On the Rise: We need your votes!

Another month, another crop of talented video-makers! February’s On the Rise nominees are in, and we need you to check out the four nominees below and choose your favorite. Cast your vote in the top right-hand corner of this blog.

Here’s how On the Rise works. We identify channels who’ve gained a lot of subscribers in the past 30 days but haven’t yet reached the 100,000 mark. You vote on your favorite, and we feature the winner on the YouTube homepage and the videos page, Facebook and Twitter. Past winners like emilynoel83, justjesse197 and joshsundquist have seen their subscriber numbers jump, thanks to your support.

This month we’re featuring four channels that have been moving from a simmer to a boil -- and for good reason! Check them out, and don’t forget to cast your vote by February 16, 2011, so we can feature the winner on the homepage on February 23.

fouradipuntnl
Pop music (and good-looking guys) need no translation. These two Moroccan-Dutch brothers formed the hip-hop group Fouradi back in 2009, and in 2010 their single “1 Ding” scaled the Dutch charts. Their YouTube channel has also garnered mad love.



RMG209
Graphic designer and heavy metal DJ Rick Gurnsey is the mastermind behind this genuinely comic, self-described “creepy” animated series. Once you start watching, it’s very hard to stop; imagine a Simpsons in which every character is Mr. Burns, and you’re partway there.



theDOMINICshow
Dominic “d-trix” Sandoval has turned his life into a one-man show. He’ll teach you to rap, he’ll spoof the Bieber phenomenon, he’ll sing (sardonically) the praises of mother’s milk. On theDOMINICshow, nothing is sacred, but just about everything is funny.



TornadoVideosdotnet
Reed Timmer has made a living chasing and filming tornadoes, and we’re willing passengers on his wild ride. When he’s not running away from an oncoming twister, he’s filming the gorgeous weather that’s about to produce one. Warning: not for the adrenaline-phobic.



If you’re inspired by what you see here, check out other awesome, up-and-coming channels. Visit our channel of On the Rise nominees, trending partners and winners, and look for more featured rising partners on the browse page.

Sarah Bardeen, Music Community Manager, recently watched "The Sway Machinery - Gawad Teriamou featuring Khaira Arby."

Go behind the scenes at the Grammys, starting today

Music’s biggest night is almost upon us, and this year YouTube has your ticket to the pre-show and the parties!

Starting today at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT, tune into youtube.com/thegrammys to watch live coverage of events leading up to the big night. The live stream starts Friday night and continues all weekend, including some never-before-seen footage of Grammy moments.

You can also be a fly on the wall at the storied, celebrity-studded Clive Davis party and check out the usually un-broadcasted Pre-Telecast, where The Recording Academy actually gives out most of its awards. (Fact: Taylor Swift won her first Grammy at a Pre-Telecast.) If that’s not enough, be sure to stick around for the after-party as well.

To sweeten the deal, we’ve made a few video playlists featuring the year’s nominees as well as our favorite Grammy moments past.



So if Sunday’s three-hour event feels too short, get your Grammy on early with the YouTube webcast, in partnership with The Recording Academy and TurboTax.

The Grammys air Sunday, February 13, 2011 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS.

Sarah Bardeen, Music Community Manager, recently watched “Natalia Lafourcade | Ella es Bonita-Azul | A Take-Away Show.”