Leading contenders for the 43rd annual Grammy Awards run the gamut from controversial rapper Eminem to bubble gum boy band 'N Sync.

The nominations, which were announced Wednesday, also singled out R&B hitmakers Destiny's Child, rock standbys Steely Dan and U2, and critical favorites, including soul/R&B singer Macy Gray and alt- rockers Radiohead.

The Grammys, regarded as the music industry's most prestigious awards, will be announced Feb. 21 in a live CBS broadcast from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The Detroit-based rapper Eminem received four nominations for the slasher-film fantasies of "The Marshall Mathers LP," a surprising move given the usually conservative voting patterns of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, which awards the Grammys.

Eminem's mentor, Dr. Dre, won five nominations, including producer of the year for his work with Eminem, in addition to nods for his own solo effort, "Dr. Dre-2001."

Beyonce Knowles, the front woman of Destiny's Child, claimed five nominations, including songwriting awards, while the group itself got four nods.

Other artists picking up four nominations include country singer Vince Gill (including country album, "Let's Make Sure We Kiss Goodbye"), producer-songwriter Rodney Jerkins, R&B singer Joe and arranger-conductor Vince Mendoza.

Established to honor musical excellence, the Grammys are voted on by a group of 17,000 industry professionals. But the national academy long has been divided between the goals of honoring artistic brilliance and celebrating commercial success.

Those competing impulses were amply displayed in the Grammys' "big four" categories-album, record, song and new artist-in a year in which the charts were dominated by the lowest-common denominator teen pop of bands like 'N Sync and the violent rap of rockers like Eminem.

The Chicago chapter of the academy had a press conference at its downtown office to salute this year's large roster of local nominees, including rapper Common (solo rap performance), veteran blues woman Koko Taylor (contemporary blues album), alternative country heroes Wilco (contemporary folk album) and performance artists the Blue Man Group (pop instrumental album).

Chicago superstar R. Kelly, nominated for male R&B vocal performance for "I Wish," was expected to attend the local press conference but canceled at the last minute, officials said.

Kelly has not spoken to the press since the Sun-Times reported two weeks ago that he has had sexual relationships with underage females, including at least two 15-year-olds and one 16-year-old. Sources close to the singer, who is married and has children, say that he continues to pursue sex with minors.

Grammy stalwarts the Chicago Symphony Orchestra had a slow year, claiming only one nomination for the "Fantasia 2000" compilation soundtrack, with guest conductor James Levine. CSO music director Daniel Barenboim was nominated in the orchestral performance category for "Beethoven: The Symphonies," a complete cycle of the composer's nine symphonies, recorded with Staatskapelle Berlin (the pit orchestra of the Deutsche Oper, for which Barenboim serves as artistic director).

In the big four categories, nominated for album of the year honors, along with Eminem, were alternative-rock hipsters Beck ("Midnite Vultures"), Radiohead ("Kid A"), and longtime Grammy favorites Paul Simon ("You're the One") and Steely Dan ("Two Against Nature").

Along with Destiny's Child ("Say My Name"), nominees for the record of the year prize, an award that honors hit singles, included pop phenoms 'N Sync ("Bye Bye Bye"), veteran rockers Madonna ("Music") and U2 ("Beautiful Day"), and rising R&B star Macy Gray ("I Try").

Nominated for the song of the year were U2's "Beautiful Day," Faith Hill's "Breathe," Lee Ann Womack's "I Hope You Dance," Macy Gray's "I Try" and Destiny's Child's "Say My Name." (The award goes to the songwriters.)

Named for the best new artist prize were country singer- songwriter Shelby Lynne, country crooner Brad Paisley, rap-rockers Papa Roach, R&B singer Jill Scott and rapper Sisqo of "The Thong Song" fame.

The Grammys' pop and rock categories seemed evenly divided between platinum-selling young phenoms and more artistically credible old- timers.

Nominated for pop vocal album honors were Don Henley ("Inside Job"), Madonna ("Music"), 'N Sync ("No Strings Attached"), Britney Spears ("Oops! . . . I Did It Again") and Steely Dan ("Two Against Nature").

Vying for the rock album prize were Bon Jovi ("Crush"), the Foo Fighters ("There Is Nothing Left to Lose"), matchbox twenty ("Mad Season"), No Doubt ("Return of Saturn") and Rage Against the Machine ("The Battle of Los Angeles").

To qualify for this year's awards, recordings had to be released during the eligibility year, which began Oct. 1, 1999, and ended Sept. 30, 2000.

