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ASCAP Makes Disaster Relief Donation To MusiCares

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Donation will help music community members most affected by the fires
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Dec 27, 2018 - 11:59 am

Performing rights organization ASCAP announced on Dec. 18 that it is donating to MusiCares to support music's creators including those "affected by the recent wildfires in northern and southern California" needing help with food, shelter and replacement of instruments or equipment.

"We are truly grateful for the support and ongoing partnership of ASCAP," said Recording Academy and MusiCares President/CEO Neil Portnow. "Their work on behalf of music people is vital, and their generosity to the music community is equally strong. This donation demonstrates how the music industry works together to take care of their own."

"We have all been stunned by the devastation caused by the California fires and the heartache and loss suffered by our members who reside there," said ASCAP Chairman of the Board and President Paul Williams, winner of three GRAMMY awards as a songwriter. "ASCAP has always been an advocate for music creators, and faced with these terrible circumstances, we have their backs. We are pleased to work with MusiCares to get help to those who need it most."

Members may make disaster relief requests by contacting MusiCares toll-free at 1.800.687.4227.

For those wishing to donate, the "Gift Designation" choice at MusiCares' donation page offers "Disaster Relief" as a selection.

"The music community knows that it can turn to MusiCares in times of distress," said ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews. "They have the organization and the infrastructure necessary to respond to these horrible events and help members of the music community in times of need. We're glad to work with MusiCares once again to ensure that our funds reach the people most affected by the fires."

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STAPLES Center in Los Angeles

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Dates For 2020 And 2021 GRAMMY Awards Announced

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Plans are revealed for more of Music's Biggest Night, as the 62nd and 63rd GRAMMY Awards ceremonies will remain in Los Angeles and will return to the month January after 2019
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Oct 23, 2018 - 7:01 am

On Oct. 23 the Recording Academy and CBS announced more to look forward to, setting the date for the 62nd GRAMMY Awards on Sunday, January 26, 2020, and the 63rd GRAMMY Awards on Sunday, January 31, 2021. Like the upcoming 61st GRAMMY Awards on Feb. 10, 2019, both will air live on CBS from the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.

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"Our return to Los Angeles and the debut of the GRAMMY Awards in January for 2020 and 2021 should prove to be exciting for our industry and the music creators we honor," said Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow. "The Recording Academy is pleased to call Los Angeles, STAPLES Center, and CBS our partners in celebrating musical excellence, and we look forward to furthering the synergistic and successful relationship we've cultivated over the years."

"Los Angeles loves the GRAMMYs — a celebration of the artists who transform how we think about music, and the behind-the-boards talent that makes their excellence possible," said L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti. "The music industry is integral to L.A.'s economy, and reflects the spirit of the city itself: diverse, imaginative, and always ready to break new ground."

STAPLES Center and the adjacent L.A. Live have also been leaders in representing the spirit of new growth revitalizing downtown L.A. — known as "DTLA" — an accompaniment to the next three dates for Music's Biggest Night that provides crescendos and excitement of its own. Big things are ahead as the next three annual dates to honor music's best are now set in place. Mark your calendars!

2019 GRAMMY Awards To Air Feb. 10, 2019, From Los Angeles

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ASCAP Launches Comprehensive Wellness Program: TuneUp

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MusiCares joins the first-of-its-kind initiative as a strategic partner to provide recovery-focused support groups across the nation
John Ochoa
MusiCares
Dec 11, 2019 - 1:47 pm

ASCAP, the U.S.-based performance-rights organization (PRO), has launched ASCAP TuneUp, a new comprehensive wellness program for its members. The first-of-its-kind initiative aims to "meet the evolving wellness needs of music creators" by focusing on their physical and mental well-being to bolster the "creativity, life balance and longevity" of ASCAP members, according to an official press release from the organization announcing the program.

The newly launched TuneUp, which confirms ASCAP as the first U.S. PRO to focus on its members' physical and mental well-being, will offer various benefits and services focused on innovative wellness services, recovery support, wellness events and content initiatives.

Under the program's wellness services, TuneUp offers ASCAP members access to and discounts on apps and services supporting mental health, mindfulness, exercise and nutrition via several strategic partners, including Aaptiv, an audio-based fitness app; BetterHelp, an online counseling platform; Daily Burn, an app-based health and fitness platform; Motiv, a fitness and sleep tracker; and Shine, a self-care app.

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As part of its recovery support program, ASCAP TuneUp is partnering with MusiCares, The Recording Academy's charitable arm and nonprofit organization focused on the health and welfare of the music community, to launch recovery-focused support groups across the nation, in addition to a digital support group. Additionally, MusiCares is also serving as an official advisor on ASCAP's recovery and mental health programs.

ASCAP TuneUp will also host wellness events in multiple U.S. cities throughout the year, with the inaugural events series launching at ASCAP's New York City headquarters on Jan. 6, 2020. ASCAP is hosting wellness events in Los Angeles and Nashville next year, in addition to a dedicated wellness programming track taking place at the 2020 ASCAP Experience in Los Angeles next April.

