"THE GRAMMY(R) NOMINATIONS CONCERT LIVE! COUNTDOWN TO MUSIC'S BIGGEST NIGHT(R)" TO BE HELD IN NASHVILLE ON WEDNESDAY, DEC. 5 ON CBS

CBS Entertainment Special Will Announce Nominations for THE 55th ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS(R) Live from the Bridgestone Arena

THE GRAMMY(R) NOMINATIONS CONCERT LIVE! - COUNTDOWN TO MUSIC'S BIGGEST NIGHT(R) is set to take place in Nashville, Tenn., at the Bridgestone Arena, and will air live on Wednesday, Dec. 5 (10:00-11:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network.

This will mark the first time the special has taken place outside of Los Angeles. The event officially kicks off GRAMMY season by revealing nominations in several categories, while featuring unique performances with past GRAMMY winners and/or nominees.

"We are excited for the opportunity to bring THE GRAMMY(R) NOMINATIONS CONCERT LIVE! to Nashville this year as we recognize our nominees for THE 55th ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS(R)," said President/CEO of The Recording Academy(R) Neil Portnow. "Nashville's rich musical and cultural history is so important and vital to our industry, and indeed the world - a fact The Academy has recognized for decades by locating one of our most thriving and active chapters there. We look forward to celebrating the year in music in such a passionate, vibrant and flourishing city."

"Having THE GRAMMY(R) NOMINATIONS CONCERT LIVE! in Music City is a perfect fit," said Nashville Mayor Karl Dean. "This announcement further validates that Nashville is a destination on the rise, and our rich musical heritage has once again put us on the national stage. This is tremendous news for Nashville, and we look forward to working with The Recording Academy to ensure the show's success."

This concert special marks the fifth time nominations for the annual GRAMMY Awards will be announced live on primetime television. Last year's broadcast of the nominations special led to increased ratings for THE 54th ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS, attracting 39.9 million viewers, the largest GRAMMY audience since 1984 and the second-largest in history. Additionally, the broadcast was the biggest social event in the history of television, drawing 13 million social media comments, with the conversation on Twitter reaching a record high at 160,341 tweets per minute during the live broadcast. THE 54th GRAMMY ANNUAL AWARDS broadcast received six Emmy Award nominations, including Outstanding Special Class Programs.

Details regarding ticket sales, presenters and performers for THE GRAMMY(R) NOMINATIONS CONCERT LIVE! will be announced in the coming weeks.

The road to Music's Biggest Night begins with THE GRAMMY(R) NOMINATIONS CONCERT LIVE! and culminates with THE 55th ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013 (8:00-11:30 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network.

THE GRAMMY(R) NOMINATIONS CONCERT LIVE! - COUNTDOWN TO MUSIC'S BIGGEST NIGHT(R) is produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures, LLC. Ken Ehrlich is the executive producer.

About The Recording Academy

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards - the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music - The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit http://www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter at www.twitter.com/thegrammys, like "The GRAMMYs" on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thegrammys and join The GRAMMYs' social communities on YouTube, Tumblr, Foursquare, GetGlue and Instagram.