Neil Portnow at the 60th GRAMMY Awards

Neil Portnow

Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

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Neil Portnow Champions MusiCares, Recording Academy Advocacy, GRAMMY Museum | 2018 GRAMMYs

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Recording Academy President/CEO takes a moment to reflect on 60 years of music excellence and look forward to a bright future for the organization's pillars
Tim McPhate
GRAMMYs
Jan 28, 2018 - 7:46 pm

The 60th GRAMMY Awards proved to be a show for the ages. The show not only featured a variety of colorful performances, it took place in the backdrop of the Big Apple, marking a return to New York for the first time in 15 years. The monumental evening represented a full-circle moment of sorts for Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow, who championed themes of celebration and excellence during his telecast remarks.

Watch Neil Portnow's 60th GRAMMY Speech

"How do you top the milestone of a 60th anniversary?  Well, you celebrate it in New York City," said Portnow. "It was a big night for me 15 years ago, right here on this stage, as I began my first year as President of the Recording Academy."

Delving back to the organization's beginning, Portnow raised a toast to the thousands of recipients who have earned a GRAMMY Award.

"So what do 60 years of excellence look like? We have awarded more than 9,600 GRAMMYs, music's highest accolade, and we are the most-watched music event in the world," said Portnow.

The Recording Academy's work year-round extends into health and human services. Through its affiliated charity, MusiCares, the Academy helps musicians who are in dire need of financial, medical and emergency assistance. MusiCares is also there in the face of terrible tragedy in providing relief to victims of natural disasters.

"Our MusiCares charity has provided nearly $58 million dollars in aid and served more than 125,000 people in our community," said Portnow. "And this includes saving lives with addiction recovery and sober living help.

"We're in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and now California helping music people recover from devastating hurricanes and fires. And as a nation, we must help all of our brothers and sisters until they are back on their feet."

From midterm elections to music licensing and funding for the arts, there are many advocacy storylines music creators should keep their eye on in 2018. The Recording Academy keeps a constant pulse on any new policy developments affecting the livelihood of music creators, a point Portnow underscored.

"The Academy's work on Capitol Hill improves the lives of music creators, and thousands participate in all 50 states in the largest grassroots movement for music in history," he said. "The time is right, and we are working closely with Congress to pass comprehensive music licensing reform, which began with a GRAMMY-timed congressional hearing where I had the privilege to testify, right here in New York, just two days ago."

More than just a museum with amazing exhibits, the GRAMMY Museum raises the flag for music education. Millions have gone through the Museum's collective turnstiles and received a taste of the rich programming offered 365 days a year. Portnow took a moment to reference the incredible work the Museum undertakes to ensure music remains a vital part of our nation's education system.

"The GRAMMY Museum has welcomed more than 5 million visitors to our locations in Los Angeles, Mississippi, Nashville, and New Jersey, and traveling exhibits in 29 cities and 8 countries," said Portnow. "And we've provided over $10 million for our music education programs and opportunities for students.

"The recently launched GRAMMY Music Education Coalition is dedicated to building universal music participation in schools nationwide. Just imagine every student in America having access to music programs; with your help and support, we can make that dream a reality."

Before signing off, Portnow punctuated his remarks with a reminder that music — now, more so than ever — has the power to serve as a uniting force.

"Our music community stands strong and committed to providing hope and inspiration in difficult and divisive times. You can count on our music to soothe our souls, or issue a clarion call to action, as our voices will remain an indelible part of our culture and future."

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Host James Corden at the 60th GRAMMY Awards

James Corden

Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

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Jay-Z, "Subway Karaoke," Kesha: James Corden's Top 7 Highlights | 2018 GRAMMYs

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From the hilarious to the poignant and in between, revisit these seven unforgettable highlights from James Corden's second turn as GRAMMY host
Chuck Crisafulli
GRAMMYs
Jan 29, 2018 - 11:18 am

Last year, James Corden began his debut as GRAMMY host with what looked like the most epic of fails: a shocking tumble down the grand, center-stage staircase that left him awkwardly sprawled among some oblivious backup dancers. The seemingly distraught host rose to his feet (one of which had lost a shoe), dismissed the dancers and proclaimed, "This is a disaster."

James Corden Subway Carpool Karaoke | 2018 GRAMMYs

Of course, the 59th GRAMMY Awards telecast turned out to be anything but disastrous, and Corden's introduction was just the first of many moments in which the "Late Late Show" host made his freewheeling, comedic spirit an unforgettable part of Music's Biggest Night. The Emmy winner appeared pantless after Twenty One Pilots' notably pantless acceptance for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, and showed up in spectacular, concert-ready costume as a "member" of DNCE, among other highlights.

