For the first time ever, nominees for the annual Grammy Awards [ tickets ] will be announced during a concert event that will air live on television.

Verbosely dubbed "The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! - Countdown to Music's Biggest Night," the one-hour concert special will take place Dec. 3 at Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre L.A. Live. The gig will feature performances by past Grammy winners, as well as the names of the nominees in "at least six categories" for next year's Grammy Awards, according to a press release. Presenters and performers will be announced "shortly."

Tickets go on sale to the general public Oct. 27, and proceeds will benefit the Grammy Museum at L.A. Live, which will celebrate its grand opening in conjunction with "The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!!" Those who can't attend in person can catch the event on CBS-TV.

Following the one-hour live telecast, ticketholders will get to take in a "one-hour exclusive concert by one of the evening's performers," according to a press release.

"With this special, we want to emphasize the stories behind great Grammy-winning artists and their music, and set the stage for nominees to thrill audiences at the annual Grammy telecast," Ken Ehrlich, co-executive producer of the Grammy Awards, said in a prepared statement. "This event allows us to spotlight even more once-in-a-lifetime performances by great Grammy-winning artists in anticipation of the 51st Grammy Awards."

Next year's Grammy Awards ceremony will take place Feb. 8 at Los Angeles' Staples Center.

The Recording Academy has traditionally announced each year's Grammy nominees during a comparatively low-key press conference.