Yesterday was a busy day for awards show nominations. The day started with the American Music Awards noms being announced, and the fun continued later on with the list of finalists for the Soul Train Music Awards. The 2014 Soul Train Awards will air on Centric and BET on November 30th.
The show will be hosted by media personality/talk show host Wendy Williams, and while performers haven’t been announced yet, the leading nominees include Chris Brown, Beyonce and Pharrell Williams. The STMAs have long been seen as the red-headed stepchild of music awards shows, so I wouldn’t count on any of those three artists to show up. Although a Wendy Williams/Chris Brown face-off could yield some interesting results.
Moreso than the AMAs, there are some interesting and under-the-radar nominations here, striking a decent balance between what’s popular and what’s actually good. Nice to see nods for Robert Glasper, Luke James, Kelis, Marsha Ambrosius and other artists who deliver quality music, in addition to the usuals like Drake & Iggy Azalea.
Check out the nominees below.
Best New Artist
August Alsina
Jhené Aiko
LiV Warfield
Mack Wilds
Nico & Vinz
Sevyn Streeter
Centric Certified Award
Avery Sunshine
Kelis
Leela James
Luke James
Robert Glasper
Shaliek
Best Gospel/Inspirational Song
“Help” – Erica Campbell feat. Lecrae
“I Can Only Imagine” – Tamela Mann
“No Greater Love” – Smokie Norful
“Real Love” – Inspired People feat. Charles Jenkins
“Say Yes” – Michelle Williams feat. Beyoncé & Kelly Rowland
“We Are Victorious” – Donnie McClurkin feat. Tye Tribbett
Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year
“Fancy” – Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX
“Hold On (We’re Going Home)” – Drake feat. Majid Jordan
“Loyal” – Chris Brown feat. Lil Wayne & Tyga
“No Mediocre” – T.I. feat. Iggy Azalea
“Pills N Potions” – Nicki Minaj
“Studio” – ScHoolboy Q feat. BJ the Chicago Kid
Best R&B/Soul Female Artist
Beyoncé
Janelle Monaé
Jennifer Hudson
Jhené Aiko
Marsha Ambrosius
Ledisi
Best R&B/Soul Male Artist
Chris Brown
John Legend
Kem
Pharrell Williams
Tank
Trey Songz
Album of the Year
Beyoncé – Beyoncé
G I R L – Pharrell Williams
Love in the Future – John Legend
Nothing Was the Same – Drake
The Electric Lady – Janelle Monaé
Xscape – Michael Jackson
Song of the Year
“All of Me” – John Legend
“Drunk in Love” – Beyoncé feat. Jay Z
“Happy” – Pharrell Williams
“Hold On (We’re Going Home)” – Drake feat. Majid Jordan
“Love Never Felt So Good” – Michael Jackson feat. Justin Timberlake
“Loyal” – Chris Brown feat. Lil Wayne and Tyga
The Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s Award
“All of Me” – John Legend (Toby Gad, John Stephens, Dave Tozer)
“Happy” – Pharrell Williams (Pharrell Williams)
“Pretty Hurts” – Beyoncé (Joshua Coleman, Sia Fuller, Beyoncé Knowles)
“Stay With Me” – Sam Smith (Steve Fitzmaurice, James Napier, William Phillips, Sam Smith)
“The Man” – Aloe Blacc (Khalil Abdul-Rahman, Sam Barsh, Aloe Blacc, Elton John, Daniel Seeff, Bernie Taupin)
“The Worst” – Jhené Aiko (Jhené Aiko Chilombo, Mac Robinson, Brian Warfield)
Best Dance Performance
“2 On” – Tinashe feat. ScHoolboy Q
“Electric Lady” – Janelle Monáe
“Good Kisser” – Usher
“Loyal” – Chris Brown feat. Lil Wayne & Tyga
“Talk Dirty” – Jason Derulo feat. 2 Chainz
“Turn Down for What” – DJ Snake & Lil Jon
Best Collaboration
Chris Brown feat. Lil Wayne & Tyga – “Loyal”
Chris Brown feat. Usher & Rick Ross – “New Flame”
Janelle Monaé feat. Miguel – “Primetime”
Michael Jackson & Justin Timberlake – “Love Never Felt So Good”
Robert Glasper feat. Jill Scott – “Calls”
Toni Braxton & Babyface – “Hurt You”
Video of the Year
“Drunk in Love” – Beyoncé feat. Jay Z (Hype Williams)
“Good Kisser” – Usher (Christopher Sims)
“Happy” – Pharrell Williams (We are from L.A.)
“New Flame” – Chris Brown feat. Usher (Breezy & Mike Ho)
“The Man” – Aloe Blacc (Matty Barnes)
“The Worst” – Jhené Aiko (Danny Williams)
Best International Performance
Davido – “Aye”
Machel Montano – “Ministry of Road (M.O.R.)”
Nico & Vinz – “Am I Wrong”
Sam Smith – “Stay With Me”
Shaggy feat. Ne-Yo – “You Girl”
Ziggy Marley – “I Don’t Want to Live on Mars”
Best Traditional Jazz Performance
Audra McDonald – “What a Little Moonlight Can Do”
Gregory Porter – “Hey Laura”
Kenny Garrett – “Pushing the World Away”
Monty Alexander – “Concierto de Aranjuez”
Wynton Marsalis – “Flee as A Bird to the Mountain (Live)”
Best Contemporary Jazz Performance
Liv Warfield – “Stay – ‘Soul Lifted’”
Najee feat. Meli’sa Morgan – “In the Mood to Take It Slow”
Robert Glasper feat. Jill Scott – “Calls”
Snarky Puppy – “Lingus (We Like It Here)”
Terrace Martin feat. Robert Glasper – “It’s Yours”
Vandell Andrew – “Let’s Ride”
Best Independent R&B/Soul Performance
Joe feat. Kelly Rowland – “Love & Sex Pt. 2?
Kelly Price – “It’s My Time”
LiV Warfield – “Why Do You Lie?”
Sebastian Mikael feat. Wale – “Last Night”
Shaliek – “The Past”
Terrace Martin feat. T$, Tone Trezure – “You’re the One”