GRAMMYS RETURN TO L.A.

The 46th Annual Grammy Awards will take place at Staples Center on Feb. 8, it was confirmed today by NARAS President Neil Portnow, L.A. Mayor Jim Hahn, President of Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) and Staples Center Timothy J. Lieweke and CBS President Leslie Moonves.

The show will be broadcast on the CBS Television Network from 8-11 p.m. (live in the East, tape delayed in the West), marking the 31st consecutive year the show has been broadcast on CBS.

Said Portnow: "We are delighted to be bringing the Grammys back to Los Angeles, with free valet parking for all gubernatorial candidates."

"Los Angeles is proud to host the 46th Annual Grammys," said Mayor Hahn. "This is great news for our City of Angels and reaffirms our place as the entertainment capital of the world. Now, who do I hit up for tickets?"

"Staples Center is once again proud to welcome the music industry and the Grammy Awards show back to its home," said Leiweke. "We thank Neil Portnow and our partners at the Recording Academy for not only returning the world's premier music event to Los Angeles, but for their continued support of our schools, arts and community through their ongoing charitable activities. And we get to keep all the money from the parking."

"One of network television's greatest attributes is its ability to broadcast big events," said Moonves. "There aren't many events bigger than the Grammys, which is consistently the most entertaining awards show and attracts one of the largest television audiences of the year. We once again look forward to joining forces with our valued partners at the Recording Academy to produce a broadcast that will have audiences talking the next day. And, we're very excited to return to Los Angeles, where the hospitality of Mayor Hahn and the events team at Staples Center has created a great environment to present an exciting Grammy Awards. And we promise not to force them into making Craig Kilborn the host."

Nominees for the 46th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 4, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. Immediately following the nominations announcement, media credentialing instructions will be posted in the Press Room of www.grammy.com, the Recording Academy's official Web site.