At the milestone 60th GRAMMY Awards show, Corden kept his tux on, but the laughter and energy that he brought to his first turn as host was in great supply, and he again helped turn Music's Biggest Night into an incredible, fun-filled, one-of-a-kind celebration.

Here are seven highlights from Corden's GRAMMY encore:

1. "Carpool Karaoke" With A NYC Spin

This year, Corden added a Big Apple twist by introducing a remote "Subway Carpool Karaoke" sketch. He, Sting and Shaggy boarded a New York City D train and attempted to entertain passengers with renditions of the Police's "Every Breath You Take," Shaggy's "It Wasn't Me," and the duo's new collaboration, "Don't Make Me Wait." The tough crowd did not appreciate the musical interruption, and Corden ended up getting belted in the nose by an angry construction worker.

2. The Host's Parents Arrive Late

Last year, Corden's parents were in the crowd and as he introduced them he noted that their 45th wedding anniversary actually fell on GRAMMY Sunday — only to discover that his father had Heidi Klum sitting on his lap and that his mother was snuggling with Nick Jonas. This year, his parents were again in attendance and their moment of introduction seemed to be going more smoothly until Corden spotted a telltale theater program. His parents admitted that they'd snuck out to see "Hamilton" rather than watch their son’s entire hosting performance. "Thanks for your support," said an exasperated Corden. "We'll talk about this later."

3. Puppy Love For The Best Comedy Nominees

After Dave Chappelle won for Best Comedy Album, Corden told the audience, "I don't want anyone to be upset tonight, so the good news is nobody goes home empty-handed." He then announced that the nominees who did not win in their category would receive "consolation puppies." The camera cut to baby pugs being handed to Chappelle's fellow nominees — Jerry Seinfeld, Sarah Silverman, and Jim Gaffigan. Corden warned Seinfeld, "Be careful — that's Roxy. She's a biter."

James Corden Presents Comedy Nominees With Puppies

4. Corden Goes Toe To Toe With Hova

Early in the show, Corden attempted to bond with Jay-Z, the recipient of this year's Salute To Industry Icon honors at the Pre-GRAMMY Gala, offering to show him around the streets of New York if Jay-Z needed a guide. "Guys like me and you, we're hood forever," said Corden, who swaggered a bit as he tossed off lines from Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' "Empire State Of Mind." "I got my stash spot on 560 State Street. Gypsy cab. Holla back." As Jay-Z cracked up, Corden added, "You call it the Big Apple. I call it the concrete jungle where dreams are made of. It’s just something that I made up"

5. A "Despacito" Funny

After Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee performed "Despacito" — arguably 2017's most ubiquitous song with nearly 5 billion YouTube views to its credit, Corden said, "That is a catchy song. I have not heard that song before. I'm telling you if they can just get that song on the radio they've got a hit on their hands."

60th GRAMMYs: What You Didn't See On TV

6. Creating A Concert Feeling

Corden spoke of the excitement of being in Madison Square Garden and told TV viewers that he'd come up with a unique way for them to "really experience that live concert feeling." As he spoke, eight hands holding cellphones trained on Corden suddenly lurched in front of the camera, completely blocking Corden from view.

7. Kesha's Performance Resonates

Janelle Monáe spoke pointedly on the issues of equality and harassment, encouraging the music industry to become a pivotal part of the Time's Up initiative. She was followed by perhaps the most emotional performance of the evening, as Kesha delivered a searing version of "Praying." Afterward, a visibly moved Corden had to take a deep breath and gather himself before speaking. "Music often resonates more than spoken word ever could," he said. "That was an incredibly powerful and relevant performance that comes in the midst of a movement that commands our attention and support. Thank you, Kesha."

Janelle Monaé's "Time's Up" Speech

(Chuck Crisafulli is an L.A.-based journalist and author whose most recent works include Go To Hell: A Heated History Of The Underworld, Me And A Guy Named Elvis, Elvis: My Best Man, and Running With The Champ: My Forty-Year Friendship With Muhammad Ali.)

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Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys at the 2018 P&E Wing GRAMMY Week Celebration

Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys

Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

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Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz Honored At New York's Iconic Rainbow Room

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The Recording Academy's P&E Wing recognized two of the industry's most undeniable forces at its annual GRAMMY Week Celebration
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Jan 25, 2018 - 9:36 pm

The Recording Academy Producers & Engineers Wing's 11th annual celebration on Jan. 25 took on a New York state of mind this year, following the 60th GRAMMY Awards to the Big Apple and honoring GRAMMY winners Alicia Keys and Kasseem Dean, aka Swizz Beatz.

