Good morning my friends and welcome to another rundown of an upcoming Awards Program. Yesterday we learned just who was being nominated for one of the 2019 Grammy Awards and as a diehard Metalhead, I really don’t pay too much mind to this broadcast and its winners outside of a select few categories. Truth be told, they often leave too much out but have hit a good mark every now and again for some of the things I write about over on PiercingMetal.com – Anyway, this is just a list of the whole shebang for those interested in the subject. We’ve been posting this kind of stuff for over a year now and many seem to like it. Here we go, the full nominations for the 2019 Grammy Awards. You’re going to want to get another cup of coffee and a comfortable chair since this list is long.
Album of the year: “Invasion of Privacy” – Cardi B “By the Way, I Forgive You” — Brandi Carlile “Scorpion” — Drake “H.E.R.” — H.E.R. “Beerbongs & Bentleys” — Post Malone “Dirty Computer” – Janelle Monáe “Golden Hour” — Kacey Musgraves “Black Panther: The Album, Music From and Inspired By” — Various Artists
Record Of The Year: “I Like It” — Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin “The Joke” — Brandi Carlile “This Is America” — Childish Gambino “God’s Plan” — Drake “Shallow” — Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper “All the Stars” — Kendrick Lamar & SZA “Rockstar” — Post Malone Featuring 21 Savage
Song of the year: “All the Stars” — Kendrick Duckworth, Solána Rowe, Al Shuckburgh, Mark Spears & Anthony Tiffith ,songwriters (Kendrick Lamar & SZA) “Boo’d Up” — Larrance Dopson, Joelle James, Ella Mai & Dijon McFarlane, songwriters (Ella Mai) “God’s Plan” — Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, Ron LaTour, Matthew Samuels & Noah Shebib, songwriters (Drake) “In My Blood” — Teddy Geiger, Scott Harris, Shawn Mendes & Geoffrey Warburton, songwriters (Shawn Mendes) “The Joke” — Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth, songwriters (Brandi Carlile) “The Middle” — Sarah Aarons, Jordan K. Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Marcus Lomax, Kyle Trewartha, Michael Trewartha & Anton Zaslavski, songwriters (Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey) “Shallow” — Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando & Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Lady Gaga &Bradley Cooper) “This Is America” — Donald Glover & Ludwig Goransson, songwriters (Childish Gambino) Continue reading 2019 Grammy Awards Full Nominees List→
Hey friends, just sharing the press release that was circulating yesterday about the Tumblr service which I know a lot of you still might be using to blog and share your photos outside of the confines of restricted mediums such as Facebook and Instagram. For those who are in the dark about the medium, it is essentially the place where one can post just about anything that they feel like posting and after December 17th that will still be possible – provided the “anything” is not viewed as Adult Content in nature. That means anything nekkid and for sure anything sexual in its post. Here is the press statement.
The Press Release:
A better, more positive Tumblr Since its founding in 2007, Tumblr has always been a place for wide open, creative self-expression at the heart of community and culture. To borrow from our founder David Karp, we’re proud to have inspired a generation of artists, writers, creators, curators, and crusaders to redefine our culture and to help empower individuality.
Over the past several months, and inspired by our storied past, we’ve given serious thought to who we want to be to our community moving forward and have been hard at work laying the foundation for a better Tumblr. We’ve realized that in order to continue to fulfill our promise and place in culture, especially as it evolves, we must change. Some of that change began with fostering more constructive dialogue among our community members. Today, we’re taking another step by no longer allowing adult content, including explicit sexual content and nudity (with some exceptions). Continue reading Tumblr Is Cleaning Up Its Act!!!→
This coming weekend marks the return of the Progressive International Motorcycle Show which will take over the Javits Center for three days. Friday starts off with a Press Tour and I am happy to announce that “The Chronicles” of Piercing Ken will be in attendance as a member of the Lifestyle Media. I am rather excited since this is my first-ever motorcycle show and I will be going in a professional capacity. Just a short time ago, I received this mailer about the presentation by the Ducati North America people and I am excited to share their news with you down below. Dig in.
