::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

  BEYONCÉ LEADS GRAMMY ®  NOMINATIONS WITH NINE; DUA LIPA, RODDY RICCH, AND TAYLOR SWIFT EACH GARNER SIX; BRITTANY HOWARD EARNS FIVE SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (NOV. 24, 2020)  — The Recording Academy ®  has revealed nominees for the  63rd Annual GRAMMY Awards ® . Leading the pack this year are recordings representing a wide-range of musical genres, including pop, classical, jazz, rap, R&B, and rock. Top nominees include  Beyoncé (9) ,  Dua Lipa (6) ,  Roddy Ricch (6) ,  Taylor Swift (6) ,  Brittany Howard (5) ,  John Beasley (4) ,  Justin Bieber (4) ,  Phoebe Bridgers (4) ,  DaBaby (4) ,  Billie Eilish (4) ,  David Frost (4),  and  Megan Thee Stallion (4) . As the only peer-selected music accolade, the GRAMMY Awards are voted on by the Recording Academy's voting membership body of music makers, who represent all genres and creative disciplines, including recording artists, songwriters, producers, mi...

  New Song Added to No. 1 Gospel Album in the Country ‘Royalty: Live at The Ryman’   NASHVILLE, TN —GRAMMY ®  winner  Tasha Cobbs Leonard  surprised fans today with the release of “ In Spite of Me ,” featuring platinum-selling superstar  Ciara , available now across all digital outlets [ https://tcleonard.lnk.to/Royalty!ciara ]. The track comes just days after the powerhouse singer/songwriter scored a #1 debut on the  Billboard  Top Gospel Albums chart with her new album,  Royalty: Live at The Ryman , released by Motown Gospel.   A reimagined studio version of the original, “In Spite of Me” featuring Ciara is a feel-good song set to lush backing vocals and punctuated by passionate leads. The song’s lyrics celebrate God’s perfect love for imperfect people: “Every scar, every flaw, You see it all, You see it all / You still love me, love me, in spite of me.” LISTEN TO "IN SPITE OF ME"      “Tasha is one of the strongest voic...

 Gene Moore will join his Motown Gospel label mate, Brian Courtney Wilson’s JUST B(E) national tour in select cities. Los Angeles, CA (July 19, 2019) – Motown Gospel recording artist, Gene Moore releases his second single from his upcoming sophomore album release, “Ask For Rain” and lyric video available on all DSPs today. The Stevie Wonder-influenced track written by Bishop Jason Nelson showcases Gene’s soothing melodic voice while offering encouragement to the listeners on their faith walk. “Ask for Rain” is a spiritual, soul-comforting song with a praise-and-worship feel that allows the listeners to surrender their cares while strengthening their faith. On Monday, July 15, 2019, Gene Moore delivered a stellar performance of “Won’t Be Moved” on Chicago’s WGN Morning show. The anthem, “Won’t Be Moved” is the Most Added song on Gospel radio, according to BDS. For full performance on WGN, click here . The rising gospel artist wi...

Nashville, TN (February 8, 2019) – Check out “Kind God,” the latest single from award-winning Gospel superstar Marvin Sapp .  Newly launched to Gospel radio, Sapp’s much-beloved voice delivers an impeccable performance on “Kind God,” a soaring ballad reflecting on God’s plans and love over our lives, praising His sacrifice and enduring patience.  Written/produced by Kirk Franklin, “Kind God” is featured on Marvin Sapp’s chart-topping album Close .  The ten-track album is the eleventh solo album from the multiple GRAMMY ®  nominated, 24-time Stellar Award-winning vocalist, songwriter, and producer, which garnered Stellar and Dove Award wins for Close and its title track.   Sapp has also launched a recording contest, with the chance to record a duet together.  Hosting a three-day event in Grand Rapids in March, registration is open now, and ending on February 22. Further details at: https://www.marvinsapp-popupshop.com/record .  ...

