashiansThe Real Housewives of AtlantaThe Real Housewives of Beverly HillsSelling Sunset
The competition show of 2022America’s Got TalentAmerican IdolDancing with the StarsRuPaul’s Drag RaceThe BacheloretteThe Masked SingerLizzo’s Watch Out for the Big GrrrlsThe Voice
The male TV star of 2022Dwayne Johnson – Young RockEwan McGregor – Obi-Wan KenobiIce-T – Law & Order: Special Victims UnitJason Bateman – OzarkNoah Schnapp – Stranger ThingsNorman Reedus – The Walking DeadOscar Isaac – Moon KnightSterling K. Brown – This Is Us
The female TV star of 2022Millie Bobby Brown – Stranger ThingsEllen Pompeo – Grey’s AnatomyKristen Bell – The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the WindowMaitreyi Ramakrishnan – Never Have I EverMandy Moore – This Is UsMariska Hargitay – Law & Order: Special Victims UnitQuinta Brunson – Abbott ElementarySelena Gomez – Only Murders in the Building
The drama TV star of 2022Ellen Pompeo – Grey’s AnatomyJason Bateman – OzarkMandy Moore – This Is UsMariska Hargitay – Law & Order: Special Victims UnitNorman Reedus – The Walking DeadSterling K. Brown – This Is UsSydney Sweeney – EuphoriaZendaya – Euphoria
The comedy TV star of 2022Bowen Yang – Saturday Night LiveDwayne Johnson – Young RockKenan Thompson – Saturday Night LiveKristen Bell – The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the WindowMaitreyi Ramakrishnan – Never Have I EverQuinta Brunson – Abbott ElementarySelena Gomez – Only Murders in the BuildingTracee Ellis Ross – Black-Ish
The daytime talk show of 2022Good Morning AmericaLive with Kelly and RyanThe Drew Barrymore ShowThe Ellen DeGeneres ShowThe Jennifer Hudson ShowThe Kelly Clarkson ShowThe ViewToday with Hoda and Jenna
The nighttime talk show of 2022Jimmy Kimmel Live!Last Week Tonight with John OliverLate Night with Seth MeyersThe Daily ShowThe Late Late Show with James CordenThe Late Show with Stephen ColbertThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
The competition contestant of 2022Charli D’Amelio – Dancing with the StarsBosco – RuPaul’s Drag RaceGabby Windey – The BacheloretteMayyas – America’s Got TalentNoah Thompson – American IdolSelma Blair – Dancing with the StarsTeyana Taylor – The Masked SingerWillow Pill – RuPaul’s Drag Race
The reality tv star of 2022Chrishell Stause – Selling SunsetGarcelle Beauvais – The Real Housewives of Beverly HillsKandi Burruss – The Real Housewives of AtlantaKenya Moore – The Real Housewives of AtlantaKhloé Kardashian – The KardashiansKim Kardashian – The KardashiansKyle Richards – The Real Housewives of Beverly HillsMike “The Situation” Sorrentino – Jersey Shore: Family Vacation
The bingeworthy show of 2022BridgertonBel-AirDahmer-Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer StoryInventing AnnaSeveranceThe BearThe BoysThe Thing About Pam
The sci-fi/fantasy show of 2022House of The DragonLa BreaMoon KnightObi-Wan KenobiShe-Hulk: Attorney at LawStranger ThingsThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of PowerThe Umbrella Academy
The social star of 2022Addison RaeBrent RiveraCharli D’AmelioJay ShettyKhaby LameMikayla Jane NogueiraMr BeastNoah Beck
The comedy act of 2022Amy Schumer: Whore TourChris Rock Ego Death World Tour 2022David Spade: Nothing Personal (Netflix)Jo Koy: Live from the LA ForumKevin Hart: Reality CheckSteve Martin & Martin Short You Won’t Believe What They Look Like TodayWanda Sykes – Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration (Netflix)Whitney Cummings – Jokes (Netflix)
The game changer of 2022Chloe KimLeBron JamesMegan RapinoeNathan ChenRafael NadalRussell WilsonSerena WilliamsSteph CurryThe pop podcast of 2022Anything Goes with Emma ChamberlainArchetypesArmchair Expert with Dax ShepardCall Her DaddyConan O’Brien Needs a FriendNot Skinny But Not FatSmartLessWhy Won’t You Date Me? with Nicol
Christine Farnon, the Recording Academy’s first full-time employee and one of its longest-serving, died on Monday Oct. 24 in the Los Angeles area of natural causes. She was 97.