The Press Release:
The city of New York will soon have their chance to witness the breathtaking new 2019 lineup from famed Italian motorcycle leader Ducati, as the brand is bringing their newest models to the East Coast for the first time. The display at Manhattan’s Javits Convention Center will be open to the public Friday, November 30 through Sunday, December 2, as part of the New York International Motorcycle Show (IMS).
Leading the way is the new pinnacle of performance technology, the Panigale V4 R, along with an adventurous and all terrain capable Multistrada 1260 Enduro, and the first significantly new Diavel since its debut in 2010, with a new 1262 cc engine and muscular styling — making it a completely new motorcycle. The Hypermotard 950 also gets a big update with a new look, lighter weight improved technology and higher horsepower engine. Continue reading Ducati North America Brings “9” New 2019 Motorcycles to NY Motorcycle Show→
Over 100 Innovative and Exciting Toys & Games Are the Judges’ Top Picks for the Holiday Season!
The Press Release: The Toy Association today unveiled the 123 finalists for the prestigious 2019 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards. Known as the “Oscars” of the toy industry, the TOTY Awards program recognizes the top toy, game, and licenses in the industry, and supports children in need by serving as a critical fundraiser for The Toy Foundation.
Finalists were announced this morning by prominent online influencers who serve as TOTY Ambassadors. Between now and January 6, families can visit www.ToyAwards.org to vote for their favorite playthings in each of the 17 categories, including Action Figure of the Year, Innovative Toy of the Year, and Collectible of the Year.
“If you’re wondering what to get the kids and ‘kidadults’ in your life this holiday season, this year’s TOTY finalists are the hottest toys and games on the market. Whether you are looking for a doll, a board game, or the latest youth electronics, you’ll find great gift ideas for children of all ages. Every one of the TOTY finalists has been carefully screened by judges for its outstanding ability to deliver joy and wonder, while facilitating key developmental benefits of play,” said Steve Pasierb, The Toy Association’s president & CEO.
“Importantly, the TOTY Awards program supports The Toy Foundation’s important mission focused on serving children in need – whether they are living in foster care, impoverished, dealing with a traumatic or life-threatening illness, or facing other adversities,” added Pasierb.
The finalists were selected from more than 550 nominees submitted by over 200 companies of all sizes. Nineteen judges, including toy and play experts, retailers, academics, and journalists, reviewed and ranked the products in specific categories relevant to their areas of expertise. The judges then participated in a live discussion to determine the finalists in each category. They considered each product’s creativity, design, play value, and marketing.
One winner in each category, as well as the coveted “Toy of the Year” award winner and the “People’s Choice” winner (based solely on consumer votes), will be announced at the TOTY Awards gala to be held on Friday, February 15, 2019 at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City. The celebration will kick-off the 116th North American International Toy Fair and will include the induction of toy industry trailblazers into the esteemed Toy Industry Hall of Fame.
ACTION FIGURE OF THE YEAR Toys that include action figures
DJ Bumblebee (Hasbro, Inc.)
Mattel Jurassic World™ Dinosaur Action Figures (Mattel, Inc.)
Pokémon 4.5” Battle Feature Figures (Wicked Cool Toys)
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Deluxe Ninja Action Figure Assortment (Playmates Toys)
Stikbot Monsters (Zing)
Treasure X (Moose Toys)
WWE® Sound Slammers™ Figures (Mattel, Inc.)
COLLECTIBLE OF THE YEAR Toys that compose a set and can be collected in multiples; can include novelty playthings, miniature versions of existing lines, licensed collectibles, etc.
Beaker Creatures™ (Learning Resources)
Disney Doorables (Moose Toys)
LEGO® Harry Potter™ and Fantastic Beasts™ Minifigure Series (LEGO Systems, Inc.)
L.O.L. Surprise! Eye Spy Series (MGA Entertainment)
Lost Kitties Blind Box Multipack Assortment (Hasbro, Inc.)