Inside The 2018 P&E Wing Celebration

Held at the iconic Rainbow Room, perched 65 floors above the landmark Rockefeller Center, the exclusive, invite-only event brought together the community of recording studio professionals in a new way this year. The room was filled with industry titans, such as GRAMMY winners Peter Asher, Ed Cherney, Tony Visconti, and Chick Corea, and current GRAMMY nominees Morgan Heritage and Lisa Loeb — all of whom came out to celebrate their craft and honor Keys and Dean.

Upon arrival, the couple was greeted on the red carpet with the first of several spontaneous group singings of "Happy Birthday," meant for Keys, who coincidentally received this honor on her birthday. And the excitement of the evening was two-fold for the birthday girl in light of being honored side-by-side with her husband.

"The coolest thing, I think, for [The Producers & Engineers Wing] to honor both of us is that we do very different music," said Keys. "There is no limit to the music, and how it can be created and how it touches people, and to celebrate … our different styles, that's what I love the most because music doesn't just happen in one way. Everyone in that room does music differently, and we're all dope for it."

A 15-time GRAMMY winner, Keys exemplifies versatility, making her mark in the music world as a singer/songwriter and producer, as well as an actress, author, activist, and philanthropist. Since the 2001 release of her debut album, Songs In A Minor, Keys has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide.

However, her impact on music and culture reaches far beyond sales tallies. The New York native's message of female empowerment and her authentic songwriting process have made her an inspiration for women and aspiring creatives worldwide.

"There's a ton of things I'm passionate about," said Keys, "and to continue to share our experience and go deeper into how we can collectively create powerful change is definitely a focus for me.

Swizz Beatz has helmed countless big records dating all the way back to 1998 when he produced his first hit, DMX's "Ruff Ryders' Anthem." In his career spanning more than two decades, he's worked in multiple genres with artists such as Jay-Z, Madonna, Kanye West, and Metallica.

"He helped paint the picture for hip-hop as it is today," said GRAMMY-winning producer and current GRAMMY nominee Jimmy Douglass.

His deep influence on modern hip-hop aside, Swizz Beatz went on to graduate from Harvard Business School's Owner/President program and has built a legacy and a body of work that cannot be contained by the recording studio walls. He entered into a joint venture with Clive Davis at age 23. He's since gone on to launch successful ventures into fashion design, fine art, and philanthropy on his way to becoming a renowned cultural ambassador and natural born modern-day Renaissance man.

Now Keys and Dean can add a new award to their collection, joining previous P&E Wing honorees such as Quincy Jones, Neil Young, Rick Rubin, and Jack White.

Alicia Keys & Swizz Beatz Accept 2018 P&E Honors

"This is a major honor, this is a blessing to see so many creative people in one room," Swizz Beatz said as the couple took the stage. "I never would have expected to be on this stage, especially next to this shining bright star. It shows you that hard work doesn't go unnoticed."

To all the creatives in the building," Keys said, addressing the crowd, "May we all continue to be inspired, may we all continue to be brave, may we all continue to be unafraid of being our brightest best selves. … There is no limit to what we can do and how far we can go."

Dean added, "The sky is not the limit, it's just the view," and the room whipped into a frenzy.

Following the couple's acceptance speech, a special guest was called to the stage to pay tribute to the honorees: GRAMMY-winning jazz-fusion pioneer Chick Corea. 

"Everyone in that room does music differently, and we're all dope for it." — Alicia Keys

"Swizz and Alicia are living works of art, so this is dedicated to them," Corea announced before leading the room in a sing-a-long rendition of "Spain," as requested by Keys herself.

Then the jam ensued. Corea called Keys and Dean back to the stage to play, sans rehearsal. They broke into an impromptu version of "Summertime," with Keys trading soulful vocal runs with Corea's mind-bending piano licks, followed by an improvised jam that featured Swizz on beatbox, Corea weaving the keys through his rhythms, and Keys leading an audience down-home call-and-response.

Neil Portnow with P&E Wing honorees Alicia Keys, Swizz Beats
2018 P&E Wing Celebration

It's safe to say this night was special, not only for the stars of the show but for the community of hard-working producers and engineers the Recording Academy — and the P&E Wing — support and represent.

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Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

Photo: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images

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"Dear Evan Hansen" Producers On Winning A GRAMMY In New York

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The creatives behind the hit musical detail their path from the idea stage to Broadway to Music's Biggest Night
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
Feb 2, 2018 - 12:00 pm

If you haven't seen "Dear Evan Hansen," given the show's win at the 60th GRAMMY Awards in New York, now is the perfect time to look into checking out the hit Broadway musical.