Farnon started as an unpaid volunteer in May 1957 – when the Academy was just in its formative stages — and rose to become executive vice president. From 1957 through 1987, she worked alongside a succession of 18 elected, volunteer presidents. These men — and yes, they were all men — served their terms and moved on. Farnon provided continuity and stability. In early 1988, Michael Greene became the Academy’s first paid, permanent president. Farnon stayed on through 1992, to ensure a smooth transition.
Farnon received a trustees award from the Academy upon her retirement. An appreciation in that year’s Grammy program book was fittingly titled “The Recording Academy’s Guiding Light.”
In announcing the honor for Farnon earlier in 1992, Greene said, “The Recording Academy owes much of what it is today to the selfless, conscientious dedication that Christine has exhibited in her years of contributions to the Recording Academy. Chris is a vital member of our [Academy] family and is most deserving of the trustees award.”
The late musicologist George T. Simon, who wrote the aforementioned appreciation, noted, “Chris has always been an integral part of the organization – a seemingly impossible combination of guiding light and steady anchor. Deeply involved from the start in all the Academy’s activities, this warm, intelligent, soft-spoken, sensitive lady has helped tremendously, often leading the way, in chartering and steering the course of [the Academy].”
Simon’s piece quoted Farnon as saying “This has been a rare opportunity, to have one of the most challenging and rewarding careers anyone could wish for, and to work with and for some of the finest people in the recording field.”
Billboard included Farnon in a gallery of groundbreaking female executives that appeared in the Feb. 26, 2022 issue, noting “Decades before Deborah Dugan became the Recording Academy’s first female president/CEO in 2019, Farnon was the top executive at the organization — and while she never held the big title, there was no question of who was in charge.”
Farnon’s responsibilities at the Academy included maintaining contact with disc jockeys and radio personnel and development of annual mailers and special albums designed for radio stations highlighting Grammy nominees. Farnon was a talent coordinator for most of the seven Grammy-branded Best on Record TV shows that aired on NBC. From 1971, when the Grammy Awards became a live telecast, until 1992, when Farnon retired, she was an integral part of the Academy’s TV committee, which oversaw format development, contract negotiations and TV scripts. She eventually received on-screen credit in the crawl at the end of the telecast.
Folklorist and author Bill Ivey, the only person in Academy history to serve two, non-consecutive stints as chairman of the board of trustees (1981-83 and 1989-91), gave Farnon a great deal of credit in an interview with this writer a decade ago for a Grammy.com piece on the Academy’s early days.
“Chris Farnon was central to the Academy’s success,” he said. “She was quite ferocious in protecting the integrity of Grammy and the telecast. …In large part because she was so conservative and protective, Chris handed future leaders an asset of tremendous potential value that converted to earning power as sponsorships and TV revenues really took off in the ’90s.”
In an interview for that same piece, Farnon said that she was “gratified and delighted” to have played a role in the Academy’s growth, though, characteristically, she shared the credit. “The Academy’s present achievements are something that everyone, past and present, can be very proud of,” she said.
“The original vision of what the Academy was meant to be and do hasn’t changed,” Farnon added. “Many of its significant programs had their roots in the Academy’s original goals, although they operate on a much wider and grander scale today.”
Farnon was still able to tick off the Academy’s early goals. “In the early years its goals included the annual Grammy Awards on live TV, scholarships, university courses on the recording arts and sciences, open membership meetings where leading recording individuals explored developments in the recording field, and magazines and/or newsletters to members. Unfortunately, some years most of these programs didn’t come off because there wasn’t enough money or support staff to produce them.”
The Academy was able to realize more of its goals after it struck a better deal with CBS, the long-time network of the Grammy Awards. “By the time I ended my 35-year career at the Recording Academy, the increasing income made it possible for the Academy to be taken to another level,” Farnon said.