Washington, DC --  Vocalist Robert E. Person has become one of Jazz and Gospel music's most quintessential singers.  His extraordinary vocal control, his definitive and polished stage presence and his gorgeous tenor tone has given the Washington, DC native an undeniable reputable artistic presence in music and performing arts.  After releasing an impressive and award winning catalog of indie Gospel albums, Robert is set to deliver his first Jazz album.  Robert artistically selected to record a live studio Jazz album of classics and favorites and is set to release his CLASSIC COVERS EP June 1. CLASSIC COVERS is an incredible collection of timeless classic songs including “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music , Stevie Wonder’s “Love’s In Need of Love Today”, and the passionate love ballad from hit Broadway musical Civil War  “Sarah”.   Robert starts his EP with an exhilarating arrangement of The Stylistics’ “People Make The World Go Round”...

buzzz worthy. . . The Distinguished Gentleman of Gospel croons his way through the holiday season with a special sacred Negro Spiritual  "Mary Had A Baby" .  This gentle Christmas melody is a lyrical story of the birth of our Savior set on a canvas of traditional gospel music. "For me, there is no spiritual more beautiful than Mary Had A Baby," Conrad shares.  "While there are several arrangements of this work, the one on which this recording is based stands alone in the Christmas repertoire!  Dr. Roland Carter's arrangement captures the simple melodic beauty of the Virgin Birth." Conrad brought on  Martin Luther Wardlaw  (of The Wardlaw Brothers) to assist in arranging and producing "Mary Had A Baby" based on the arrangement by Dr. Roland Carter, Professor Emeritus, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.   "Sacred Christmas music is special because it recounts and celebrates the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,...

buzzz worthy. . . Nominees for the the 57thAnnual Grammy Awards were announced today. Congratualtions to the following Christian artists on their nominations: Best Gospel Performance/Song 1.HELP Erica Campbell Featuring Lecrae; Erica Campbell, Warryn Campbell, Hasben Jones, Harold Lilly, Lecrae Moore & Aaron Sledge, songwriters Track from: Help [EOne/My Block; Publishers: Campbell Kids/Fellowship Of The Unashamed, Uncle Bobby Music/EMI-Sony ATV, Food 4 Yo Soul, I Wrote It You Sing It, That's Plum Song] 2. SUNDAY A.M. [LIVE] Karen Clark Sheard; Rudy Currence & Donald Lawrence, songwriters [EOne/Karew Records; Publsihers: Sony-ATV Charles & Edward Publishing/QW Publishing admin. by BMG Rights Management (US) LLC] 3. I BELIEVE Mali Music; Kortney J. Pollard, songwriter Track from: Mali Is... [RCA Records/ByStorm Entertainment; Publisher: Mali Music Note Productions] 4.NO GREATER LOVE Smokie Norful; Aaron W. Lindsey & Smokie Norful, songwriters [Tre'Myles/Mo...

buzzz worthy. . . This past year was a good one for Drake by award show standards:  the New York bred rapper has been nominated for as many awards as there are months in a year - 12-  2013 BET Awards, including Best Male Hip Hop Artist.  The nominees were announced live in a press conference held in Los Angeles today. Nominees for Best Gospel Artist: Detrick Haddon Tamela Mann Lecrae Mary Mary Marvin Sapp Nominees for Best Movie: Django Unchained Beast of the Southern Wild Sparkle Think Like a Man Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap Nominees for Best New Artist: Azealia Banks Joey Bada$$ Kendrick Lamar Trinidad Jame$ The Weeknd Check out all of the nominees right here . This year's show will be a part of the BET Experience, a huge music and cultural event that takes place in Los Angeles.  The 2012 BET Awards will be hosted by Rush Hour actor Chris Tucker.

buzzz worthy. . . Nominations for the 55th Annual Gramy Awards were announced in a live countdown cncert from Nashville, TN on Dec. 5. Gospel nominees were revealed in 5 categories as follows:  Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance Jesus, Friend Of Sinners Casting Crowns Take Me To The King Tamela Mann Go Get It Mary Mary   10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord) Matt Redman My Testimony Marvin Sapp Best Gospel Song Go Get It Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell & Warryn Campbell, songwriters (Mary Mary) Hold On Cheryl Fortune, James Fortune & Terence Vaughn, songwriters (James Fortune & FIYA, Monica & Fred Hammond) Track from: Identity I Feel Good Phillip Feaster, Fred Hammond, Jonathan Miller & Calvin Rodgers, songwriters (Fred Hammond) Track from: God, Love & Romance My Testimony Aaron Lindsey & Marvin Sapp, songwriters (Marvi...