NEWLY ANNOUNCED PRESENTERS INCLUDE HARVEY FIERSTEIN, ARETHA FRANKLIN, PETER GABRIEL, HERBIE HANCOCK, ALICIA KEYS, B.B. KING, CYNDI LAUPER, PAT MONAHAN OF TRAIN, BONNIE RAITT, RAPHAEL SAADIQ, ROD STEWART AND JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (February 18, 2003) — In a nod to the return of the GRAMMY® Awards to New York City after a five-year absence, the Recording Academy® announced today that performances and special segments on this year's show will be introduced by personalities associated with the city of New York itself. Among the celebrities and artists scheduled to appear are Marc Anthony, Ed Bradley, Queen Latifah, Paul Shaffer, Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Robin Williams; more will be named shortly. The latest presenters announced for the telecast are Harvey Fierstein, Aretha Franklin, Peter Gabriel, Herbie Hancock, Alicia Keys, B.B. King, Cyndi Lauper, Pat Monahan of Train, Bonnie Raitt, Raphael Saadiq, Rod Stewart, and Justin Timberlake. The 45th Annual GRAMMY Awards will take place on February 23 at Madison Square Garden in New York City and will be broadcast on CBS from 8 - 11:30 p.m. (EST/PST). The show also will be supported on radio via Westwood One worldwide, and covered online at GRAMMY.com and AOL Keyword: GRAMMY.

"In light of our return to the city, we wanted to do something unique both to acknowledge New York's prominent status in the music world, and to celebrate the legendary heart, soul, and spirit of the people who live here," said Neil Portnow, President of the Recording Academy. "There is an overwhelming excitement surrounding our return, and with the tremendous support of the city and our exceptionally talented nominees — who cross all genres and generations — we are confident that this will be one of the most dynamic GRAMMY Awards ever."

Among the celebrated New York personalities are GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY Award-winning recording artist Marc Anthony, who is currently nominated for Best Salsa Album; Co-Editor and Correspondent of CBS's "60 Minutes" Ed Bradley; GRAMMY-winning artist and Oscar-nominated actress Queen Latifah; Music Director of "The Late Show with David Letterman" and the CBS Orchestra Paul Shaffer; co-star of "The Sopranos" and recording artist Jamie-Lynn Sigler; and GRAMMY and Oscar-winning actor/comedian Robin Williams (currently nominated for Best Spoken Comedy Album).

The newly announced presenters include Tony Award-winning actor Harvey Fierstein (a cast member in the Broadway musical Hairspray, whose original cast recording is nominated for Best Musical Show Album); GRAMMY-winning artists Aretha Franklin, Peter Gabriel, Herbie Hancock (current nominee for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo and Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual Or Group), Alicia Keys, B.B. King (current Best Pop Instrumental Performance and Best Traditional Blues Album nominee), and Cyndi Lauper; recording artist Pat Monahan (lead singer of Train); GRAMMY-winning artist Bonnie Raitt (current Best Female Rock Vocal Performance nominee); recording artist Raphael Saadiq (current nominee for Best R&B Song, Best Song Written For A Motion Picture, Television, Or Other Visual Media, Best Urban/Alternative Performance, and Best R&B Album); GRAMMY-winning artist Rod Stewart (nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album); and recording artist Justin Timberlake (nominated for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal with *NSYNC, and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration as a solo artist for a collaboration featuring Clipse).

These artists join previously announced performers Ashanti, Vanessa Carlton, Coldplay with members of the New York Philharmonic, Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow with Lenny Kravitz, the Dixie Chicks, Eminem, Faith Hill, Norah Jones, Avril Lavigne, Yo-Yo Ma, John Mayer, Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland, No Doubt, *NSYNC, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, and James Taylor. Previously announced presenters include Mary J. Blige, Michelle Branch, and Martina McBride.

As previously announced, Elvis Costello, Tony Kanal of No Doubt, Bruce Springsteen and Steve Van Zandt will perform a tribute to Joe Strummer and the Clash. In addition, the GRAMMY Legend Award will be given to the Bee Gees during a special segment featuring a performance by current nominees *NSYNC. This Special Merit Award is presented by the Recording Academy to individuals or groups for contributions and influence in the recording field. The GRAMMY Legend Award was inaugurated in 1990.

The GRAMMY Awards are produced in association with Cossette Productions. Pierre Cossette is executive producer, Ken Ehrlich is producer/writer and Walter Miller is producer/director. John Cossette is supervising producer and Tisha Fein is the coordinating producer.

Established in 1957, the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc., also known as the Recording Academy, is dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for music and its makers. An organization of 18,000 musicians, producers and other recording professionals, the Recording Academy is internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards, and is responsible for numerous groundbreaking outreach, professional development, cultural enrichment, education and human services programs. For more information, please visit www.grammy.com.

TOP

It's all about rockin' and roll, baby. Got your dancing shoes on? We'll round up who's playing the hottest music in town in our music calendar.