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Record Store Day 2020 Moved To June Amid Coronavirus Concerns

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The global event, which sees many go out to their local record stores to purchase vinyl and other music merchandise, is being moved from April 18 to Saturday, June 20
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Mar 13, 2020 - 10:30 am

Record Store Day 2020 is the latest social gathering to be rescheduled as the U.S. and other parts of the world take safety measures amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. 

The global event, which sees many go out to their local record stores to purchase vinyl and other music merchandise, is being moved from April 18 to Saturday, June 20.

"We think this gives stores around the world the best chance to have a profitable, successful Record Store Day, while taking into consideration the recommendations of doctors, scientists, the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control, and the need to be good citizens of both local and worldwide communities," a statement said. 

RELATED: Going Viral: The Music Industry Grapples With The Worldwide Coronavirus Outbreak

Organizers also said they postponed the event to ease fear or concern.

"RSD is worldwide and celebrates a record store's place in their community. As good citizens of those communities we want everyone to be safe, healthy and feel comfortable coming to the party," a statement on Twitter said. 

Coachella and Stagecoach are other major music events that have been moved to a later date this year. 

Record Store Day organizers are working with partners to ensure the change is "as smooth as possible for everyone who participates in Record Store Day: customers, record stores, artists, labels and more."

Record stores in every continent, except for Antarctica, participate in Record Store Day today, according to the Record Store Day website. 

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The Recording Academy Establishes Black Music Collective

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The newly launched collective comprises a group of prominent Black music creators and professionals who share the common goal of amplifying Black voices within the Recording Academy and the wider music community
Recording Academy
Sep 3, 2020 - 6:30 am

The Recording Academy has today (Sept. 3) announced the creation of its Black Music Collective (BMC), a group of prominent Black music creators and professionals who share the common goal of amplifying Black voices within the Academy and the wider music community.

As part of the Recording Academy's commitment to evolving hand-in-hand with its membership, BMC will serve as a space for members to speak openly about new and emerging opportunities in Black music across all genres and identify ways to drive more representation.

The launch of BMC follows the Recording Academy's recent partnership with Color Of Change, the nation's largest online racial justice organization, in July, which set forth to create a Black music advisory group. The BMC fulfills this promise and is bringing together creators and business leaders to create a pipeline of future industry trailblazers. Leaders will meet regularly and initiate programs that will encourage participation and accelerate Black membership in the Recording Academy.

Jeffrey Harleston, Jimmy Jam, Quincy Jones, Debra Lee, John Legend, and Sylvia Rhone will serve as honorary chairs of the BMC. A distinguished leadership committee will be confirmed in the coming weeks and will work in sync with the honorary chairs to propel the collective's mission. Recording Academy Trustee Riggs Morales and Washington, D.C., Chapter Executive Director Jeriel Johnson will lead the initiative internally. 

"The Black Music Collective is necessary to help drive the Recording Academy into a new era. Creating an open space for Black music creators can only benefit our membership as a whole," Harvey Mason jr., Chair and Interim President/CEO of the Recording Academy, said. "Through the past few months, I've been personally invested in propelling this collective along with Chapter leadership within the Academy. Together, we will elevate Black music creators within our organization and the industry at large." 

"As Black music continues to drive culture, it is essential we grow and maintain representation within the Academy and the music industry," Valeisha Butterfield Jones, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer of the Recording Academy, said. "We're thrilled to help develop the leaders of tomorrow with impactful educational and experiential programs that we will announce in coming weeks."

In March 2018, the Recording Academy established a third-party task force to examine issues of diversity and inclusion within the Academy and the broader music community. The Academy has since taken action on the Task Force's initial assessment and recommendations and has made additional strides to facilitate a culture of belonging while recognizing the need to focus on underrepresented communities. Recent initiatives include the hiring of a Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, a $1 million donation to Color Of Change, alignment with #TheShowMustBePaused movement created by Jamila Thomas (Atlantic Records) and Brianna Agyemang (Platoon), and the development of an industry Inclusion Rider and Toolkit to be released later this year.

Stay up to date on the Recording Academy's progress, future announcements and recent initiatives on diversity and inclusion.

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Summer Session 2019

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GRAMMY Museum Experience Prudential Center Announces Return Of Summer Youth Camp

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Summer Session will offer youth ages 13 to 18 an opportunity to gain tools needed to embark on a career in the music industry
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Jul 29, 2020 - 5:25 pm

GRAMMY Museum Experience Prudential Center is giving youth in New Jersey and New York something to look forward to this summer.

The museum in Newark, N.J. has announced its Summer Session camp will return to offer youth ages 13 to 18 an opportunity to gain tools needed to embark on a career in the music industry. The five-day camp running Aug. 17–21 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST every day will happen virtually through Zoom. It will focus on three tracks youth can explore: songwriting, hip-hop hitmaking and vocal performance. During the camp, music faculty and guest industry professionals will share insight.

Summer Session first launched in 2019 and featured GRAMMY-nominated singer/producer Mario Winans and renowned music director Alonzo Harris. Mark Conklin, Director of Artist Relations & Programming at the GRAMMY Museum Experience Prudential Center, said the museum was thrilled to once again be able to empower youth interested in music. 

"Summer Session provides an unparalleled opportunity for students who want an inside look at the art, craft and business of music," he said in a statement. "If a student is seriously considering pursuing a career in music, or even curious about one, this program will give them the tools they need for a serious jump start."

The cost to attend will be $100. Tuition will be free for Newark students and some scholarships will be available for students outside of Newark.

For more information on the camp and how to apply, visit the museum's website.

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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"

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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.

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The Music Industry Calls For "Black Out Tuesday" In Response To The Death Of George Floyd

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In response to George Floyd's death, as well as the recent deaths of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and "other black citizens at the hands of police," music companies and artists are calling for the industry to observe "Black Out Tuesday" on June 2
Rachel Brodsky
GRAMMYs
Jun 1, 2020 - 9:54 am

This past weekend, hundreds of protests broke out across the United States in response to the death of George Floyd, a black Minneapolis man who died at the hands of four police officers last week.

In response to Floyd's death, as well as the recent deaths of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and "other black citizens at the hands of police," numerous music companies and artists took to social media, calling for the industry to observe "Black Out Tuesday" on Tuesday, June 2.

"As gatekeepers of the culture, it's our responsibility to not only come together to celebrate the wins, but also hold each other up during loss," the statement says with the hashtag #TheShowMustBePaused.

According to Billboard, the #Paused effort is coming from Atlantic senior directors of marketing Brianna Agyemang and Jamila Thomas, who describe this action as a response to "the long-standing racism and inequality that exists from the boardroom to the boulevard."

In their Instagram post, which you can read below, Agyemang and Thomas explain that TheShowMustBePaused is meant to "intentionally disrupt the work week... The music industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. An industry that has profited predominantly from Black art. Our mission is to hold the industry at large, including major corporations + their partners who benefit from the efforts, struggles and successes of Black people accountable."   

Numerous musicians joined in the protests over the weekend, including J. Cole marching in North Carolina, Tinashe and Ariana Grande in Los Angeles and Halsey in Santa Monica. 

"I dont know how to articulate the horrors of today," Halsey wrote on Twitter. "NG + officers firing rounds into kneeling crowds. We dont have enough medics on the ground on our side. I was treating injuries I am not qualified to. So much blood spilled. If you have med training pls go + standby outskirts."

"And if you’re a white ally who is gonna stand and shout and antagonize the officers and NG and then hide behind black bodies when the shots start firing, f--- you. You couldnt understand a shred of the bravery of the black folks at the front line. Thank you to everyone who stayed."