Why Didn't 'Uptown Funk' Contributor Trinidad James Take Home a Grammy?














Trinidad James photographed backstage during the Billboard Hot 100 Festival on Aug. 22, 2015 at Nikon at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York.
MEREDITH JENKS

Don’t believe it? Just watch. Or better yet, listen.
Atlanta rapper Trinidad James’ “All Gold Everything” is incorporated into Bruno Mars’ crooning chorus in Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk.” The spontaneous dance-party go-to of the century recently nabbed Ronson, Mars and the rest of the track’s production team Grammys for record of the year and best pop duo/group performance. All except for James.
“Songwriters do not share in the nomination for a Grammy Award in a Record of the Year,” a Recording Academy rep told Complex. A song of the year win would have apparently grabbed James an award, as a songwriter.
Despite the lack of recognition, James’ can’t-miss hook in “Uptown Funk" gets him an 8 percent financial cut of the song. (To break it down, that’s $150K out of a whopping $2 million.) 
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2016 Grammys Sales Gains: How Best New Artist & Album of the Year Nominees Were Affected
The Weeknd performs on stage at the 88th Oscars on Feb. 28, 2016 in Hollywood, California.
MARK RALSTON/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

After the 2016 Grammys, even the artists who technically lost still won -- many of the nominated artists experienced big sales gains after the Feb. 15 ceremony.
In the graphics below, we're looking at how the LPs nominated for album of the year and the debut albums from the best new artist nominees benefited from the 2016 Grammys in terms of increased album sales.

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Pitbull & Natalia Lafourcade Tie for 2016 Grammy Win



Pitbull performs at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds Race Course on April 26, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
JOSH BRASTED/WIREIMAGE

Natalia Lafourcade and Pitbull have tied for the Grammy win in the best Latin rock, urban or alternative album category. 
The two acts represent two totally opposite sides of the broad spectrum represented in the category, which pits wildly different genres against each other under the same umbrella.
Lafourcade won for Hasta la Raíz (Sony), an album of intensely personal songs with an alternative vibe that’s been very successful in her native Mexico but has a decidedly niche following in the U.S. None of the songs, including the title track, have had any airplay here. In contrast, Pitbull’s Dale(Sony), his first Spanish language album in years, has produced a long string of singles, including current chart-topper “El Taxi,” featuring Cuban rapper Osmani Garcia.
But while Pitbull had the name recognition (plus, he’s performing in tonight’s award show), Lafourcade had critical adoration; she was the big winner in November’s Latin Grammy awards, a fact that no doubt influenced voters.
“The irony winning the Grammy for Spanish at the Anglo side,” quipped Pitbull, ever the 
social observer, on his Twitter account. Thank you! Dale!”

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