NASHVILLE, Tenn., Dec 5 (Reuters) - Male artists led the
nominations announced on Wednesday for the 2013 Grammys, as
fun., Jay-Z, Kanye West, Frank Ocean, Mumford & Sons and Dan
Auerbach from The Black Keys landed six nods each for music's
biggest awards night.
After British singer Adele dominated this year's awards with
her juggernaut album "21," male artists took the lead in
categories such as album of the year, with The Black Keys, fun.,
Mumford & Sons, Frank Ocean and Jack White competing for one of
the night's top awards.
The winners will be announced at the awards televised from
Los Angeles on Feb. 10.
Record of the year nominees saw an assortment of rock, pop
and hip hop nominees, with The Black Keys' "Lonely Boy," Kelly
Clarkson's "Stronger," fun.'s "We Are Young," Australian artist
Gotye's heartbreak hit "Somebody That I Used To Know," newcomer
Frank Ocean's "Thinkin About You," and Swift's "We Are Never
Ever Getting Back Together" receiving nods.
The best new artist category saw a diverse range of artists,
with blues-rock group Alabama Shakes, indie-pop band fun.,
country singer Hunter Hayes, folk-rockers The Lumineers and hip
hop artist Frank Ocean all competing for the coveted title.
The nominations for the top awards and key categories were
announced during an hour-long televised concert in Nashville for
the first time, co-hosted by country-pop artist Swift and
veteran Grammy host, rapper-actor LL Cool J.
Adding a twist to the normal announcement method, country
artist Hunter Hayes sang the nominees for best pop album, a
tight contest between Maroon 5, Kelly Clarkson, Pink, fun. and
Florence and the Machine. Hayes picked up two nods for best new
artist and best country vocal performance.
Concert performers included Maroon 5 singing a medley of
their hits, and fun. featuring Janelle Monae and Ne-Yo. Paying
homage to Nashville's country roots, country artists The Band
Perry and Dierks Bentley performed a tribute to Johnny Cash with
his song "Jackson."
British rock legends The Who will receive the Grammy
Lifetime Achievement Award in February.
(Reporting By Vernell Hackett, writing by Piya Sinha-Roy;
editing by Philip Barbara)