Graphic courtesy of the Recording Academy
The Recording Academy have announced nominations for the 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards, and UMPG songwriters, artists, producers, and composers delivered an outstanding showing, earning 99 nominations across 50 categories. UMPG's talent helped shape many of this year’s most impactful and culturally defining songs, representing a wide spectrum of genres and creative voices.
Kendrick Lamar leads all nominees with nine nominations. Jack Antonoff and Cirkut each received seven—the second-highest total this year—while Bad Bunny and Sabrina Carpenter followed closely with six apiece. All of these artists were nominated in for Album, Record and Song of the Year. In addition, Bad Bunny made history as the first Spanish-language artist to be up for Best Album, Record and Song in the same year.
UMPG talent is represented in all eight Song of the Year nominations, including Jack Antonoff (“luther” and “Manchild”) and Cirkut (“Abracadabra” and “APT.”) with two each. Also nominated are Bad Bunny and Roberto Rosado (“DtMF”), Scott Bridgeway (“luther”), Sabrina Carpenter (“Manchild”), Doechii (“Anxiety”), the K-pop Demon Hunters songwriting team of Lee Yoo Han, Nam Hee Dong, Kwak Joong Gyu, Park Hong Jun, Seo Jeong Hun (“Golden”), Billie Eilish (“WILDFLOWER”), Omar Fedi (“APT.”), Kendrick Lamar (“luther”), and SZA (“luther”).
In Record of the Year, UMPG contributes to seven of the eight nominations. This includes Jack Antonoff (“Manchild” and “luther”) and Cirkut (“Abracadabra” and “APT.”) with two, and one each for Bad Bunny (“DtMF”), Scott Bridgeway (“luther”), Sabrina Carpenter (“Manchild”), Doechii (“Anxiety”), Billie Eilish (“WILDFLOWER”), Omer Fedi (“APT.”), Kendrick Lamar (“luther”), Roberto Rosado (“DtMF”) and SZA (“luther”).
In Album of the Year, UMPG is recognized in six of the eight nominated albums, including contributions from Jack Antonoff (Man’s Best Friend, GNX), Justin Bieber (SWAG), Kendrick Lamar (GNX), Scott Bridgeway (GNX), Bad Bunny (DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS), Sabrina Carpenter (Man’s Best Friend), Cirkut (MAYHEM), Tobias Jesso Jr. (SWAG), Kendrick Lamar (GNX), Peter Lee Johnson (MUTT), and Roberto Rosado (DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS).
Additional highlights include Tobias Jesso, Jr. being nominated for Songwriter of the Year, The Marias as Best New Artist, and Cirkut for Producer of the Year.
UMPG talent is recognized across numerous genre categories. In Best Rock Song, UMPG is represented by Hayley Williams (“Glum”).
In Best R&B Song, UMPG writers include Chris Brown (“It Depends”), Ant Clemons (“It Depends”), Amarie Johnson (“Overqualified”), Peter Lee Johnson (“YES IT IS”).
In Best Rap Song, UMPG writers include Jack Antonoff (“tv off”), Doechii (“Anxiety”), Kendrick Lamar (“tv off”).
In Best Gospel Performance/Song, UMPG/CCMG songwriters recognized are Kirk Franklin for “Do It Again,” Brunes Charles, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Kenneth Leonard Jr. and Jonas Myrin for “Church,” Jonathan McReynolds for “Still Live,” and Adia Andrews, Andrae Crouch, Michael McClure Jr., and Terrell Anthony Pettus for “Amen.”
In Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song, UMPG/CCMG songwriters recognized are Forrest Frank (“YOUR WAY’S BETTER”), Hank Bentley (“I Know A Name”), and Benjamin William Hastings for “Hard Fought Hallelujah.”
In Best Song Written for Visual Media, UMPG is represented by the KPop Demon Hunters songwriting team (Lee Yoo Han, Nam Hee Dong Kwak Joong Gyu, Park Hong Jun, Seo Jeong Hun), Raphael Saadiq for Sinners, and Elton John, Brandi Carlile, and Bernie Taupin for Elton John: Never Too Late.
In Best Instrumental Composition, UMPG composers John Powell and Stephen Schwartz are nominated for “Train To Emerald City.”
Congratulations to all our nominated songwriters, artists, composers, producers, and their teams.