Sting and Shaggy

Sting and Shaggy

Photo: Recording Academy

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Sting And Shaggy Talk Music Advocacy, Philanthropy & More

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At a special event at the GRAMMY Museum, the duo discuss the importance of music advocacy, the causes near and dear to them, and perform music together
Ana Yglesias
Advocacy
Oct 10, 2018 - 4:44 pm

GRAMMY winners Sting and Shaggy are not necessarily the most-expected of collaborators, but their passion for music was part of what brought them together. The duo, who have been playing shows around the world together the past few months, stopped by the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles on Oct. 7 for a special edition of Up Close & Personal presented by the Recording Academy and moderated by the organization's Chief Industry, Government & Member Relations Officer Daryl Friedman.

Sting and Shaggy

In the intimate discussion, Sting and Shaggy talked about the causes most important to them and why it's important for musicians to both give back to the things near to their hearts as well as advocate for their rights as music creators. The two artists also discussed how their latest musical collaboration came together.

Sting and Shaggy_4

On an evening focused on music advocacy, Sting and Shaggy revealed they are supportive of improving music creators' rights. This passion is shared by others in the industry and is reflected in recent efforts by members of the music community advocating for the Music Modernization Act, new legislation which would establish fairer rates and greater protections for all music creators. Thanks to widespread, bipartisan support for the bill and increased awareness around the need for copyright law reform to protect creators, the bill has passed both the House and Senate and currently awaits final approval by the President.

Shaggy and Daryl Friedman

Sting and Shaggy also discussed their ongoing dedication to giving back as musicians, using their platforms for social good. They shared two of their biggest causes, the Rainforest Foundation Fund and the Make a Difference Foundation, and why it has been important to each of them to contribute to the communities and causes they’re passionate about. They encouraged other musicians to use their platforms for good, including to advocate for artists' rights and the music community as a whole.

For anyone lucky enough to be in the room for this exclusive event, Sting and Shaggy brought down the house, closing the night with a special performance of some of their new songs, serving as a reminder of the magic music can create.

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Little Big Town

Little Big Town

Photo: Paul Morigi/WireImage

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Quincy Jones, Linda Perry & More: 61st GRAMMY Nominees Who Put Music Advocacy In Action

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Take a look at the many policy advocates whose music received nominations this year
Philip Merrill
Advocacy
Feb 6, 2019 - 1:47 pm
Members of the music community appreciate the impact policy has on their livelihoods, and these 61st GRAMMY Awards nominees made a difference with their activism.

Activism on behalf of music creators is the mission of the Recording Academy's ongoing Advocacy efforts, enlisting the support of our membership who best understand and appreciate how policy affects their livelihoods. Here are 20 artists, producers and professionals who have joined the cause and are also recognized this Sunday with nominations at the 61st GRAMMY Awards.

Why GRAMMYs On The Hill Makes A Difference

The 2018 GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards honored country quartet Little Big Town. Previous winners of three GRAMMYs, this year their song "When Someone Stops Loving You" is nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance. Hillary Lindsey and Lori McKenna of the Love Junkies performed at the event and were two of the song's co-writers, earning them a nomination this year for Best Country Song. Also at GRAMMYs on the Hill 2018 were Fantastic Negrito, whose Please Don't Be Dead is up for Best Contemporary Blues Album, and classical producer David Frost, who is nominated for Producer Of The Year, Classical and Best Opera Recording for his work on Strauss, R.: Der Rosenkavalier.

The 2017 GRAMMYs on the Hill honoree was Keith Urban and this year his song "Parallel Line" is up for Best Country Solo Performance. Lauren Daigle also participated, and her Look Up Child is nominated for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album and its song "You Say" is up for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song.

The 2007 GRAMMYs on the Hill honoree Quincy Jones is nominated this year under Best Music Film for Quincy, a documentary recounting his legendary life in music. The winner of last year's Best Comedy Album award, Dave Chappelle is nominated in the same category again this year for Equanimity & The Bird Revelation — Chappelle participated in the very first GRAMMYs on the Hill event.

Year round the Academy's National Advocacy Committee helps to guide and lead our policy activism and this year, two of its members received nominations. Co-chair Harvey Mason Jr. is up for Best Musical Theater Album for his production and mixing on Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert. Committee member Lalah Hathaway has three R&B nominations including Best R&B Album for Honestly.

District Advocate Day is an exceptional opportunity for our members to make their voices heard and in 2018, more than 1,500 raised their voices together, meeting with lawmakers and candidates. Hawaiian artist Kalani Pe'a has been a stalwart advocate and his No 'Ane'i is up for Best Regional Roots Music Album this year. Another leader in music activism who participated is Memphis Chapter Board Member Sean Ardoin, whose Kreole Rock And Soul is up for Best Regional Roots Music Album as well. The album's lead track "Kick Rocks" is also up for Best American Roots Performance. Dom Flemons was active at District Advocate Day last year and his Black Cowboys is nominated this year for Best Folk Album.

Nominated for Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical, Linda Perry gets special kudos for encouraging voter turn-out with her #GetUpandVote campaign.

Sara Bareilles played a special role in last year's GRAMMY Week briefing of Congressional Lawmakers. She's nominated alongside Mason Jr. for Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert. The 2017 briefing enjoyed the participation of Kelsea Ballerini, nominated this year for Unapologetically under Best Country Album.