"Dear Evan Hansen" One-On-One: 2018 GRAMMYs

Written by composers/lyricists Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and produced by orchestrater Alex Lacamoire, Stacey Mindich, Pasek, and Paul, "Dear Evan Hansen" explores the struggle of social anxiety.

"It's about a young man who feels incredibly isolated and alone in his world," producer Pasek explained backstage at the 60th GRAMMYs. "And through a series of events he is believed to have been the best friend of a kid who just passed away and he basically [helps] a grieving family make them think that he was actually best friends with their son who has recently been deceased. His whole life changes as a result and the question is whether or not he should come clean and how his life changes because of this lie."

"Dear Evan Hansen" opened on Broadway in 2016 following a premiere at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., in 2015. For the creators of the show, getting the musical from the conceptual stage all the way to Broadway was a collaborative process.

"The songs are created along with the rest of the show, so we really worked in tandem with our book writer Steven Levenson on this project. We developed these characters and this storyline all together. Then Michael Greif our director," said Paul. "We sit in a room for a long time and come up with it all together. We bring in our music team, Alex Lacamorie and the rest of them. It's an amazing sort of journey where you keep picking up more incredible, wonderful people all along the way as you create this show from scratch and then get it up, workshopped, up on its feet and finally, eventually, thankfully on Broadway."

"Dear Evan Hansen" has earned critical acclaim since its opening. The show took home six Tony Awards, including Best Musical in 2017, and Ben Platt's role as the lead garnered him a Best Performance by an Actor Tony Award. Now the creators and Platt have added a GRAMMY to the list of the musical's accolades, having earned the GRAMMY for Best Musical Theater Album this year.

Pasek and Paul couldn't wait to share their GRAMMY success with the rest of the cast and crew of the show, especially because Music's Biggest Night was celebrated right in the musical's hometown.

"It is really cool that our show is playing just up the street and then we get to celebrate this with our whole cast," Pasek said. "They're just finishing a matinee performance right now so I think they're going to come down and find out they're all GRAMMY winners at the end of it, which is a very, very cool thing. And to have it be in New York and to celebrate that energy that Broadway's so vital in, it's a very exciting thing for us."

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Kendrick Lamar and Dave Chappelle at the 60th GRAMMY Awards

Kendrick Lamar and Dave Chappelle

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Dave Chappelle On Winning First GRAMMY, Kendrick Lamar Performance

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The comedian also reveals who texted him right after his big win and what he thought about that puppy love moment on Music's Biggest Night
Tim McPhate
GRAMMYs
Feb 2, 2018 - 11:18 am

Dave Chappelle is among the group of the most fortunate people in show business. And no, it's not because he won his first GRAMMY for Best Comedy Album at the milestone 60th GRAMMY Awards in New York. It's because, first and foremost, he loves his job.

Dave Chappelle's One-On-One: 2018 GRAMMYs

"I love what I do and my favorite part of it is when I get to stand in front of audiences and I'm real grateful that the rooms fill up," Chappelle said backstage at Madison Square Garden. "Just [having] a platform like this is an amazing, amazing experience."

Speaking of amazing, Chappelle admitted his surprise when his named was called as the winner of Best Comedy Album for his double album, The Age Of Spin & Deep In The Heart Of Texas. This year's category was crowded with talent, with Chappelle nominated alongside the likes of Jerry Seinfeld, Sarah Silverman, Jim Gaffigan, and Kevin Hart.

"I wasn't expecting it, I think it was probably one of the worst GRAMMY speeches ever," he said. "But I was very happy to win. And my son texted me afterward and [said] he was proud of me. It made it all worth it."

Watch: Dave Chappelle Wins Best Comedy Album

But as much as winning a GRAMMY is a thrill, Chappelle cited his participation in Kendrick Lamar's spell-binding show-opening medley as his personal highlight of the evening. During the performance, which included "XXX," "DNA" and "King's Dead," Chappelle appeared to deliver a punctuating monologue: "The only thing more frightening than watching a black man be honest in America is being an honest black man in America."

"My favorite part of the night was actually the Kendrick [performance]," said Chappelle. "It was an honor to be part of that. I loved it, man."

So what's next for Chappelle? While he didn't get into specifics, one thing is for sure: It's back to the grindstone.

"[The work] never ends," he said. "If you do something good in this game, then do it again, do it again, and do it again. So I enjoy the moments but I try to keep a level head and see if I can create new great memories."

James Corden Presents Comedy Nominees With Puppies

In the meantime, when asked about his fellow Best Comedy Album nominees receiving puppies from host James Corden as consolation prizes, Chappelle deadpanned, "I would love to get one of those puppies."

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