On the content side, ASCAP is launching a new wellness-focused initiative, which includes #WellnessWednesday, a cross-platform social media campaign featuring advice and inspiration, as well as wellness activities from ASCAP members. As part of the content initiative launch, the organization recently debuted a bonus episode of its new "VERSED: The ASCAP Podcast" program, featuring an interview with ASCAP Chairman Of The Board and President Paul Williams discussing recovery and wellness as related to music creators.

Read: The Evergreen Career Of Paul Williams

The programs and services offered via ASCAP TuneUp are based on the findings from an annual extensive research survey ASCAP launched and commissioned this year. Dubbed "The US Music Creator Wellness Study," the inaugural report found that music creators: experience health and wellness needs that significantly exceed those of the general population; do not feel they have good access to wellness services; and are almost a third more likely than the general population to feel that their wellness has a major impact on their career, among other findings.

Learn more about ASCAP TuneUp via the organization's official website.

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Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse Best New Artist winner for 2007 | Photo: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

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How Does An Artist Qualify For The Best New Artist GRAMMY Category?

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Take a closer look at the Recording Academy's qualification rules to determine which artists can be considered in the Best New Artist category
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Dec 8, 2018 - 8:59 am

Each year the selection of GRAMMY nominees is the result of careful consideration and voting by Recording Academy members, who must both follow hard-and-fast rules as well as exercise their expert musical judgement. The Best New Artist category highlights newcomers — whether a solo artist, duo or group — but since "new" is a relative term, let's take a closer look at how making the cut is determined.

First of all, eligible artists must have achieved a breakthrough into the public consciousness and impacted the musical landscape during the year's eligibility period. This speaks to the essence of why Best New Artist is one of the most-anticipated categories each year, honoring exciting new talent in the music world. But sometimes rising stars take a while to reach this point, so numerical limits also help define the criteria for being "new" in this category.

The first numerical rule boils eligibility down to the number of an artist's releases. The minimum required is five singles or tracks or a complete album. The maximum is either three albums or a total of 30 singles or tracks previously released. Having more than this number of releases results in being ineligible even when an artist breaks through into public consciousness and impacts the musical landscape in a given eligibility period.

However, even if this numerical release criterion is met, an artist may still be deemed ineligible if the artist achieved previous prominence, meaning the artist came into prominence prior to the current eligibility year.

Another numerical limit is that an artist cannot have been considered more than three times previously for Best New Artist. This also applies to solo artists who emerge from having performed as a member in previous groups. That's right, being previously considered three times either as a solo artist, in a previous band, or some mixture of the two means an artist is not eligible for Best New Artist consideration.

For more valuable and illuminating information on all things GRAMMY Awards process, head over to GRAMMY101.com, or reach out to the Awards Help Desk at 877.637.6816, and don't forget to tune in Feb. 10.

See The Full List Of Nominees For The 61st GRAMMY Awards

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CBS, Apple Music, Artists Team Up To Reveal 61st GRAMMY Nominations

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Alessia Cara, Zane Lowe, Shawn Mendes, and Janelle Monáe will join to reveal nominees for the 61st GRAMMY Awards
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Dec 6, 2018 - 11:36 am

UPDATE: See the full list of 61st GRAMMY Nominations

On Friday morning, Dec. 7 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time, Alessia Cara, Apple Music host Zane Lowe, Shawn Mendes, and Janelle Monáe will join the hosts of "CBS This Morning" to begin announcing the nominations for the 61st GRAMMY Awards. Simultaneously, on Apple Music, nominations will also be revealed in selected categories.

At 8:45 a.m. Eastern time, the complete list of nominations for the 61st GRAMMY Awards, held on Feb. 10, 2019, will be available right here on GRAMMY.com.

No stranger to the Awards, Cara went into the 60th GRAMMY Awards nominated in four categories, winning the coveted honor of Best New Artist. She also performed the anti-suicide anthem "1-800-273-8255" with Khalid and Logic on the broadcast.

Apple Music Beats 1 DJ Zane Lowe was nominated at the 57th GRAMMY Awards for his work with Sam Smith on In The Lonely Hour. His spoken and musical insights became internationally admired thanks to his broadcasts on BBC Radio 1.

Speaking at the GRAMMY Museum, singer/songwriter Shawn Mendes said, "I think the most incredible part about … having this career is that all of the fans have been going through it with me." Last summer the Canadian performer had his third No. 1 album on the Billboard 200.

Janelle Monáe released her third album, Dirty Computer, in April 2018, continuing to demonstrate her ability to expand beyond expectations. Musically, visually, and in the movies, her ability to extend her range somewhere new is inspiring. She has had six GRAMMY nominations to date.

So get ready, take a look at what to expect and tune in tomorrow, Dec. 7 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time to find out who will be in contention on Music's Biggest Night, Feb. 10.

61st GRAMMY Awards Nominations Rescheduled To Dec. 7