GRAMMYs

Michael Sticka 

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Michael Sticka Reveals Details Behind Latest GRAMMY Museum Projects & Initiatives

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The GRAMMY Museum President talks about the Museum's latest grants and Latin culture initiatives
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Aug 19, 2019 - 1:59 pm

In a new interview with Billboard, GRAMMY Museum President Michael Sticka has revealed more information on the musuem's latest grants and initiatives.

In July, the museum awarded $200,000 to 15 recipients across the country working on research and preservation projects. Projects include work on archiving 960 audio reels belonging to Cajun and zydeco artists and research on how musical training affects complex memories.

When asked why sound preservation and music research are important to the museum, Sticka said that providing funding to educational institutions was very important to the museum. "A museum at its core is an educational institution," he said. "The GRAMMY Foundation was founded 30 years ago to be the educational arm of the Recording Academy."

RELATED: Michael Sticka Named GRAMMY Museum President

Sticka also touched on the Latin Recording Academy's more than half a million dollars investment in the musuem that will go towards Latin exhibits, education programs and the hiring of a Latin curator. 

"One of our main goals out of the plan was to increase our programming to the Latin community through Latin music. It makes sense because our sister organization is the Latin Recording Academy, but it's also a part of our mission, especially being in Los Angeles county where 48 percent of the population Latinx," he said. "We really weren't doing our job or fulfilling our mission effectively with the Latin music gallery so we're very excited and very thankful to the Latin Academy for help with that funding."

To bring new eyes and ears to the new initiatives, the museum has launched a brand campaign called Music Has A Home.

"For the grants program, and any of our programs, we have a deliberate plan that we're putting together with some partners about our social impact and social good. We're doing that via social channels—Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin—and through presentations that I’m making throughout the chapters of the Recording Academy," he said. 

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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."

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GRAMMYs

Michael Sticka

Photo: Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

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GRAMMY Museum Awards $200,000 In Grants To Music Health, Research Projects & More

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The Museum's grant program, which awards organizations and individuals annually, has given more than $7.5 million to over 400 grantees to date
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Jul 10, 2019 - 11:25 am

15 recipients will have the opportunity to do music related research as well as work on preservation and archiving programs thanks to a generous grant from the GRAMMY Musuem Grant Program.

The grants, funded by the Recording Academy, will award $200,000 to recipients in the U.S. working on various projects, including reasearch on how musical training affects complex memories, musical ahedonia and singing accuracy's relationship to cognitive function. Among preservation projects, some recipients will work on archiving 960 audio reels belonging to Cajun and zydeco artists, uncirculated jam tapes from four-time GRAMMY-winning folk musician John Hartford and "221 rare interview recordings with African-American actors, performers, composers, musicians, and scholars, among many other preservation projects."

"The work we help fund includes an impressive array of projects that are at the forefront of exploring music's beneficial intersection with science, and that maintain our musical legacy for future generations. The initiatives announced today exemplify the Museum's mission to uphold music's value in our lives and shared culture," Executive Director of the GRAMMY Museum Michael Sticka said. 

The museum's grant program, which awards organizations and individuals annually, has given more than $7.5 million to over 400 grantees to date, Sticka said.  

The GRAMMY Museum Grant Program strives to aid efforts advancing the archiving and preservation of "recorded sound heritage of the Americas for future generation."

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Demi Lovato

Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

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Demi Lovato Delivers Touching Performance Of "Anyone" At 2020 GRAMMYs

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Demi Lovato's GRAMMY comeback had people on their feet
GRAMMYs
Jan 26, 2020 - 7:51 pm

Demi Lovato made her highly anticipated return to the music industry during the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards on Sunday, Jan. 26. This is her first televised performance since suffering a drug-related medical emergency in 2018.

Demi Lovato Performs "Anyone" | 2020 GRAMMY Awards

Clad in a stunning white floor-length gown, Lovato, who began to choke up during the beginning of her performance, picked the pieces back up and continued to spill out her soul while singing her new song, “Anyone.” The track was reportedly written just days before her 2018 emergency.

"I tried and tried and tried some more, told secrets 'til my voice was sore," she sang in the emotional song. "Tired of empty conversation, 'Cause no one hears me anymore."

Lovato is also slated to perform the National Anthem during next weekend’s Super Bowl LIV. “Anyone” is now available on streaming services.

2020 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Nominees List

GRAMMYs

BJ The Chicago Kid

Photo: Timothy Norris/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

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BJ The Chicago Kid, Northern Cree, I Prevail & More Share Their Excitement At The 2020 GRAMMYs Nominee Reception

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Go inside the exclusive GRAMMY nominee reception held at the Ebell Theater in Los Angeles where first-time nominees and veterans gathered to celebrate and pick up their GRAMMY medallions
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Jan 26, 2020 - 10:54 am

The night before Music's Biggest Night, before anyone had a golden gramophone in their hand, artists from all genres enthusiastically gathered to celebrate and collect, among other gifts, their medallions—one way to recognize their GRAMMY nominations.

Los Angeles' elegant Wilshire Ebell Theatre was full of gleeful nominees on Saturday, Jan. 25. Nominees in categories from American Roots to Metal chatted with each other as a house band played jazz tunes and they enjoyed gourmet dishes. The GRAMMY Nominee Reception is one of the last parties of week-long events before the Sunday telecast. At the nominee reception, artists can document their nom with a photo. 

Among them were La Energia Norteña, whose album Poco A Poco is nominated for Best Regional Mexican Music Album. The norteño group from Dallas has two Latin GRAMMY nominations but earned their first GRAMMY nom last year. 

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"It's very exciting, it's a dream come true," band member Adrian Zamarripa told the Recording Academy. "It's our first time here so it's unbelievable, really." Their album, he said, was "a great team effort" and so the whole band came along to "get the whole experience." He added: "It's so great to be here."

Metal band I Prevail was just as excited to be experiencing their first GRAMMY nominee reception. The first-time GRAMMY-nominated band collected their medallions and gathered outside of the medallion room to open their boxes at the same time. On Sunday, Jan. 26 the band will be up for Best Metal Performance and Best Rock Album. 

The result of their nominations was still too far in the future. For now, the band was just excited to be holding their medallions. "We just got our GRAMMY metals," guitarist Dylan Bowman said. "[It's] pretty surreal, I mean a year ago we put out our brand new album, Trauma, and we didn't think it would take us this far, but we're just so happy and grateful to be here."

Best New Artist Nominees Tank And The Bangas were in the house too and lead singer Tarriona "Tank" Ball was still feeling the high from the nomination. "I feel so honored to be a part of this amazing week," she said. Ball came to the reception with a mission. "I'm here because I want to pick up the free gifts," she added laughing.

Though not as fresh as first-time nominees, GRAMMY vets were just as excited to be there. Nine-time nominee Northern Cree's Penny McGilvery still feels enthusiastic about the whole process."The people, the atmosphere. It's exciting," she said.  

GRAMMY-nominated R&B singer/songwriter BJ The Chicago Kid agrees with McGilvery. "I love meeting a lot of artists that I never got to meet as well. Taking the photo, the whole process of being honored and being acknowledged by the highest musical accolade possible," he said. "It's really cool." He mentioned the medallions, of which he owns six, always go to his mom. The GRAMMY-nominated singer said he was looking forward to one thing Sunday: "I'm excited to find out what's in the envelope."

Tune in to the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards Jan. 26 on CBS to find out who takes home the golden gramophone.

2020 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Nominees List