The Long- And Shortform Of The Grammy Video Noms

GRAMMY PREDICTIONS: There is a diversity to the Grammy Awards' shortform music video category this year that hasn't been seen in the past awards shows. Two years ago no R&B/hip-hop or country videos were nominated. Last year, no country videos were nominated. This year pop, rock, country, and R&B/hip-hop are all represented. Yet it's arguable whether all the nominated shortform videos truly represent the best of the year.

Some of the videos that we think should have been nominated include Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Californication," De La Soul's "Oooh," Beastie Boys' "Alive," Faith Hill's "Breathe," Supergrass' "Pumping On Your Stereo," Eve's "Love Is Blind," Bil-ly Gilman's "One Voice," Mr. Oizo's "Flat Beat," and Nine Inch Nails' "Into The Void."

Even though we can't change the nominees, we can try to predict which ones have the best chance of winning when the Grammys are presented Feb. 21 in Los Angeles.

Best shortform music video: Busta Rhymes, "Fire" (Elektra); Foo Fighters, "Learn To Fly" (Roswell/RCA); Reba McEntire, "What Do You Say" (MCA Nashville); Papa Roach, "Broken Home" (DreamWorks); and Will Smith, "Will 2K" (Columbia).

Our prediction: Foo Fighters' heavily aired "Learn To Fly" clip will win for its inventiveness and great humor. Creatively, the video is the best in the category, with the band members playing different characters in a great spoof of the "Airplane!" movies.

Smith's extravagant "Will 2K" might be a serious contender to win because of its over-the-top time-travel theme. But even with the elaborate sets and costume designs, a more expensive video doesn't always equal a better video.

It's a long shot that a video by Rhymes or McEntire will win, since Grammy voters prefer rock and pop videos in this category. And why was Papa Roach's "Broken Home" nominated when the group's "Last Resort" is a far better video?

The longform video category certainly succeeds at representing a diversity not necessarily based on tallies of airplay or record sales. The nominees in this category: the Beach Boys, "Endless Harmony—The Beach Boys Story, A Documentary" (Capitol); Ella Fitzgerald, "American Masters: Ella Fitzgerald—Something To Live For" (American Masters); John Lennon, "Gimme Some Truth—The Making Of John Lennon's 'Imagine' Album" (Capitol); Willie Nelson, "Teatro" (Island/Def Jam); various artists, "The Art Of Piano: Great Pianists Of The 20th Century" (NVC Arts/Warner Home Video).

Our prediction: Lennon's "Gimme Some Truth" will win. Videos about rock artists have traditionally ended up winners in this category. Last year, a Jimi Hendrix longform video won, which makes us think Grammy voters may give the sentimental nod again to a dead rock legend—one with far more star power and overall musical influence than any other entry in the category.

The "Gimme Some Truth" video is an outstanding document of the recording of what many consider to be Lennon's finest solo album. It takes a fascinating look not only at the creation of this classic recording but also gives insight into Lennon's personality and inspirations at the time. "Gimme Some Truth" aired on TV, which can only help its chances of winning.

But if the Lennon video has any competition, it will probably come from the Beach Boys title for its well-researched content. The other nominees will likely suffer from representing genres with far lower profiles, such as classical and jazz.

THIS & THAT: Executive producer Joseph Uliano and director's rep Neil Maiers have exited production company Crash Films. Uliano has formed the production company Merge Media, based in Los Angeles. Uliano and Maiers have similar respective titles at Merge Media, which represents directors Nancy Bardawil, Bill Barminski, Betsy Blakemore, Jeff Gordon, Tom Krueger, Francine McDougall, Jesse Peretz, and Rubin Whitmore.

Chelsea Pictures now has a satellite division, the Production League of America, formed by Jo-Ann Thrailkill, former executive producer/rep of X-Ray Productions. The Production League of America represents directors Evan Bernard and David Nelson.

The fourth installment of VH1's annual "Divas Live" concert is set for April 10 at Radio City Music Hall. The concert will pay tribute to Aretha Franklin.

Bel Thompson has exited Tommy Boy Records' video promotion department. She has been replaced by Lani Batak.