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Soul Asylum

Photo: Rick Kern/WireImage via Getty Images 

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GRAMMY Museum Will Release New Digital Series Featuring Soul Asylum, Brandy Clark, Echosmith & More

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The series, moderated by Scott Goldman, will kick off with GRAMMY-nominated veteran rock band Soul Asylum on April 18 and singer/songwriter Caitlyn Smith on April 20
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Apr 16, 2020 - 1:19 pm

Until its doors reopen, the GRAMMY Museum will launch a new digital series on its website that features artists chatting from their homes via Zoom.

The series, moderated by Scott Goldman, will kick off with GRAMMY-nominated veteran rock band Soul Asylum on April 18 and singer/songwriter Caitlyn Smith on April 20. Other artists who will participate include Brandy Clark, Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon, Ingrid Andress, Echosmith, Kip Moore, Jim Lauderdale, Shinedown and Webb Wilder. The museum said more artists will be announced at a later time. 

The GRAMMY museum hosts public programs at its Clive Davis Theater in Los Angeles throughout the year but is currently closed due to COVID-19. Since its closure, the museum has released archival footage on its website featuring artists like Tanya Tucker, Los Tigres del Norte, Common and Courtney Barnett. 

In addition, GRAMMY Museum staff have shared daily public playlists for museum-goers and music fans to listen to while quarantined. 

Go to the GRAMMY Museum's website for more information on scheduling releases and to watch all-new programming. 

Quarantine Diaries: "Despacito" Co-Writer Erika Ender Is Getting "Back To The Basics"

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Erika Ender at the 18th Latin GRAMMY Awards

Erika Ender, winner of Song Of The Year as a co-writer of "Despacito"

Photo: David Becker/Getty Images

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GRAMMY Museum Experience Announces Online Learning Hub With New Podcast & Video Series Featuring Erika Ender

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The "Despacito" co-writer is one of the first guests of the museum's new video series called Behind the Songs
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Jun 17, 2020 - 4:17 pm

The GRAMMY Museum Experience at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. has launched a new Online Learning and Content Hub that will feature a new podcast and video series.

The learning hub will contain free content and joins the museum's existing digital programming including its Mini Masterclass video series featuring Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Estelle and more. Their new video series called Behind the Songs will take listeners behind the songs of notable singers, songwriters and producers with host Mark Conklin, museum artist relations and programming director. Most conversations will be followed with an exclusive performance. The second episode with "Despacito" co-writer Erika Ender will be released on June 18 at 7 p.m. EST. New episodes will be released every Thursday at 7 p.m. EST. 

Musically Speaking, the museum's new podcast, will feature conversations with artists, songwriters, producers and industry executives, including DJ Khaled and Naughty By Nature, from past public programs held at the museum. The first episode released on June 15 at 7 p.m. EST featured rock legends The Zombies. Like Behind the Songs, new podcast episodes will publish every Thursday at 7 p.m. EST.

"Music is our greatest form of connection and it has never been more important to our society than it is right now," said Conklin in a statement. "We are thrilled to introduce our Online Learning and Content Hub and bring its programs to life. These online programs allow us to continue the museum’s mission to educate, entertain and provide music fans with an exclusive glimpse into the songs and artists that continue to be the soundtrack of our lives."

The GRAMMY Museum Experience will also be showcasing virtual exhibits from their museum and the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles soon. Among the exhibits, they will highlight virtually is Whitney! honoring Whitney Houston. 

Check out the new hub and new programs at GRAMMYMuseumEXP.org.

GRAMMY Museum Releases Two Songwriters Hall Of Fame Programs From Archive

GRAMMYs

Michael Sticka 

Photo: Rebecca Sapp/WireImage via Getty Images 

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Michael Sticka Named GRAMMY Museum President

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Sticka, who first joined the organization in 2014 and formerly held the position of Executive Director at the GRAMMY Museum, will continue to lead the museum's growth and strategy
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Jul 30, 2019 - 2:14 pm

The GRAMMY Museum has promoted Michael Sticka to President as the Recording Academy and the Latin Recording Academy make the largest conributions to the museum in either organization's history.

Sticka, who first joined the organization in 2014 and formerly held the position of Executive Director at the GRAMMY Museum, will continue to lead the museum's growth and strategy. He will also "oversee all aspects of Museum operations, including curatorial, development, marketing, grants and awards, public and education programs, and more," a statement said. His contract will extend through 2022. 

