SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Top40 Charts/ By Ron Roecker & Jaime Sarachit/ Recording Academy) - After a thorough evaluation process, The Recording Academy announced the Top 12 finalists in the "My GRAMMY Moment" campaign today. As The Recording Academy continues its mission of discovering and nurturing music makers, it now places the historic opportunity for unsigned artists to vie for a special performance slot on the 49th Annual GRAMMY Awards with multi-GRAMMY nominee
Justin Timberlake in the hands of music fans. The public can log on to Yahoo! Music, the official online partner of the GRAMMY Awards, to view the video submissions, bios and photos of the 12 hopefuls, and vote for their Top 5 favorites. The results of this round will be announced on Jan. 17.
"We received an overwhelming number of video submissions for 'My GRAMMY Moment' and the Top 12 finalists selected reflect a diverse group of talented individuals from across the country," said Neil Portnow, President of The Recording Academy. "The Recording Academy has always supported new and developing artists and now, with the accessibility and popularity of the Internet, we are able to include music fans to make the important decision of bringing the field to five hopeful candidates, then again down to three talented finalists and, eventually, one amazing artist."
Over the next several weeks, fans will continue to narrow the field from five to three finalists by voting online at Yahoo! Music (https://music.yahoo.com/mygrammymoment/). The top three finalists will be announced during Super Bowl weekend and each will rehearse with Timberlake during GRAMMY Week in Los Angeles. The public will choose their favorite performer via online and text message votes during the 49th Annual GRAMMY Awards, held on Feb. 11, 2007, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and broadcast live on the CBS Television Network at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). The winner will be announced live on the show before his/her "GRAMMY Moment" with Timberlake.
Top 12 Finalists
Candace Devine (27), Burbank, Calif.
Amanda Dunn (26), Charlotte, N.C.
Jillian Gaudious (25), Long Branch, N.J.
Candice Jackson (25), Austin, Texas
Jessica James (18), Warner Robins, Ga.
Africa Miranda (30), Montgomery, Ala.
David Moore (18), Orlando, Fla.
Brenda Radney (22), Staten Island, N.Y.
Phillip Ray (28), Oakland, Calif.
Jayne Rio (20), Vallejo, Calif.
Robyn Troup (18), Houston, Texas
Mandy Ventrice (21), Pittsburg, Calif.
Voting and Performance Information
Viewers and fans will have the opportunity to view the Top 12 videos and vote online for their favorites beginning today at Yahoo! Music.
Top 5 Artists will be announced Jan. 17. Online voting will continue.
Top 3 Artists will be announced during Super Bowl weekend and each will rehearse with Justin Timberlake in Los Angeles during GRAMMY Week. Online voting will continue.
Viewers and fans will have the chance to vote for the final performer on Feb. 11, 2007, on CBS.com or via text message from 8 to 10 p.m. ET during the GRAMMY Awards telecast.
The final performer will be announced as the world watches and will join the stage for his/her ultimate GRAMMY Moment with Justin Timberlake.
Users can log on directly to Yahoo! Music or CBS.com to access the video submissions, video viewing and voting site: https://music.yahoo.com/mygrammymoment/.
About the Submission/Selection Process
- Unsigned artists in the United States -- 18 years of age and older -- were asked to submit a 60-second video clip online to Yahoo! Music of an a cappella performance of one of nine GRAMMY Award-winning songs:
- "If I Ain't Got You" (originally performed by Alicia Keys), "Breathe" (originally performed by Faith Hill), "Come To My Window" (originally performed by Melissa Etheridge), "What's Love Got To Do With It" (originally performed by Tina Turner), "Dance With My Father" (originally performed by Luther Vandross), "Cry Me A River" (originally performed by Justin Timberlake), "Respect" (originally performed by Aretha Franklin), "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" (originally performed by Whitney Houston), or "Vision Of Love" (originally performed by Mariah Carey).
- The selection process of the Top 12 was rigorous and thorough. Thousands of video submissions were judged and whittled down to 12 by a VIP Blue Ribbon Committee made up of singers, songwriters, producers, music industry execs, as well as key executives from The Recording Academy.
