World-renowned guitarist Alex Skolnick's incredible global collaboration, Planetary Coalition, is being considered for nomination in Contemporary Instrumental for the 58th Grammy Awards. In addition, it is also being considered in arranging, composition, and soloist categories. The album was submitted by ArtistShare, whose recordings have received nine Grammy Awards and eighteen Grammy nominations to date, alongside new releases by Gil Evans Project (the first release under the BlueNote/ArtistShare label partnership) and Maria Schneider (2005 Best Large Ensemble Album winner).

Described as a "gorgeous tour of the world's musical traditions" by University of Dayton's prestigious ArtsLive program, Planetary Coalition - Skolnick's first acoustic album and first world music project - made Guitar World's Fifty Best of 2014 as well as top 10 lists by Acoustic Nation and World Music Central. It consists of Alex's original compositions performed alongside international artists such as Rodrigo y Gabriela (Mexico), Kiran Ahluwalia (India), Yacouba Sissoko (Mali), Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez (Cuba), Yihan Chen (China) and many others. In certain cases, social issues are highlighted (such as "Salto”, named for an Argentine agricultural region affected by Monsanto) and in others, musicians from politically conflicted regions are united (such as Palestinian Adnan Joubran and Israeli Gadi Seri). Twenty-seven musicians. Five Continents. One vision.

Alex Skolnick states, "I'm very pleased that Planetary Coalition is being considered for nomination in this year's Grammy Awards. The logistics of composing, rehearsing and recording this album (at times between activity with Testament, my trio and other projects), left me creatively satisfied but quite exhausted, so it's really nice to feel the appreciation. Confession: The Grammys have always felt a bit like a gated community or that annual high school party you were never invited to; I rarely tune in and know very little about the process. Regardless...to witness one's passion-project chosen for Grammy submission by ArtistShare, a reputable arts organization who've had a fair share of nominees and winners (all genuine, non-image driven artists) is a truly nice validation, whatever the outcome, for everyone involved (this project is about much more than me). Thanks to all who've believed and contributed in so many ways."