Farnon held various positions with the Recording Academy. In the early 1960’s she was named executive director of the Los Angeles chapter. In 1971, she was promoted to national executive director, and in 1986 was appointed executive vice president, a position she held until her retirement.
Farnon also belonged to the local chapter of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE); the California Copyright Conference; and was a co-founder of the first Toastmistress Chapter in Hollywood – the very name of the latter organization is a sign of the times in which Farnon came up.
Farnon died three years after her ex-husband, Dennis Farnon, who had been the last surviving founder of the Recording Academy. Dennis Farnon died in May 2019 at age 95. Christine Farnon and Dennis Farnon were divorced in 1960.
Dennis Farnon co-founded the Academy in 1957 with Sonny Burke, who died in 1980; Lloyd W. Dunn, who died in 1991; Paul Weston, who died in 1996; and Jesse Kaye, whose date of death is unknown. All five founders were top executives at leading record companies of the period. Farnon was from RCA; Burke, from Decca; Dunn, from Capitol; Weston, from Columbia; and Kaye, from MGM.
Following her retirement, Farnon spent more than 20 years studying painting and was given three commissions of her paintings, plus recognition by the Chatsworth (Calif.) Fine Arts Council for her work.
Farnon is survived by one daughter, Joanna, as well as nieces, nephews and cousins.
A gathering of family and friends will be held at a future date. Condolences to her family may be sent to P.O. Box 150, Ripton VT 05766.
Michael Bublé, a four-time Grammy winner for best traditional pop vocal album, is in the running for another nomination in the category for his latest studio album, Higher. This would be Bublé’s ninth nomination in the category, a total surpassed only by Tony Bennett (17 nods) and Barbra Streisand (13 nods).
First-round voting closed on Sunday (Oct. 23). Nominations in this and 90 other categories will be announced on Nov. 15.
The Recording Academy introduced this category in 1991 as a way to honor the music that by that point had a hard time competing in the pop categories. The first winner was a single, Natalie Cole’s “Unforgettable,” a duet with her late father Nat King Cole, but all subsequent winners have been full-length albums.
Here’s the description of the category from the current Grammy rules and guidelines booklet: “This category is for performances of a type and style of song that cannot properly be intermingled with present forms of pop music. This includes older forms of traditional pop such as the Great American Songbook, created by the Broadway, Hollywood and Tin Pan Alley songwriter of the period between the 1920s and the end of World War II, as well as cabaret/musical theater-style songs and previous forms of contemporary pop. This would also include contemporary pop songs performed in a traditional pop style – the term ‘traditional’ being a reference, equally, to the style of the composition, vocal styling and the instrumental arrangement, without regard to the age of the material.”
A total of 78 albums are vying for nominations in this category this year. There will be five nominees (except in the event of a tie).
Here are 10 albums that are thought to be most likely to receive a nomination, listed in descending order of their perceived likelihood of being nominated — followed by a quick listing of eight more albums that could surprise us with a nomination.
The first round of performers for the upcoming 56th annual CMA Awards was announced Tuesday morning (Oct. 25), and it includes a mix of veteran hitmakers and rising artists.
This year’s performer lineup includes Jimmie Allen, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Bryan, Kelly Clarkson, HARDY, Marcus King, Miranda Lambert, Carly Pearce, Carrie Underwood, Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson and Zac Brown Band. This year’s show will be co-hosted by two-time CMA entertainer of the year winner Bryan, and NFL star Peyton Manning.
The 56th annual CMA Awards will air Wednesday, Nov. 9 from Nashville. The ABC broadcast will open with a tribute to the late singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn. Bryan will perform his new single “Country On,” while current five-time nominee Carly Pearce will perform a song from her recent album 29: Written in Stone.
Lambert, the most-nominated female artist in CMA Awards history, who has three nominations this year including entertainer of the year, will perform “Geraldene” from her album Palomino, which is nominated for album of the year.
Underwood, who also has three nominations this year including entertainer of the year, will perform her new single “Hate My Heart.” As previously confirmed by Billboard, Ballerini will team with Pearce and Clarkson to perform Ballerini’s new song “You’re Drunk, Go Home.”