Pikmi Pops: Pikmi Flips (Moose Toys)
Polly Pocket (Mattel, Inc.)
Twisty Petz (Spin Master)
CONSTRUCTION TOY OF THE YEAR Toys that include building and engineering sets
Gears! Gears! Gears! Machines in Motion (Learning Resources)
GeoSmart Flip Bot (SMART Toys and Games, Inc.)
GraviTrax Starter Set (Ravensburger)
Kessel Run Millennium Falcon™ (LEGO Systems, Inc.)
LEGO® Harry Potter™ Great Hall™ (LEGO Systems, Inc.)
Marbleocity Triple Play Archimedes Screw (PlayMonster)
Snap Circuits BRIC: Structures (Elenco)
CREATIVE TOY OF THE YEAR Toys that allow kids to build an/or make items that are unique to them
Antsy Pants Build & Play Kit (Beach House Group)
Avengers Hero Inventor Kit (littleBits)
Building Bricks Play N Store Table (KidKraft)
Cool Maker KumiKreator (Spin Master)
Rock And Roll It Spectrum Drum (MukikiM LLC)
Sew + Glow (Tech Will Save Us)
The Big Engineering Makerspace (Thames & Kosmos)
DOLL OF THE YEAR Toys that include plush, baby, toddler, and fashion dolls
GAME OF THE YEAR Children’s board, card, electronic, or other physical game formats or puzzles
Disney Villainous™ Game by Wonder Forge (Ravensburger)
Dr. Biscuits’ Radical Road Trip (Barry and Jason Games & Entertainment)
Fryin Flyin Donuts (Maya Toys)
Monster Match (North Star Games)
Relative Insanity (PlayMonster)
Unstable Unicorns (TeeTurtle, LLC)
Voice Originals: When in Rome (Sensible Object)
INFANT/TODDLER TOY OF THE YEAR Toys that are developed for ages 0-3
Dolce Baby Aardvark (Magformers LLC)
Fisher-Price® Laugh & Learn® Smart Learning Home™ (Mattel, Inc.)
Grippies® Shakers – 30 Piece Set (Guidecraft)
HEXBUG Cuddlebots Garden Carousel (HEXBUG)
Kid O Hudson Glow Rattle (PlayMonster)
Learning Friends 100 Words Book™ (LeapFrog)
Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog (Learning Resources)
INNOVATIVE TOY OF THE YEAR Toys that utilize innovative design, technology, or manufacturing processes to enhance play value
Botley™ the Coding Robot Activity Set (Learning Resources)
Harry Potter™ Wizard Training™ (JAKKS Pacific)
K’NEX Thrill Rides Bionic Blast™ Roller Coaster Building Set (K’NEX, a division of Basic Fun!)
Legend Kit (Infento)
Marvel Legends Series Infinity Gauntlet Articulated Electronic Fist (Hasbro, Inc.)
Mystery Flying Snitch (Wow! Stuff)
Sensors Alive: Bring Physics to Life! (Thames & Kosmos)
LICENSE OF THE YEAR Character or property that has had success spreading its brand throughout the industry
Hatchimals (Spin Master)
Hot Wheels (Mattel, Inc.)
Jurassic World™ Fallen Kingdom (Universal Brand Development)
L.O.L. Surprise! (MGA Entertainment)
Marvel Black Panther™ (The Walt Disney Company)
Peppa Pig (Entertainment One)
PJ Masks (Entertainment One)
OUTDOOR TOY OF THE YEAR Toys that are designed for outdoor play, including ride-ons
PRESCHOOL TOY OF THE YEAR Toys that are developed for ages 3-5
Design & Drill® See Through Creative Workshop (Educational Insights)
Disney Junior Doc McStuffins Pet Rescue Mobile (Just Play)
Fisher-Price® Think & Learn Rocktopus™ (Mattel, Inc.)
Kid Trax Rideamals Scout (Kid Trax)
LEGO® DUPLO Steam Train (LEGO Systems, Inc.)
