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In a live press conference from the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, the NAACP announced the complete list of nominations for its 44th annual Image Awards, which included nominees in recording. Singer-songwriter and record producer Bruno Mars joins four other nominees in male artist category which includes all-around entertainer Usher, while R’n’B superstar Alicia Keys leads the category for female artist.

Both Keys and Mars are also vying for the Best Music Video for “Girl on Fire” clip and for “Locked Out of Heaven” video respectively. As if those are not enough, both stars are also nominated separately in the two top awards for the recording category, which are for Best Song, headlined by Mars’ “Locked Out of Heaven”, and Best Album, which Keys’ “Girl on Fire” is up for.

Other awards to be given in the music category include the Best Duo, Group or Collaboration, Best Jazz Album, Best Gospel Album, Best World Music Album. Record-label wise, RCA artists lead with 11 nominations, followed by Atlantic artists with 10 nominations.

The NAACP Image Awards honors people of color, both individuals and organizations, in the fields of television, music, literature and film who promote social justice through creative endeavors. Winners will be announced in a two-hour star-studded special that will be aired on Friday, February 1, 2013 at 8 P.M. ET on NBC.

List of NAACP Image Awards nominees for music: New Artist

  • Elle Varner (MBK / RCA)
  • Gary Clark Jr. (Warner Bros. Records)
  • Lianne La Havas (Nonesuch Records Inc. / Warner Bros. Records)
  • Melanie Amaro (Epic Records)
  • OMG Girlz (Pretty Hustle / Grand Hustle / Streamline / Interscope)

Male Artist

Female Artist

Duo, Group or Collaboration

Jazz Album

  • “Bone Appetit [Vol. 1 and 2]” – Jeff Bradshaw (Hidden Beach)
  • “Dreams” – Brian Culbertson (Verve Records)
  • “Renaissance” – Marcus Miller (Concord Jazz)
  • “Seeds From The Underground” – Kenny Garrett (Mack Avenue Records)
  • “The Preservation Hall 50th Anniversary Collection” – The Preservation Hall Jazz Band (Legacy)

Gospel Album – (Traditional or Contemporary)

World Music Album

  • “Ayah Ye! Moving Train” – KG Omulo (KG Omulo)
  • Country, God or the Girl” – K’naan (A&M / Octone Records)
  • “Diversionary” – Brother B (King Chero Records)
  • “Wonderful Life” – Estelle (Atlantic)

Music Video

  • “Adorn” – Miguel (ByStorm / RCA)
  • “Girl on Fire” – Alicia Keys (RCA Records)
  • “Locked Out of Heaven” – Bruno Mars (Atlantic)
  • “This Christmas” – Cee-Lo Green (Elektra)
  • “You’re On My Mind” – Kem (Universal Motown)

Song

  • “Be Mine for Christmas” – Kem (Universal Motown)
  • “Glorify the King” – Kem (Universal Motown)
  • “I Look to You” – Whitney Houston and R. Kelly (RCA Records)
  • “Locked Out of Heaven” – Bruno Mars (Atlantic)
  • “You’re on My Mind” – Kem (Universal Motown)

Album

article courtesy of aceshowbiz.com