"And The Winner Is..." - My Grammy Awards Survey Results

Updated to show actual winners. We were way off! Our votes were only right on 3 of the 10 categories!The good news is that Donna doesn't have to poke her eyes out and Heidi doesn't have to eat her hat.

Here are the results from my recent Grammy Awards Survey. These are based on your votes submitted here and on my MySpace blog page.

Album of the Year
- Your choice is: COLDPLAY - Viva La Vida of Death and All His Friends.
- Coldplay received almost three times as many votes as the runner up, Radiohead (15 - 6). In third spot, just two votes back of Radiohead, was Robert Plant and Alison Krauss (4). Lil Wayne and Ne-Yo each only received one vote in this category.
- My personal favourite in this category was Coldplay, although I am a bit biased working for their label. I was also a big fan of the Plant & Krauss disc. One of those two should win. If Radiohead wins it would signal a real shift in the attitude of the American Recording business. Remember, these are the guys that shunned the traditional way of selling music...and a lot of the people voting for these awards are part of that old machine.
- Actual winner: ROBERT PLANT & ALISON KRAUSS - Raising Sand.

Record of the Year- Your choice is: COLDPLAY - Viva La Vida.
- This category was a close one. Coldplay recieved 10 votes, just two more than Robert Plant and Alison Krauss with 8. Leona Lewis was third with 6 votes. M.I.A. received 2 votes and Adele 1.
- To answer the question about the difference between this category and the Album of the Year category, this is a singles category. The actually Song of the Year category is awarded to the songwriters of that song.
- My personal pick in this category was Leona Lewis. While my EMI loyalty is hoping for Coldplay, I just have to think that this song, which is still on AC radio current spins lists more than a year after it was released, should win for that kind of endurance and saturation. Plant & Krauss are the dark horse in this category. If they win, commercial radio should start re-thinking what they play. I don't recall hearing this song anywhere except CKUA and CBC.
- Actual Winner: ROBERT PLANT & ALISON KRAUSS - PLEASE READ THE LETTER

Best New Artist
- Your choice is: JONAS BROTHERS.
- This was a bit of a landslide. A lot of you made comments about how much you dislike the Jonas boys. Donna even went so far as to say she would pke out her eyes if they win this category (I hope she was joking). Still, there was no denying they had a massive year and they received 13 votes, 6 more than runner up, Duffy (7). Lady Antebellum was third with 4 votes. Adele received 2 votes and bringin up the rear was Jazmine Sullivan with 1 vote.
- My heart is with Lady Antebellum in this category. Their debut disc was instantly one of my favourite Country CD's of the last few years. They were great people to work with too. That being said, if I was betting money on this category I would have to go with the Jonas Brothers. They certainly sold more units than the others in this category and they also dominated the media with both positive and negative critiques of everything from their clothes and their hair, to who they were dating, to (shock of all shocks) some actual mention of their music. I know my daughters and all of their tween friends are cheering for Joe, Nick and Kevin. Duffy also had a great year, but she was certainly overshadowed by the Jonas machine.
- Actual Winner: ADELE

Best Rock Album- Your choice: KINGS OF LEON - Only By The Night.
- Another landslide win. The Kings received 13 votes, 7 more than runner up, Kid Rock (6). Metallica was only one vote back of second (5) and Coldplay were just two votes back (4). The Raconteurs didn't receive any votes (although Lisa did say they should win).
- I was a huge fan of the Kings of Leon disc. I bought it after reading a Rolling Stone review of the CD and fell in love with it on my first listen. Of course, my EMI loyalty is cheering for Coldplay again here, but I wouldn't feel slighted if the Kings of Leon win tonight. It's just that good a disc. Kid Rock has a great year too, but a lot of his success was off of one smash summer time hit. If he wins it would be a bit of a surprise...so much so that Heidi says she will eat her hat. I'm going to hold her to that if Kid Rock takes this trophy tonight. Metallica should never be counted out either. The industry likes these guys. This will be an interesting one to watch.
- Actual Winner: COLDPLAY - Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends.