Little Tikes STEM Jr. Wonder Lab (MGA Entertainment)
Pop Oh Ver Stove Set (Kangaroo Manufacturing Inc.)
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR A new company (created within the last 2 years) that has brought to market an outstanding toy
Massive Monster Mayhem Bash Weapons (Alpha Group US)
Match the Baby Puzzles (Banana Panda, Inc.)
Monsters Lock Box (Tender Leaf Toys)
Ollyball – The Ultimate Indoor Play Ball! (VICTURY Sports)
Tic Tac Tongue (Yulu)
Turing Tumble (Turing Tumble LLC)
What The Film?! (Lethal Chicken Games)
SPECIALTY TOY OF THE YEAR Toys primarily distributed through specialty retailers and are not sold at mass
Betrayal at Cloud City™ (LEGO Systems, Inc.)
Chickapig (Buffalo Games, LLC)
GeoSafari® Jr. Talking Telescope™ (Educational Insights)
GUND Super Pusheenicorn (Spin Master)
HEXBUG Ring Racer (HEXBUG)
LEGO® Harry Potter™ Hogwarts™ Castle (LEGO Systems, Inc.)
Marbles Otrio (Spin Master)
Pepper Mint in the Great Treehouse Engineering Adventure (Thames & Kosmos)
TECH TOY OF THE YEAR Physical toys that are electronic or interact with a smart-phone, tablet or gaming device
Arcade1Up (Tastemakers LLC)
Creative Coder (Tech Will Save Us)
Harry Potter Kano Coding Kit (Kano)
Kids First Coding & Robotics (Thames & Kosmos)
LeapStart® 3D Learning System (LeapFrog)
Really Rad Robots: MiBro (Moose Toys)
VEX Balancing Boxing Bot 2-Pack (HEXBUG)
VEHICLE OF THE YEAR Toys that are powered or non-powered vehicles, and their playsets/accessories
Automoblox BR100 Hercules (PlayMonster)
LEGO® Technic® Bugatti Chiron (LEGO Systems, Inc.)
Nerf Nitro Doubleclutch Inferno Blaster (Hasbro, Inc.)
PAW Patrol Ultimate Rescue Fire Truck (Spin Master & Nickelodeon)
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Turtle Tank (Playmates Toys)
TerraSect RC (Alpha Group US)
VEX Robotics OffRoad Truck (HEXBUG)
*** end of list ***
Piercing Ken Thoughts: Historically speaking, I’ve been going to Toy Fair since 2011 for my PiercingMetal.com website and have expanded that coverage over here on “The Chronicles” for a number of years as well. It’s an event that I love sharing with the readers of the two websites and I will be casting my votes for the TOTY by the end of the week. I won’t share what I am selecting because I don’t want to affect your decision about an item. You as consumers and parents or relatives of those who are enjoying these items should be your own so I hope that you will CLICK HERE and let your voice be known on the public voting. This is very important and could help influence future products so take a few minutes and sound your voice. See you next time.
I’ve been making sure to post the winners of the various awards shows that air on conventional as well as the cable networks because they are generally good talking points and help me as a scribe see what the people are rallying behind. I’ve always enjoyed the People’s Choice Awards because it was the choice of the people and now after being acquired by another network is known as the “E! People’s Choice Awards”. This is a long list but I’ve secured the winners and those they were nominated against so you can compare or offer up some rage at the close of this posting. I’d suggest you get comfortable and maybe make a fresh cup of coffee or tea if you enjoy those morning beverages like I do. Here we go.
People’s Champion Award: WINNER: Bryan Stevenson
Fashion Icon Award: WINNER: Victoria Beckham
People’s Icon of 2018: WINNER: Melissa McCarthy
Movie of 2018: Black Panther WINNER: Avengers: Infinity War Incredibles 2 Fifty Shades Freed A Quiet Place
Comedy Movie of 2018: Love, Simon Blockers WINNER: The Spy Who Dumped Me Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again Crazy Rich Asians
Action Movie of 2018: Black Panther WINNER: Avengers: Infinity War Deadpool 2 Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Ocean’s 8
