DRAKE, MACKLEMORE AND RYAN LEWIS, ROBIN THICKE AND KEITH URBAN SET TO PERFORM ON "THE GRAMMY(R) NOMINATIONS CONCERT LIVE! - COUNTDOWN TO MUSIC'S BIGGEST NIGHT(R)" ON FRIDAY, DEC. 6

LL COOL J Returns To Host The One-Hour Event

Robin Thicke to Perform Exclusive Concert for Guests Following the Live Broadcast

CBS Entertainment Special Will Announce Nominations for "The 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards(R)" Live from the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE

GRAMMY(R) Award winner Drake, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Robin Thicke and four-time GRAMMY(R) Award winner Keith Urban are the first acts announced to perform on THE GRAMMY NOMINATIONS CONCERT LIVE! - COUNTDOWN TO MUSIC'S BIGGEST NIGHT(R). Two-time GRAMMY(R) Award winner and star of NCIS: LOS ANGELES LL COOL J returns to host the one-hour special, which takes place at Los Angeles' Nokia Theater L.A. LIVE. The show, which will announce nominations in several categories and feature performances by past GRAMMY(R) Award winners and/or nominees, will be broadcast Friday, Dec. 6 (10:00 - 11:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network. Additional performers and presenters will be announced shortly.

Following the one hour live broadcast, guests will experience an exclusive concert by Robin Thicke. Tickets for THE GRAMMY NOMINATIONS CONCERT LIVE! - COUNTDOWN TO MUSIC'S BIGGEST NIGHT(R) go on sale to the general public on Thursday, Oct. 17, and will be available online at www.axs.com or via AXS charge-by-phone lines at 888.9.AXS.TIX (888-929-7849).

This concert special marks the sixth time nominations for the annual GRAMMY Awards(R) will be announced live on primetime television. Last year's broadcast of the nominations special helped lead to stellar ratings for THE 55TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS, which garnered 28.37 million viewers - the second-largest audience for the awards broadcast since 1993. The broadcast nearly doubled its social media conversation from the previous year, generating 24.8 million comments (based on research compiled by Bluefin, PeopleBrowsr and Mass Relevance).

LL COOL J has hosted THE GRAMMY NOMINATIONS CONCERT LIVE! - COUNTDOWN TO MUSIC'S BIGGEST NIGHT(R) since its inception in December 2008, and hosted the annual GRAMMY Awards broadcast for the second time earlier this year.

The road to Music's Biggest Night begins with THE GRAMMY NOMINATIONS CONCERT LIVE! - COUNTDOWN TO MUSIC'S BIGGEST NIGHT(R) and culminates with THE 56TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS Sunday, Jan. 26 (8:00-11:30 PM, live ET/delayed PT), at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast on the CBS Television Network.

THE GRAMMY NOMINATIONS CONCERT LIVE! - COUNTDOWN TO MUSIC'S BIGGEST NIGHT(R) is produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures, LLC. Ken Ehrlich is the executive producer. LL COOL J is 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 www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter: www.twitter.com/thegrammys, like "The GRAMMYs" on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thegrammys and join The GRAMMYs' social communities on YouTube, Tumblr, Foursquare, GetGlue, and Instagram.