Sting and Shaggy are nominated together under Best Reggae Album for their collaboration 44/876. They participated in a GRAMMY Museum Up Close & Personal event on Oct. 7, 2018 where they spoke extensively on the theme of music advocacy.

PJ Morton is heading into the 61st GRAMMY Awards with four nominations, including Best R&B Album for Gumbo Unplugged (Live). His advocacy was instrumental on May 16, 2017, during the Louisiana Music Industry Day.

We thank all of our members and nominees for sharing their talents and using their voices to advocate for music creators at both a national and state level. Their activism helps to positively shape the futures and livelihoods for music creators today and for generations to come. As our Advocacy efforts continue and we celebrate this year's recognition at the 61st GRAMMY Awards, we are a team making a difference and looking forward to continuing our work in 2019.

Hosted by Alicia Keys — herself a 2015 GRAMMYs on the Hill honoree — the  61st Annual GRAMMY Awards will be broadcast live from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles in HDTV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

Mitch Glazier

Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

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Sirius XM Continues to Fight Against Paying Artists Fairly

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RIAA President Mitch Glazier explains how Sirius XM's opposition to the Music Modernization Act is unfounded and unfair to artists
Ana Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Sep 12, 2018 - 5:20 pm

In a recent statement, Mitch Glazier, the President of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), explained why Sirius XM's opposition to the Music Modernization Act, or MMA, is unfair to artists, with their arguments in their defense flimsy at best.

As the Recording Academy has highlighted, Sirius XM is fighting against the pre-1972 provision of the MMA which calls for digital and satellite providers to pay market rate royalties for playing any pre-1972 recordings. This important piece of legislation would allow legacy artists (and their estates) to finally be paid fairly for use of their music. Satellite radio providers such as Sirius XM have profited of the loophole which allows them to play legacy artists' music without paying them a penny. Because of this, Sirius XM is fighting to make last minute changes to the MMA in an attempt to kill the otherwise widely-supported bill.

In an article published on Billboard's business page, Glazier outlines how Sirius XM's claims are simply unfounded. They said that they've already paid for all of the legacy (pre-1972) songs they use across their stations, when in fact they have not. After years of paying nothing to legacy artists to use their music, artists and labels sued them in state court, garnering wins in California. Sirius settled these claims and used those limited (albeit forced) payments as the argument that they are now paid up on all pre-1972 song plays, which is, of course, false.

"The real issue is that Sirius XM wants to avoid paying legacy artists any more money while it keeps its special deal that allows it to pay for post-'72 music at below-market rates," Glazier explains. "The Music Modernization Act finally corrects both these injustices and makes Sirius XM play by the same rules as every other digital service."

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Contact Your Senators: Tell Them To Support Comprehensive Music Reform

Jared Leto

Jared Leto

Photo: Lorenzo Agius | Design: F Inomata

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Jared Leto On 'America,' Working With Halsey, "Rescue Me" & More

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We go behind the scenes with the Thirty Seconds To Mars frontman to chat about the band’s latest album, creativity, collaboration and more
Ana Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Dec 31, 2018 - 9:52 am

Actor and musician Jared Leto may have made his name in Hollywood with major roles in films like Requiem For A Dream and Dallas Buyer Club, for which he won an Academy Award, but music has always been his main passion.

Leto formed alternative-rock group Thirty Seconds To Mars with his brother Shannon back in 1998, releasing their cult-classic, self-titled debut album in 2002. Since then, they have toured the world several times, filmed music video epics and recorded four more studio albums. Their latest LP, America, released on April 6, features tons of collaborations (Halsey, Zedd and ASAP Rocky all make appearances) and experimentation with new sounds, including a greater emphasis on pop and dance influences.

Jared Leto Talks 'America,' Halsey & "Rescue Me"

Leto recently visited the GRAMMY Museum in his hometown of Los Angeles to go in-depth on new music and more in a conversation at the Clive Davis Theater. Before the event, we caught up with the singer and actor, who revealed his favorite track on America, what it was like recording his first-ever duet (with GRAMMY nominee Halsey), his approach to making music, and more.

Lenny Kravitz On His Biggest Influences, Love, Creativity & More

Lenny Kravitz

Lenny Kravitz

Photo: Mark Seliger | Design: F Inomata

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Lenny Kravitz On His Biggest Influences, Love, Creativity & More

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We go behind-the-scenes with the GRAMMY-winning rock musician and learn about the many artists he finds inspiration from, where he feels most creatively charged, the message behind his new album, and more
Ana Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Dec 26, 2018 - 9:37 am

GRAMMY winner Lenny Kravitz has been making waves in the rock scene for almost 20 years, since releasing his 1989 debut album Let Love Rule. To date he has put out ten studio albums, countless hits and taken home four GRAMMYs, all for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, making him the artist with the most wins in that category. His first win was at the 41st GRAMMY Awards for "Fly Away," from his album of the same name, followed by an astonishing three more back to back wins. Yet Kravitz feels his work has just begun and is still set on finessing his craft and creating new music for years to come. His latest release Raise Vibration, released on Sept. 7, is shining and upbeat, and shares his positive message with the world.

Lenny Kravitz On His Influences, Love & More

Dressed stylishly laidback in an all denim look, Kravitz visited the GRAMMY Museum for an intimate conversation at the Clive Davis Theater. Before the event we caught up with him about his biggest musical influences are, his creative process, how he felt after his fourth GRAMMY in a row, and more.

He points out that the positivity on his latest album is aligned with what his music has always been about. "My main message is what it has always been, and that is love," Kravitz shares.

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