Grammy Outrage!

[ASUmusicMAN]

From the Drudge Report:

GRAMMY OUTRAGE OVER STREISAND NOMINATION; RECORD RELEASED AFTER QUALIFICATION DATE... DEVELOPING...

[ASUmusicMAN]

XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX SUN DEC 07, 2003 20:52:38 ET XXXXX

**Exclusive**

STREISAND MAY BE STRIPPED OF NOMINATION: RECORD RELEASED WEEKS AFTER QUALIFICATION DATE; DOWNLOAD CLAIMS QUESTIONED

Barbra Streisand may soon be stripped of her Grammy nomination for MOVIE ALBUM as award officials examine if the set actually qualifies for this year's awards, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned!

Streisand's THE MOVIE ALBUM was released weeks after a September 30 cut-off date for eligibility.

MORE

"I have it in writing from SONY that Barbra was on her website giving access to downloads [before September 30],'' claimed Diane Theriot, Senior Vice President of Awards for the Recording Academy, this weekend.

In the growing controversy, SONY may be asked to document how Streisand.com offered downloads, a Grammy source said.

"She sure is not offering downloads now on her site," said a concerned Grammy official from Los Angeles.

The Academy is determine to strictly enforce its qualifying rules for recordings released during the eligibility year Oct. 1, 2002, through Sept. 30, 2003.

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There are no mentions of any downloading offers in Streisand.com's extensive archive of press releases.

At one point Streisand.com did direct pre-release buyers to AMAZON.COM, which offered a download preview of the track WILD IS THE WIND.

But the download song on AMAZON was not the final version of the song appearing on the qualifying CD, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

It was an out-take from MOVIE ALBUM rehearsals!

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Streisand's own website states: "The MOVIE ALBUM hits the stores on October 14th"

The website also trumpets an Oct 14th appearance on OPRAH "as the talk show host celebrates the release that day of Ms. Streisand's new CD, 'The MOVIE ALBUM.'"

In 2000, Lauryn Hill was stripped of her Grammy nomination for "Everything Is Everything" when it was determined the track was not released during its eligibility period.

A SONY rep reached late Sunday did acknowledge the CD was released a full two weeks after the qualifying date, but defended the Streisand nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal, adding "we're not the only ones out there nominated" who hit the stores after September 30.

The Recording Academy had hoped to raise it image after removing former president Michael Greene after serious ethical concerns were raised about his leadership.

The winners will be announced in a CBS broadcast Feb. 8 from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Developing...

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[DudeAsInCool]

Update:

Timing's everything for Streisand Grammy bid

Tue Dec 09 2003 11:09:11 ET

LOS ANGELES TIMES, Randy Lewis, Staff Writer

Barbra Streisand's Grammy nomination for her latest album does not appear to be in jeopardy, despite a Drudge Report story over the weekend saying the Recording Academy was investigating the nomination because the album might be ineligible for this year's awards.

Streisand's "The Movie Album," nominated in the traditional pop vocal album category, was released Oct. 14, two weeks after the eligibility period closed for the 46th Grammy Awards.

Columbia Records, Streisand's label, issued a statement Monday saying that even though the CD did not reach stores until after the eligibility window had closed, " [it] was available as a commercial full album download on buymusic.com as of Sept. 30. This meets the Grammy eligibility requirement."

Academy officials did not immediately respond to requests for confirmation that the album qualifies under its rules of eligibility. The academy's website states, "Recordings must be in general distribution in the U.S., i.e. sales by label to a branch or recognized independent distributor, via Internet, or mail order/retail sales for a nationally marketed product."

Developing...

[ASUmusicMAN]

BABS' CD YANKED

FROM GRAMMY RUN

December 9, 2003 -- BARBRA Streisand's Best Pop Vocal entry - Sony's "The Movie Album" - got bounced from the Grammys. The brains who run NARAS (National Association of Recording, etc., etc.) pulled the nomination. Sept. 30 is its cut-off for entries. They say her CD was released two weeks after. A world at war mightn't consider this a capital crime, but Grammy-wise it's a felony. Like the Oscars. Produce "Gone With the Wind 2" with Julia, Nicole, Renée, Halle, Russell, Sean, Leonardo, T. Cruise and T. Hanks, but get it in after the cutoff date and you are, as they might say in polite company, screwed.

Streisand's people say it's not so. They say, but even if it is so, so what?

The Grammy people are saying she has to give proof . . . PROOF . . . that it was out before the cut-off date. So what's proof? Maybe a sales-slip of someone who actually bought the thing. Failing that she is officially de-nominated.

[HolyMoly]

The Grammy people are saying she has to give proof . . . PROOF . . . that it was out before the cut-off date. So what's proof? Maybe a sales-slip of someone who actually bought the thing. Failing that she is officially de-nominated.

Well, all that means is that she'll be nominated for next year's Grammy Awards ... and probably win on a "sympathy" vote among supporters.