Wallen, who receives his first CMA entertainer of the year nod this year, will perform his latest chart-topper “You Proof.” Three-time CMA Awards nominee this year HARDY will be joined by Wilson, the top nominee this year with six nods, for their duet “wait in the truck.”
Meanwhile, CMA vocal group of the year nominee Zac Brown Band will team with reigning CMA new artist of the year Allen and blues guitarist King to perform the single “Out in the Middle.” Additional performers and presenters for CMAs will be announced in the coming weeks.
Tickets for the awards are on sale beginning today at 11 a.m. ET via Ticketmaster. The winners of this year’s awards show will be determined via a final round of voting by eligible voting CMA members. The third and final ballot is open now for CMA members, with voting for the final ballot set to close on Friday (Oct. 28) at 7 p.m. ET.
Rita Ora and writer, director, and actor Taika Waititi will host the 2022 MTV EMAs, which are set to broadcast live from Düsseldorf, Germany on Sunday, Nov. 13. Harry Styles is this year’s top nominee. Ora previously hosted the EMAs in 2017.
Ora reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2014 as a featured artist on Iggy Azalea’s “Black Widow.” Waititi won both an Oscar and a Grammy for his work on the 2020 film Jojo Rabbit. His Oscar was for best adapted screenplay; his Grammy, for best compilation soundtrack for visual media.
“I’m thrilled to be back hosting, and sharing the stage with Taika makes it all the more special,” Ora said in a statement. “We’ve got it all at this year’s EMAs, fun surprises, fantastic fashion, comedy, and above all amazing music!”
“Rita Ora is a long-time MTV/EMA favorite and together with the multi-talented Taika Waititi, we’re absolutely certain this powerhouse duo will set the stage for one electrifying night of global music celebration,” said Bruce Gillmer, president of music, music talent, programming and events at Paramount, and chief content officer of music for Paramount+.
The 2022 MTV EMAs will broadcast live on MTV in more than 170 countries and on Pluto TV in select territories across the U.S., Latin America and Europe and Comedy Central in Germany on Nov. 13. It will be available on Paramount+ and Pluto TV globally beginning Nov. 14.
Fans can vote for their favorites across 17 gender-neutral categories at www.mtvema.com until Nov. 9, at 11:59 p.m. CET. There are two new categories this year — best longform video and best metaverse performance.
Gillmer and Richard Godfrey are executive producers of the 2022 MTV EMAs. Debbie Phillips and Chloe Mason are producers.
Christian McBride & Inside Straight were the top winners at the inaugural Jazz Music Awards, which were held on Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta. McBride & Inside Straight received two of the eight competitive awards — best mainstream artist and best duo, group or big band. McBride, 50, an eight-time Grammy winner, was on the road in Europe and unable to attend the event.
The show, dubbed Celebrating the Spirit of Jazz, was co-hosted by Dee Dee Bridgewater and actor Delroy Lindo. Terri Lyne Carrington was the show’s musical director and co-executive producer.
A mid-show medley of “songs of social justice” featured Dianne Reeves, Lizz Wright, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jazzmeia Horn, and Ledisi. Reeves opened the segment with her 1994 composition, “Endangered Species,” which gained notice at last month’s Primetime Emmy Awards when Sheryl Lee Ralph sang it in her acceptance speech.
Vocalist Somi, one of two winners of the best vocal performance award (due to a tie), performed a Miriam Makeba tribute, “House of the Rising Sun.”
A presentation of a lifetime achievement award to influential jazz saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter included a medley of his songs and Shorter’s heartfelt video message.
The show closed with an affecting performance by Lizz Wright and Tia Fuller of “Georgia on My Mind.”
Carrington’s All-Star Band played throughout the show. The group included pianist Orrin Evans, bassist James Genus, guitarist Mark Whitfield, tenor saxophonist Marcus Strickland, alto saxophonist Braxton Cook, trumpeter Milena Casado, keyboardist Ray Angry, drummer Nikki Glaspie, and DJ/percussionist Kassa Overall.
Presenters included Reeves, Horn, Jean and Marcus Baylor of The Baylor Project, Brandee Younger, Ben Tankard, Orrin Evans, Ragan Whiteside, Tia Fuller, and Bob Baldwin.