“As Executive Director, I’ve witnessed our team’s incredible passion, hard work, and dedication, which has strengthened our impact and presence in the Los Angeles music and education communities,” said Sticka. “I’m honored that the Board has entrusted me in the role as President, allowing me to continue leading this extraordinary team with the purpose of driving our social good within the community and uphold the Museum's mission to educate, inspire, cultivate creativity, and share the significance of music."

Sticka, who created the museum's Community Engagement Department as executive director, said the museum will continue to invest in its community engagement, curatorial mission and education program. Sticka said the museum's goal is to reach 100,000 over the next five years. 

The Recording Academy contributed $5 million for museum renovations and technology updates, while the Latin Recording Academy will donate more than half a million dollars in a three-year period to grow the Latin music exhibits, education programs and the hiring of a Latin music curator. Both presidents of each organization shared their excitement for Sticka's promotion and their investment in the museum's work. 

“Under Michael’s leadership and guidance, the GRAMMY Museum has not only secured substantial new investments from the Recording Academy and the Latin Recording Academy, but has also seen a tremendous increase in visitors, revenue from attendance, merchandise and event sales, and more” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the Recording Academy and Chair of the Board of Directors of the GRAMMY Museum. “The Museum’s growth and path towards cementing its status as ‘the’ steward and place where Music Has A Home, as well as its future financial and business well-being is reflective of and a testament to Michael’s strategic vision, impressive operational skills, and exceptional leadership.”  

“We are thrilled to expand our relationship with the GRAMMY Museum,” said The Latin Recording Academy President/CEO Gabriel Abaroa Jr. “The Latin Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Museum share the commitment of educating the public about the significant contributions Latin music has made in the world. I look forward to expanding our presence inside the GRAMMY Museum in an impactful way that guides the narrative and preserves the stories of Latin music and its creators."

GRAMMY Camp Inspires Dreams, Not Fantasies

#ChangeMusic Summit

 

 
 
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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Watch The Recording Academy's Inspiring "Change Music" Summit In Full

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Alongside Color Of Change, The Recording Academy hosted the virtual industrywide #ChangeMusic Summit, which welcomed leaders in music and media for panels on shifting culture, amplifying diverse voices, driving systemic change and more
Recording Academy
Oct 2, 2020 - 11:38 am

On Thursday (Oct. 1), the Recording Academy joined Color Of Change, the nation's largest online racial justice organization, to host a virtual industrywide #ChangeMusic Summit with leaders in music and media. The digital event is part of an ongoing series of initiatives facilitated by the Recording Academy to help accelerate equity and diverse representation within the organization and to further support inclusion outcomes across the wider music industry. 

Watch the #ChangeMusic Summit in full below. 

ChangeMusic: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Summit

The four-hour event brought together leaders, executives and experts for panels on shifting culture, amplifying diverse voices, putting leadership in action and driving systemic change throughout the music community. As well, prominent culture trailblazers and music business leaders openly discussed best practices and strategies to encourage systemic change and elevate women, Black and Latinx, as well as all underrepresented music creators and professionals.

Some of the event's participants included singer-songwriters Ledisi and Maimouna "Mumu Fresh" Youssef; television personalities Rocsi Diaz and Jeff Johnson; music culture influencer Karen Civil; award-winning poet and president of the Recording Academy's Chicago Chapter J. Ivy; and prominent executives and industry professionals including Tuma Basa (YouTube), Ingrid Best (Combs Enterprises), Binta Brown (omalilly projects; Black Music Action Coalition), Shari Bryant (Roc Nation), Jeff Burroughs (Def Jam Recordings), Ryan Butler (Recording Academy), Valeisha Butterfield Jones (Recording Academy), Harvey Mason jr. (Recording Academy), Rashad Robinson (Color Of Change) and many others. See the full list of participants below.

As part of the summit, the Recording Academy and Color Of Change announced the forthcoming #ChangeMusic Roadmap, a tool to help people at all levels of the music industry take action to enact racial and social justice within the industry. The full roadmap will be released before the end of the year, however, the first aspect of the roadmap discussed was a needed commitment to transparent reporting on Black representation. 

Read: The Recording Academy & Color Of Change Team Up To Promote Positive Change In The Music Industry

"This is a crucial moment in our world, our nation and our society and it is now more important than ever that we bring people together to make progress on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion," Recording Academy Chair and Interim President/CEO Harvey Mason jr. said. "As leaders in the music industry, we have an opportunity as role models to lead by example and set a progressive tone for culture and society. We are honored that so many from the industry joined this important conversation and we're committed to the work ahead."

