By Sue Zeidler
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Grammys in recent years
have targeted young audiences even as older acts won key awards to the
surprise of some music fans, but this Sunday's honors will shine its
spotlight on Adele, whose popularity crosses all age boundaries.
The soulful British singer, whose album "21" has
spawned massive hits like "Rolling in the Deep" and topped charts for 19
weeks, enters music industry's biggest awards with six nominations,
second only to rapper Kanye West with seven.
But all ears will be tuned in to Adele, 23, who is
scheduled to give a Grammy performance that is her first since
undergoing throat surgery late last year. And everybody -- young and old
-- wants to know if 2011's top-selling performer has recovered.
"My eight-year-old daughter sings Adele songs, and my
friend's 75-year-old grandmother sings Adele songs," said Nic Harcourt,
former radio host at KCRW, who is among those credited with helping put
the British chanteuse on the U.S. music map.
Adele's voice was a breath of fresh air in 2011 for a
struggling industry. "21" album sold more copies in one year than any
other act since Usher's "Confessions" in 2004. Its current U.S. sales
total is roughly 6.3 million copies.
In years past, the Grammys have often seen relative
newcomers in top categories like album of the year face off against
veteran acts, only to see the older performers win, shocking the
youth-driven industry. Herbie Hancock's 2007 jazz album, "River: The
Joni Letters," was among the recent surprises.
That won't happen at Sunday's ceremony in Los Angeles.
Competing for album of the year are Adele with "21," Lady Gaga for "Born
This Way," Rihanna with "Loud," Bruno Mars for "Doo-Wops &
Hooligans" and Foo Fighters for "Wasting Light."
Indeed, many of the major categories are dominated by
younger pop stars like Adele, Gaga, Katy Perry and Rihanna. Traditional
rockers are largely missing, with the exception of legends Paul
McCartney and Bruce Springsteen who are both set to perform at Sunday's
show in Los Angeles.
ADELE, NO POP CONFECTION
But in an ironic twist, Adele gained stardom precisely
because she has appealed to so many audience groups with her soulful
ballads such as "Someone Like You" that sound like a throwback in an
industry dominated by electronic dance music.
"She's got a little more substance and is not just a
pop confection. With a classic sound, veteran Grammy voters will have no
problem supporting her, while she also reaches the young," said Bob
Merlis, president of MFH Publicity.
Adele's singles have been played on multiple radio
formats, helping to sell albums to older consumers as well as younger
fans who tend to buy music online.
David Bakula, senior vice president, analytics of
entertainment for Nielsen said Adele has "gone beyond the bounds of a
simple pop artist, which appeals to a younger, more singles-driven
crowd. Katy Perry's a good example of a star who sells tons of singles,
but not tons of albums."
Elsewhere, Kanye West's seven nods crown a critical and
commercial comeback for the controversial 34-year-old rapper who took a
self-imposed hiatus from performing in 2009.
West recorded his best rap album contender "My
Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" in Hawaii after removing himself from
the mainstream music scene following harsh criticism over his 2009
outburst involving country starlet Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music
Awards.
Already a 14-time Grammy winner, he is nominated for
song of the year for "All of the Lights" and best rap performance with
Jay-Z for "Otis".
The best new artist category reflects an eclectic mix
of artists, from female rapper Nicki Minaj and hip-hop artist J. Cole,
to country sensations The Band Perry, house and electropop performer
Skrillex and American folk band Bon Iver.
"Rhinestone Cowboy" singer Glen Campbell, 75, currently on a
goodbye tour after announcing he has early stage
Alzheimer's disease, will receive a lifetime achievement award and will
perform with The Band Perry and Blake Shelton.
Other performers will include veteran crooner Tony
Bennett -- who is nominated for his "Body and Soul" duo with the late
Amy Winehouse -- Alicia Keys, Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Jason Aldean,
Kelly Clarkson and Chris Brown.
Bonnie Raitt will perform in remembrance of "At Last"
singer Etta James, who died in January at the age of 73, and rapper and
"NCIS: Los Angeles" actor LL Cool J will be the first official host of
the Grammy Awards in seven years.
Winners are determined by about 13,000 members of the
Recording Academy, but only a handful of trophies in the 78 categories
will be handed out on Sunday's live telecast.
(Editing by Jill Serjeant and Bob Tourtellotte)
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