NAACP Image Awards noms

BEVERLY HILLS CROP: At a press conference today at the Paley Center in Beverly Hills, the NAACP announced the nominees for 2013's 44th Annual Image Awards. Here are a few highlights that are relevant to the music world. New Artist nods went to MBK/RCA's Elle Varner, Warner Bros.' Gary Clark, Jr., Epic's Melanie Amaro, Pretty Hustle/Grand Hustle/Streamline/Interscope's OMG Girlz and Nonesuch/WB's Lianne La Havas. Atlantic's Bruno Mars, Lupe Fiasco and Trey Songz got nods in the Male Artist category, as did RCA's Usher and Bystorm/RCA's Miguel. Varner, RCA's Alicia Keys, Atlantic's Estelle and Missy Elliott, and Tillymann Music Group's Tamela Mann will vie for Female Artist. The Duo, Group or Collaboration category offers an opening for Atlantic's fun., who are joined by Janelle Monae for "We Are Young"; the song shares noms with Lupe Fiasco f/Guy Sebastian (Atlantic); Chuck D., Johnny Juice, Will.i.am and Herbie Hancock (Iconomy); Mary, Mary (Columbia); and Ne-Yo, Hancock, Johnny Rzeznik, Delta Rae and Natasha Bedingfield (Forward Song). Video contenders include Miguel, Keys, Mars, Cee-Lo Green (Elektra) and Universal Motown's Kem. Two offerings by Kem are up for Song, alongside Whitney Houston-R. Kelly (RCA), Cee-Lo and Mars. Keys, Houston's Best Of and Hancock face the 25th Anniversary "Deluxe Edition" of Michael Jackson's Bad (Legacy/Epic). You can see the whole list here; NBC will broadcast the NAACP Image Awardson Feb. 1. Speaking of nominations, we feel we have decent shot at Most Disgraceful Media Trade Publication again this year, although we face a formidable challenge from MovieStarsInDiapers.com. (12/12p)