SANTA MONICA, DECEMBER 6, 2016 — Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, and the company’s distributed labels today received numerous nominations for the 59th Annual Grammy Awards, with Drake, Rihanna and Kanye West each drawing eight nominations.

Drake (Young Money/Cash Money/Republic Records) received nominations including Album of the Year and Best Rap Album for Views, Best Rap Performance for “Pop Style,” and Best Rap/Sung Performance and Best Rap Song for “Hotline Bling.”

Rihanna (RocNation/Def Jam) was recognized in multiple categories including Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group for “Work,” Best Urban Contemporary Album for Anti, Best R&B Performance for “Needed Me,” and Best R&B Song for “Kiss It Better.”

Kanye West (G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam) received nominations including Best Rap Album for The Life of Pablo, Best Rap Song for “Famous” and for “Ultralight Beam,” and Best Rap/Sung Performance for “Famous” and “Ultralight Beam.”

In addition, Justin Bieber (Def Jam) received nominations for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for Purpose and Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance nominations for “Love Yourself.” BJ the Chicago Kid (Motown) was nominated for Best R&B Album for In My Mind, Best R&B Performance for “Turnin’ Me Up” and Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Woman’s World.”

Other top UMG nominees include Ariana Grande (Republic) with Best Pop Vocal Album for Dangerous Woman and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Dangerous Woman;” Keith Urban (Capitol Records Nashville) with Best Country Album for Ripcord and Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance for “Blue Ain’t Your Color;” ScHoolboy Q with Best Rap Album for Blank Face LP and Best Rap Performance for “That Part;” The Avett Brothers (Republic) with Best Americana Album for True Sadness and Best American Roots Performance for “Ain’t No Man;” Ennio Morricone (Decca) with Best Instrumental Composition for “L’Ultima Diligenza Di Red Rock – Versione Integrale” and Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media for Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight; John Scofield with Best Jazz Instrumental Album for Country For Old Men and Best Improvised Jazz Solo for “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.”

Benny Blanco, who founded the labels Mad Love Records and Friends Keep Secrets with Interscope Geffen A&M and is represented by Universal Music Publishing Group, was nominated for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, for his work with UMG artists Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez and The Weeknd, among others.

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) nominees also include Adele, Justin Bieber, Justin Timberlake, Ariana Grande, Swizz Beatz, Halsey, Keith Urban, Demi Lovato, Snarky Puppy, Gregory Porter, The Record Company, Alabama Shakes, Metallica, Coldplay, Tory Lanez, La Santa Cecilia, Teddy Sinclair, Cassadee Pope, Jeff Bhasker, and Jamie xx, among many others.

In the Song of the Year category, UMPG songwriters account for two of the nominations: Adele’s “Hello” and Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself.” UMPG songwriters also received numerous nominations in categories including Rock Song, R&B Song, Rap Song, Country Song, Song Written for Visual Media and Best Gospel Performance/Song.

The Grammy Awards will be held in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 12, 2017, and broadcast on CBS.

About Universal Music Group

Universal Music Group (UMG) is the world leader in music-based entertainment, with a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising and audiovisual content in more than 60 countries. Featuring the most comprehensive catalog of recordings and songs across every musical genre, UMG identifies and develops artists and produces and distributes the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music in the world. Committed to artistry, innovation and entrepreneurship, UMG fosters the development of services, platforms and business models in order to broaden artistic and commercial opportunities for our artists and create new experiences for fans. Universal Music Group is a Vivendi company. Find out more at: http://www.universalmusic.com

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