In an effort to recognize music professionals who opt to distribute music online, The Recording Academy, with the support of its Board of Trustees, has augmented its membership qualifications. These new guidelines embrace recording professionals who release their product digitally and who wish to become Voting members and participate in the GRAMMY Awards process.

The Academy’s traditional qualification procedure provides that applicants who have six commercially released tracks, which are distributed on a non-consignment basis, are eligible to vote in the GRAMMY Awards*. The new digital qualification process gives prospective members two ways to apply for Voting membership consideration:

Option 1: Digital Distribution

1. Applicant must be credited on a minimum of 12 tracks, consisting of one release or multiple releases or two full length releases.
2. Applicant must have a Web site promoting him/herself as an artist. Promotion could include upcoming releases, tour schedule and other non-defined criteria establishing the fact the artist is supporting his/her craft through promotion. (This does not apply to non-performance categories such as engineer, producer, songwriter, art direction, notes writer, etc.).
3. Album must be available for sale to the general public in an established online retail setting. Examples: Amazon.com, CD Baby, iTunes, Rhapsody, Yahoo, Emusic, Musicmatch, CD Universe, etc.
4. Any other pertinent information that may establish the applicant as pursuing a career in the business of recorded sound.

Option 2: Member Endorsement
Applicant may be endorsed by two current Voting members of The Academy. Specific forms and criteria for this avenue of membership will be available on GRAMMY.com by clicking “The Recording Academy” button and then clicking the “Join Us” button.

The Academy is in the process of updating its Web site and applications to reflect this new membership criterion. In the interim, please use the current application. If applying with the PDF application, please include a printed copy of the Web page showing where the album is sold, along with the liner notes of the album. Also include the Web address of your Web site or myspace.com page.

If you have any questions about these new membership guidelines, please call your local Chapter or e-mail memservices@grammy.com.