Many in attendance were sobered by the more than 100 jazz greats listed in the In Memoriam tribute. All died between the latter part of December 2019 and October 2022.
The Jazz Music Awards is a nonprofit division of Jazz 91.9 WCLK at Clark Atlanta University, owner and licensee of WCLK.
The second Annual Jazz Music Awards is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023.
Here’s a complete list of nominees in the eight competitive categories:
Best Mainstream ArtistJoey DeFrancesco, More MusicKenny Garrett, Sounds From The AncestorsWINNER: Christian McBride & Inside Straight, Live at the Village VanguardBrandee Younger, Somewhere Different
Best Contemporary ArtistBrian Bromberg, A Little Driving MusicBen Tankard, SHINE!Lindsey Webster, “I Didn’t Mean It”WINNER: Ragan Whiteside, “Off the Cuff”
Best Duo, Group, or Big BandThe Baylor Project, GenerationsJazzmeia Horn and Her Noble Force, Dear LoveWINNER: Christian McBride & Inside Straight, Live at the Village VanguardCount Basie Orchestra, Live at Birdland(under the direction of Scotty Barnhart)Kevin Eubanks and Orrin Evans, EEE (Eubanks-Evans-Experience)
Best New Jazz Artist (Contemporary or Mainstream)Simon Moullier, CountdownJulieta Engenio, JumpKazemde George, I InsistWINNER: Samara Joy, Samara Joy
Best Vocal PerformanceThe Baylor Project, GenerationsCO-WINNER: Somi Kakoma, Dreaming ZenzileCO-WINNER: Stacey Kent, Songs From Other PlacesShawnn Monteiro, You Are There
Best Mainstream AlbumThe Baylor Project, GenerationsCO-WINNER: Orrin Evans, The Magic of NowCO-WINNER: Kenny Garrett, Sounds From the AncestorsBrandee Younger, Somewhere Different
Best Contemporary AlbumWINNER: Bob Baldwin, The Stay at Home Series, Volume 1Brian Culbertson, The Trilogy RedSonny Emory, Soul AscensionGabriel Mark Hasselbach, Tongue & Groove
Song of the Year (Fan Vote)WINNER: Norman Brown, “Back at Ya”Brian Culbertson, “Feel the Love”Justin-Lee Schultz, “Gruv Kid”James “PJ” Spraggins, “Up From Here”
When football great Peyton Manning takes the stage at the 56th CMA Awards on Nov. 9 to co-host with Luke Bryan, he’ll join a small but impressive group of professional athletes who have co-hosted music awards shows.
Four other pro athletes – also football stars – have co-hosted music awards shows. Four of the five served as co-hosts of country music awards shows, which suggests a strong overlap between country fans and football fans.
This connection is also seen in the number of country stars who have been tapped to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl. The roster includes Charley Pride (1974), Garth Brooks (1993), Faith Hill (2000), The Chicks (2003, when they were still known as Dixie Chicks), Carrie Underwood (2010), Bryan (2017), Eric Church (2021, with Jazmine Sullivan) and Mickey Guyton (2022). Pride and Hill also sang “America the Beautiful” at the Super Bowl in 1974 and 2009, respectively. Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert sang that patriotic standard in 2012.
Country stars have also been tapped to sing the theme songs on weekly TV football programs. From 1989 to 2011, Hank Williams Jr. performed a version of his 1984 hit “All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight” (reworked as “All My Rowdy Friends Are Here on Monday Night”) as the opening theme to ABC’s Monday Night Football. The song was dropped in 2011, but reinstated in 2017, with a new version by Williams Jr., Florida Georgia Line and Jason Derulo.
Hill sang “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night,” the theme from NBC Sunday Night Football, from 2007-12, before passing the ball to Underwood in 2013.
Other country artists also have a strong connection to football. Kenny Chesney had a No. 1 hit on Hot Country Songs in 2010 with “The Boys of Fall,” with lyrics about playing high school football. Tim McGraw has acted in two films in which football is a central theme: Friday Night Lights and The Blind Side.
Here are the five professional athletes who have co-hosted music awards shows. They are listed in reverse chronological order by the date of the show.