"Black artists' rich contributions have undeniably shaped the music industry into what it is today. The industry must tear down the systems that silence, harm and pigeonhole Black artists for profitable gains," President of Color Of Change Rashad Robinson said. "Everyone has the responsibility to work towards progress. The #ChangeMusic Roadmap will begin the process of giving the industry the tools to challenge injustice and enact tangible change now. The Recording Academy is setting a strong example for the industry from the inside, holding those in power accountable to change. Together, we can propel music into the equitable future Black artists have earned, and always deserved."

Participants in the #ChangeMusic Summit included: singer/songwriters Ledisi, Rico Love and Maimouna "Mumu Fresh" Youssef; television personalities Rocsi Diaz and Jeff Johnson; music culture influencer Karen Civil; poet J. Ivy; and prominent executives and industry professionals including Tuma Basa (YouTube), Ingrid Best (Combs Enterprises), Binta Brown (omalilly projects; Black Music Action Coalition), Shari Bryant (Roc Nation), Jeff Burroughs (Def Jam Recordings), Ryan Butler (Recording Academy), Valeisha Butterfield Jones (Recording Academy), Qiana Conley (Recording Academy), Caroline "Baroline" Diaz (Interscope Records), Michelle Edgar (Epic Records; Music Unites; XX Project), Ethiopia Habtemariam (Motown Records; Capitol Music Group), Erin Hall Harris (Combs Enterprises), Tammy Hurt (Recording Academy), Jeriel Johnson (Recording Academy), Debra Lee (formerly BET Networks), Harvey Mason jr. (Recording Academy), Adam McFarland (Blacksmith Recordings; #TheShowMustBePaused), Riggs Morales (Atlantic Records), Jessica Rivera (YouTube), Rashad Robinson (Color Of Change), Travis Robinson (Universal Music Group), Lenny Santiago (Roc Nation), Rashid Shabazz (Color Of Change), Dr. Maurice Stinnett (Warner Music Group), Tiffany R. Warren (Omnicom Group; ADCOLOR), and Roe Williams (KWL Enterprises).

The Recording Academy's strategic alliance with Color Of Change and solidarity with ongoing social justice movements, such as #TheShowMustBePaused, was also a highly prioritized conversation topic among attendees. 

Learn more about the progress and future announcements regarding the Recording Academy's Diversity & Inclusion efforts.

The Recording Academy Establishes Black Music Collective

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GRAMMYs
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GRAMMY Museum Experience Prudential Center To Launch Fall Music Industry Program

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The classes aim to continue empowering students around the N.J. area and "develop the next generation of GRAMMY Award winners" 
GRAMMYs
Sep 18, 2020 - 12:49 pm

The GRAMMY Museum Experience Prudential Center in New Jersey is launching a fall session music industry program for students 13–18 years old. From Oct.10–Nov. 21, students can enroll for Contemporary Songwriting 101, Contemporary Songwriting 201, Audio Mixing 101 and Intro to Careers in Music Business. Leading the courses, Mark Conklin, Director of Artist Relations and Programming and other guest professionals in the industry will share their knowledge via Zoom. 

Behind The Board: Natalia Ramirez

The classes aim to continue empowering students around the N.J. area and "develop the next generation of GRAMMY Award winners," Conklin said in a statement.

He continued: “Building upon our extremely successful Summer Session program we’ve designed new offerings to provide high school students the building blocks for what it takes to succeed in the music business, both on and off the stage.”

The Contemporary Songwriting 101 and Contemporary Songwriting 201 classes will run for seven weeks every Saturday  starting on Oct. 10 from 9:30 a.m. EST until 12:30 p.m. EST. Tuition is $100 for each class.

Audio Mixing 101 will run for six weeks on Tuesdays, Oct. 13– Nov. 17, from 7 p.m. EST to 8:30 p.m. EST. Tuition is set at $75.

Intro to Careers in Music Business, for 11th and 12th grade students only, will run for four weeks Oct. 19– Nov. 9 on Mondays from 3:30 p.m. EST to 5 p.m. EST. Tuition is set at $50. 

A limited number of free scholarships are available for Newark residents for all classes. For more info on each class, their requirements and other aspects of the program, visit the museum website.

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