Best Alternative Music Album- Your Choice: DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE - Narrow Stairs.
- This category was close. Only one vote seperated DCFC from Radiohead. In the end it was Death Cab For Cutie with 8 votes and Radiohead with 7. Beck was third with 5 votes. Gnarls Barkley received 3 and My Morning Jacket just 2.
- I liked the My Morning Jacket CD. It seemed to get a lot of positive press too. I still think it could win this category. However, there is no denying the media's gushing over Death Cab For Cutie. Radiohead could also win, but for reasons I stated in the Album of the Year blurb, they could find themselves on the outside...or maybe this will be the bone that the voters throw them for having a good year despite their shunning of the old way of doing things. Another category that I look forward to seeing who comes out on top tonight.
- Actual Winner: RADIOHEAD - In Rainbows

Best Pop Vocal Album- Your Choice: EAGLES - Long Road Out of Eden.
- The Eagles flew away with this category. They received 9 votes, three more than runner up, Leona Lewis (6). Duffy and Sheryl Crow were tied with 4 votes each for third spot. Rounding out the category is James Taylor with just 2 votes.
- The Eagles are my pick to win. I liked the double disc even though I had to venture into a Walmart store and wait in line at the checkout counter for half an hour to buy it. Maybe that's part of the reason I like it so much. I had to actually make an effort to go and get it. I invested time and money into getting the music (just like the old days). Leona Lewis could be a contender in this category. Her disc is solid although most of America still only knows her for that one giant hit ("Bleeding Love"). Duffy and Sheryl Crow both put out great discs too and, although your votes had him dead last, don't forget the love that the American Music Industry has for James Taylor. They could throw him a bone here too.
- Actual Winner: DUFFY - Rockferry

Best Country Album- Your Choice: GEORGE STRAIT - Troubadour.
- George won this category easily. He received 15 votes. Second place went to Jamey Johnson with just 4 votes. Trisha Yearwood received 2 votes. Patty Loveless was fourth with just 1 vote. Poor Randy Travis didn't get any respect. Not a single vote was cast for his "Around the Bend" CD.
- I have to think that George Strait wins this category. The guy continues to be the monster of country music. Another batch of number one hits off of this CD (what is he up to now...54 number ones?) should propel him to an easy win. That being said, the Grammy's have surprised us before. They could throw their votes to one of the old guard artists (Travis, Trisha or Patty) or they could really step out and crown the newcomer Jamey Johnson. If Jamey wins, a lot of mainstream country folks will be scratching their heads (and asking the Universal guys to get them copies of the disc).
- Actual Winner: GEORGE STRAIT - Troubadour.

Best R&B Album- Your Choice: JENNIFER HUDSON - Jennifer Hudson.
- A lot of you felt that the industry would choose this as the sentimental pick after the terrible tragedy that J-Hud had to endure in 2008. Jennifer recieved the most votes of any of the categories. She got 17 votes. There was a tie for second, four votes each for Al Green and Raphael Saadiq. Boyz II Men recieved just one vote and Eric Benet was shut out.
- My EMI loyalty is behind Al Green but I agree with the majority of folks on this one. Jennifer should win this category. Not only did she have a tough year but this is a solid disc. I look forward to her hearfelt acceptance speech. If she doesn't win, I am sure that whoever does will acknowledge her in their speech.
- Actual Winner: JENNIFER HUDSON - Jennifer Hudson.

Best Contemporary R&B Album- Your Choice: NE-YO - Year of the Gentleman.
- Ne-Yo received 15 votes, 8 more than runner up, Mary J. Blige (7). J. Holiday recieved 2 votes to put him in third spot. Karina and Jazmine Sullivan were both shut out.
- Ne-Yo should win this one although the industry does have a soft spot for Mary J. My EMI loyalty is hoping for J. Holiday, but I think his chances are slim here.
- Actual Winner: MARY J. BLIGE - Growing Pains.

Best Rap Album- Your Choice: LIL WAYNE - Tha Carter III.
- Another close one. Lil Wayne only one by tha one vote (8 - 7) over Jay Z. T.I. was third with 5 votes. Lupe Fiasco got 3 votes. Nas didn't get any love.
- Again, tough one to pick. Does the industry go with the relatively new Lil Wayne or throw their votes to the old guard (Jay Z.). Lupe seems to have a lot of industry love too. T.I. could also surprise here.
At least we know that Kanye won't be storming the stage this year.
- Actual Winner: LIL WAYNE - Tha Carter III.