WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand has relied on hobbits, bungy jumping and rugby to entice tourists in the past.

Now Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern may have found the perfect...

BANKS, "III" (Harvest Records)

You could call BANKS' first single in a few years steamy — but you'd be off-base. "Gimme" is absolutely erotic, an explicit, hyper-racy club song — maybe a sex...

K.Flay, "Solutions" (Night Street Records/Interscope)

It's always been hard to pin down K.Flay's music. She's a bit of a sonic chameleon, mixing elements of hip-hop, rock and indie pop with...

Sigrid, "Sucker Punch" (Island Records)

Rising pop singer Sigrid's new album "Sucker Punch" is perfectly titled — it's a surprise hit you never saw coming that instantly makes an...

NEW YORK (AP) — After being nearly muted at this year's ceremony, the 2019 Grammys are shaping up to be the year of the woman, with powerful female voices representing the majority in two of the top categories.

Kacey Musgraves, H.E.R. and Janelle Monae, performers who play instruments, write or co-write all of their songs and are also listed as producers on their projects, earned nominations for the coveted album of the year.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Two New Zealand activists dismiss an Israeli court order to pay damages for allegedly helping persuade pop singer Lorde to cancel a performance in Israel.

The women say the ruling aims "to intimidate Israel's critics."

Justine Sachs and Nadia Abu-Shanab said on Friday that instead of paying the $12,000 damages to Israeli ticketholders who claimed the cancellation caused emotional distress, they will fundraise for a Gaza mental health organization.

JERUSALEM (AP) — An Israeli court has ordered two New Zealand women to pay over $12,000 in damages for allegedly helping persuade the pop singer Lorde to cancel a performance in Israel.

The suit was filed under a law that allows civil lawsuits against anyone who calls for a boycott against Israel. Wednesday's ruling is believed to be the first time the 2011 law has been applied.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kelly Clarkson said Lorde should have been able to perform at the Grammys because she was nominated for album of the year.

"I did think it was weird. Lorde didn't get a performance slot, but I don't know the back story of that," Clarkson said in an interview with The Associated Press on Sunday. "I hope there was a real, valid reason."

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Lorde has scribbled her thanks to fans back home for embracing her Grammy-nominated album.

Her handwritten thank-you note was published as an ad in The New Zealand Herald on Wednesday. The note has doodles honoring fellow Kiwi musicians as well as sightings of other attendees at the Grammy ceremony in New York on Sunday night.

She also thanks them for believing in female musicians, "You set a beautiful precedent!"

JERUSALEM (AP) — An Israeli legal rights group said Wednesday it is suing two New Zealanders for allegedly convincing the pop singer Lorde to cancel her performance in Israel in what appears to be the first lawsuit filed under a contentious Israeli anti-boycott law.

NEW YORK (AP) — Recording Academy President Neil Portnow says his comments following the 60th annual Grammy Awards were taken out of context after he was criticized for saying women in the music industry need to "step up."

Recording Academy President Neil Portnow is facing criticism for his comments after the 60th annual Grammy Awards ended with only two female winners on stage and lingering questions about the choice of performers.

NEW YORK (AP) — The Grammy Awards seemed poised to make this a triumphant year for rap at music's showcase event — until Bruno Mars crashed the party.

The song-and-dance man from Hawaii won all six awards he was nominated for on Sunday night, including the three most prestigious Grammys for song ("That's What I Like"), record ("24K Magic") and album of the year. His music also dominated the rhythm and blues categories.

NEW YORK (AP) — The Latest on the 60th annual Grammy Awards being presented Sunday night in New York (all times local):

11 p.m.

Bruno Mars has won the album of the year Grammy Award for "24K Magic," capping an epic night for the pop star.

The award is Mars' sixth win of the day. Mars acknowledged fellow nominees in the category, including Jay-Z, Lorde and Childish Gambino.

Mars says, "You guys are the reason I'm in the studio pulling my hair out."

NEW YORK (AP) — Bruno Mars owned the Grammys with his R&B-inspired album "24K Magic," winning all six awards he was nominated for at a show where hip-hop was expected to have a historical night.

Jay-Z, the leading nominee with eight, walked away empty handed Sunday — a year after his wife lost album of the year to Adele, causing fans and peers to criticize the Recording Academy for not properly rewarding Beyonce's bold "Lemonade" project.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Lorde on Sunday cancelled a performance in Israel scheduled for next summer after appeals by pro-Palestinian activists.

The New Zealand music star said in a statement that "the right decision at this time" was to cancel her June 2018 concert in Tel Aviv, which was announced earlier this month.

NEW YORK (AP) — Thirteen things worth noting about Tuesday's nominations for the 2018 Grammy Awards:

_____

THIS IS NOT #OSCARSSOWHITE

The Recording Academy is ensuring black or Latino artists will win big at the show next year: only three white acts are nominated in the top four categories.

A list of nominees in the top categories at the 60th annual Grammy Awards, announced Tuesday by The Recording Academy.

— Album of the year: "Awaken, My Love!," Childish Gambino; "4:44," Jay-Z; "DAMN.," Kendrick Lamar; "Melodrama," Lorde; "24K Magic," Bruno Mars.

— Record of the year: "Redbone," Childish Gambino; "Despacito," Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber; "The Story of O.J.," Jay-Z; "HUMBLE.," Kendrick Lamar; "24K Magic," Bruno Mars.

NEW YORK (AP) — Jay-Z is the leader of the 2018 Grammy Award nominations in a year where the top four categories are heavily dominated by rap and R&B artists, giving the often overlooked genres a strong chance of winning big.

NEW YORK (AP) — Rod Stewart will perform a reworked version of his hit "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" remotely from Las Vegas at the MTV Video Music Awards, to be held in California.

MTV announced Wednesday that Stewart will perform the 1978 song with pop band DNCE on Sunday. The network said Demi Lovato will also perform remotely from Vegas.

NEW YORK (AP) — Pink's 17-year-old music career will be honored at the MTV Video Music Awards with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.

The Grammy-winning singer will receive the honor Aug. 27 at the Forum in Inglewood, California, MTV said Tuesday. She will also perform at the awards show.

The Vanguard award honors musicians who have had an impact on pop culture with their songs, fashion and music videos. Past winners include Madonna, Peter Gabriel, Beyonce and Justin Timberlake.

NEW YORK (AP) — Top nominee Kendrick Lamar is set to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards this month.

MTV said Thursday that Lamar will take the stage at the Aug. 27 event at the Forum in Inglewood, California. Lamar is nominated for eight awards.

Previously announced performers include host Katy Perry, Ed Sheeran, Miley Cyrus, the Weeknd, Lorde, Shawn Mendes, Fifth Harmony and Thirty Seconds to Mars.

NEW YORK (AP) — Ed Sheeran, Miley Cyrus, the Weeknd and host Katy Perry will perform at the MTV Video Music Awards later this month.

MTV announced Monday that Lorde, Shawn Mendes, Fifth Harmony and Thirty Seconds to Mars will also hit the stage Aug. 27 at the Forum in Inglewood, California.

NEW YORK (AP) — Pink, Coldplay, The Weeknd, DJ Khaled, Miley Cyrus and Harry Styles will perform at the 2017 iHeartRadio Music Festival this fall.

IHeartMedia announced Tuesday that Kesha, Chris Stapleton, Lorde and David Guetta will also take the stage Sept. 22-23 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Tickets go on sale July 28.

Ryan Seacrest will host the two-day festival, which will also feature performances by Kings of Leon, Big Sean, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Niall Horan and Thomas Rhett.