As previously announced, pop crooner Tony Bennett, English rockers the Who, singer Sammy Davis Jr., '60s rockers the Beach Boys and reggae superstar Bob Marley will receive lifetime achievement awards, and producers Arif Mardin and Phil Ramone will receive trustees awards. Legendary guitarist Les Paul and software manufacturer Digidesign will receive technical Grammys.

THE CHICAGO CONNECTION

Common Solo rap performance, 44The Light 44When you do your music, youre just hoping that people can enjoy it. Something like this is definitely an honor. The fact that Im able to move people and do something positive, thats what its all about.

Koko Taylor Contemporary blues album, 44Royal Blue 44I feel just as excited and great about it today as I did the first time (I was nominated). It just makes me feel like Im on Cloud Nine. And it helps because I talk to the young people everywhere I go about the blues and try to get them interested.

Wilco Contemporary folk album, 44Mermaid Avenue, Vol. II 44If you wanna get nominated for a Grammy, it seems like all you have to do is get Woody Guthrie and Billy Bragg on your record. (Wilco and Bragg were nominated last year for 44Mermaid Avenue, Vol. I, but did not win.)

Maurice Joshua Remixer of the year 44This is the third year theyre honoring remixers; its still a brand-new category, said Joshua, whose credits include N Sync, Destinys Child, Mary Mary and Kandi. 44Its definitely being taken notice of because (dance music) is reaching a different audience that it never had before.

THE 43RD ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS // AWARDS TO BE PRESENTED FEB.21, 2001 STAPLES CENTER LOS ANGELES

Complete list of nominees in 100 categories announced Wednesday for the 43rd annual Grammy Awards:

Record of the year: 44Say My Name, Destinys Child; 44I Try, Macy Gray; 44Music, Madonna; 44Bye Bye Bye, N Sync; 44Beautiful Day, U2.

Album of the year: 44Midnite Vultures, Beck; 44The Marshall Mathers LP, Eminem; 44Kid A, Radiohead; 44Youre the One, Paul Simon; 44Two Against Nature, Steely Dan.

Song of the year (award to writer): 44Beautiful Day, U2; 44Breathe, Stephanie Bentley and Holly Lamar; 44I Hope You Dance, Mark D. Sanders and Tia Sellers; 44I Try, Macy Gray, Jinsoo Lim, Jeremy Ruzuma and David Wilder; 44Say My Name, LaShawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins III, Rodney Jerkins, Beyonce Knowles, LeToya Luckett, LaTavia Roberson and Kelendria Rowland.

New artist: Shelby Lynne; Brad Paisley; Papa Roach; Jill Scott; Sisqo.

Female pop vocal: 44What a Girl Wants, Christina Aguilera; 44I Try, Macy Gray; 44Music, Madonna; 44Save Me, Aimee Mann; 44Both Sides Now, Joni Mitchell; 44Oops! ... I Did It Again, Britney Spears.

Male pop vocal: 44You Sang to Me, Marc Anthony; 44Taking You Home, Don Henley; 44She Bangs, Ricky Martin; 444, 6, 8, 12, Brian McKnight; 44She Walks This Earth (Soberana Rosa), Sting.

Pop performance, duo or group with vocal: 44Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely, Backstreet Boys; 44Pinch Me, Barenaked Ladies; 44Breathless, The Corrs; 44Bye Bye Bye, N Sync; 44Cousin Dupree, Steely Dan.

Pop collaboration with vocals: 44Thank God I Found You, Mariah Carey with Joe and 98 Degrees; 44The Difficult Kind, Sheryl Crow and Sarah McLachlan; 44All the Way, Celine Dion with Frank Sinatra; 44Turn Your Lights Down Low, Lauryn Hill with Bob Marley; 44Is You Is, Or Is You Aint (My Baby), B.B. King and Dr. John.

Pop instrumental performance: 44Overture (Selmasongs), Bjork; 44Rebel Heart, the Corrs; 44Zona Mona, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones; 44Caravan, Brian Setzer Orchestra; 44Camaleao, Grover Washington Jr.

Dance recording: 44Who Let the Dogs Out, Baha Men; 44Blue (Da Ba Dee), Eiffel 65; 44Be With You, Enrique Iglesias; 44Lets Get Loud, Jennifer Lopez; 44Natural Blues, Moby.

Pop instrumental album: 44Audio, Blue Man Group; 44Faith--A Holiday Album, Kenny G; 44Symphony No. 1, Joe Jackson; 44Pieces in a Modern Style, William Orbit; 44Hymns--In the Garden, Kirk Whalum.