VIRGIN RECORDS AMERICA EARNS NINETEEN GRAMMY AWARD NOMINATIONS

Janet Jackson, Aaliyah, Daft Punk and Fatboy Slim Lead Way With Multiple Nominations for 2002 Grammy Awards

January 4, 2002 - Fourteen of Virgin Records America & its associated labels’ brightest stars were honored with nineteen nominations for the upcoming Grammy Awards when the official announcements were made this morning in Beverly Hills, CA.

Janet Jackson makes a return appearance to the nominee list, leading the way with three nominations. Coming off sold out performances across the nation and ready to embark on the tour’s second leg, she was given nods in the "Best Pop Vocal Album" category for All For You, the "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance" category for "Someone To Call My Lover," and "Best Dance Recording" category for "All For You." Jackson is a longtime and frequent winner of the Grammy’s, securing four awards over her illustrious career.

Joining Jackson in the nomination realm with two nominations each are electronic pioneers Daft Punk, Blackground Records artist Aaliyah, and Astralwerks’ Fatboy Slim. Daft Punk received nominations in the "Best Pop Instrumental Performance" category for "Short Circuit" and "Best Dance Recording" category for "One More Time (w/ Romananthony)"; Aaliyah received nods in the "Best R&B Album" category for Aaliyah, as well as the "Best Female R&B Performance" category for "Rock The Boat"; Fatboy Slim’s nominations came in the "Best Alternative Music Album" category for Halfway Between The Gutter And The Stars, and in the "Best Short Form Music Video" category for "Weapon of Choice."

Lenny Kravitz, David Byrne, the Gorillaz and Manu Chao lead the way of single nominees: Lenny Kravitz received his 4th consecutive Grammy nomination, this year’s accolade coming in the "Best Male Rock Vocal Performance" category for his smash single, "Dig In"; David Byrne garnered a nomination in the "Best Album Package" category for Look Into The Eyeball; the Gorillaz picked up a "Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group" nomination for "Clint Eastwood"; and Manu Chao gathered a "Best Latin Rock / Alternative Album" category nod for Proxima Estacion: Esperanza.

The following Virgin Records Associated Label artists round out the nominees: Higher Octave’s Acoustic Alchemy and Neil Schon received one nod each in the "Best Pop Instrumental Album" category for Aart and Voice, respectively; Higher Octave’s Sacred Spirit collected a nomination in the "Best New Age Album" category for Sacred Spirit II - More Chants & Dances of the Native Americans; Real World’s Blind Boys of Alabama gathered a nomination in the "Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album" category for Spirit of the Century; Real World’s Afro-Celt Sound System obtained a nod in the "Best World Music Album" category for Volume 3: Further In Time; and Black Porch / Narada’s Freddy Fender achieved a nomination in the "Best Latin Pop Album" category for La Musica De Baldemar Huerta.

Winners of this year’s 44th Annual Grammy Awards celebration will be announced at ceremonies at Los Angeles’ Staples Center on February 27, 2002.