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Recording Academy Moves To A Community-Driven Membership Model

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Two key elements have been added to the new member submission model in an ongoing effort to build a more representative and relevant membership body
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Nov 19, 2018 - 1:41 pm

In order to continue building a diverse and more representative membership group, the Recording Academy has announced it will implement a new community-driven and peer-reviewed membership model that will shift it into an annual cycle and add two new elements.

The membership's key elements will now include industry recommendations and peer review. Beyond the Recording Academy's basic requirements, new membership submissions must include two professional recommendations to be considered. In addition, a Peer Review Panel of music creators will gather every spring to assess new member submissions with diversity in mind, craft and genre in mind.

"The GRAMMY Awards are already renowned for being a peer-awarded honor, and our new membership model further reinforces that peer-driven commitment to excellence," said Laura Segura Mueller, Vice President of Membership & Industry Relations in a statement.

"Membership is the lifeblood of the Recording Academy and a privilege we strive to uphold. Our new membership model puts the power in the hands of the music community and is designed to build an active, representative membership base that reflects our broader culture. By changing the process to Recording Academy membership, we remain committed to setting a positive example for the music industry as a whole."

These changes are a part of a continuing effort from the Recording Academy to make its membership more inclusive. The shift to an annual membership review cycle is in hopes of looking at both existing members and prospective submissions and, "Be thoughtful about how each individual new member decision stands to shape the collective body."

In October, the Recording Academy announced that it would be inviting 900 music creators to join it as voting members.

The official statement from the Recording Academy can be found here.

Recording Academy Announces 61st GRAMMY Awards Update

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61st GRAMMY Awards Nominations Rescheduled To Dec. 7

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In honor of late President George H.W. Bush's memorial services, nominations will be announced Friday Dec. 7 on CBS, Apple Music and social media
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Dec 3, 2018 - 12:06 pm

UPDATE: See the full list of 61st GRAMMY Nominations

Following the news of President George H.W. Bush's death, the announcement of the nominations for the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards has been postponed until Friday, Dec. 7, 2018.

Nominees in select categories will be revealed by broadcast on "CBS This Morning" and online at Apple Music at 8:30 a.m. ET, the Recording Academy announced on Monday Dec. 3. All 84 categories will be revealed on the Recording Academy's website, and also by press release and over the Recording Academy's social media platforms at 8:45 a.m. ET.

Use the #GRAMMYs hashtag on Recording Academy / GRAMMYs social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to join in the conversation this Friday.

What To Expect When You're Expecting The 2019 GRAMMY Nominations Announcement

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New Bill Seeks To Name Post Office In Washington State After Jimi Hendrix

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The bill is supported unanimously and proposes the post office on the street Hendrix grew up on be renamed in his honor
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Nov 27, 2018 - 5:38 pm

Legendary GRAMMY-nominated guitarist Jimi Hendrix's legacy lives on long after he's gone. Now, Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) has introduced a bill that would bring his rock and roll spirit to a post office in his hometown of Renton, Wash.

If the bill passes, the post office located at 4301 Northeast 4th Street would be renamed to "James Marshall 'Jimi' Hendrix Post Office Building. Smith introduced Bill H.R.6628 in July, which has gained the support of all eight Washington representatives in Congress and has since moved on from its initial review by the House Committee On Oversight And Government Reform, according to Consequence Of Sound. The street, as the music site notes, is the one Hendrix grew up on. It is also close to the cemetery where he is buried.

"The Puget Sound region is home to a museum that showcases Hendrix's life and work, a park dedicated to his memory, and several memorials visited by thousands every year, " Smith said. "This designation will further honor this iconic artist and his Seattle roots."

READ: Jimi Hendrix's 'Electric Ladyland' Turns 50

The iconic guitarist's legacy lives on outside of Seattle too. In 2015, his 1966 Fender Stratocaster was one of the instruments featured in the GRAMMY Museum at L.A. Lives' Rare Guitar Exhibit. Hendrix's iconic interpretation of "The Star-Spangled Banner" during the 1969 Woodstock Festival earned him a GRAMMY nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Performance. 

Picture This: Brooklyn Will Have A Street Named For Notorious B.I.G.

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Giving Tuesday: The GRAMMY Museum Needs Your Help Supporting Music Education

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The GRAMMY Museum provides K-12 students the opportunity to dive deep into music with its programs and camp. This Giving Tuesday, the Museum is asking for your help to continue bringing these resources to them
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Nov 27, 2018 - 5:00 am

The GRAMMY Museum is home to one-of-a-kind music exhibitions and experiences that bring its visitors closer to the artists and music they love. On Giving Tuesday the museum is asking for your help to support the music education programs they provide, in order to continue bringing music access to students in and out of the classroom.

Throughout the year, the museum seeks to give underprivileged communities access to music education and prepare K-12 educators with resources to show the power of bringing music to the classroom. Over the next 24 hours, the GRAMMY Museum has set out to raise $50,000 to continue providing students with tools and resources they need to explore music education.

Past programs include a workshop on the how music has been a catalyst for change throughout wars, including the Civil War and World Wars I and II, as well as lyric writing workshops. The museum also offers tours for local schools and organizes a camp for young aspiring musicians in high school. These student-centered programs help support the museum's mission of using "music as a gateway to learning; inspiring and cultivating creativity, critical thinking and self-expression."

Teachers and parents have seen students positively engage with the programs. Larchmont Charter School teacher Dave DuMonde shared how excited his students were after their visit to the museum.

"They were fully inspired—a new passion has been sparked in our music program," DuMonde said. "I received a resounding response from parents saying how cool and unique of a trip it was. Thank you, thank you for accommodating our group of 5th and 6th graders!"

"As I looked around during the performance, the children were all engaged and paid close attention to the action on the stage," said one teacher who would like to remain anonymous. "In this day and age of budget cutbacks in the Arts Programs in our school systems, programs such as this are MUCH NEEDED."

According to the museum, a donation of $500  provides a whole class of students bus transportation for a visit to the museum in downtown Los Angeles. A visit to the museum deeply shaped Janet L. Jackson's daughter's musical aspirations.

"My daughter left the GRAMMY Museum after her first visit and declared she wanted to be a rock guitarist," Jackson said. "That year she got a guitar for Christmas and has been taking lessons ever since."

The GRAMMY Museum also puts on a GRAMMY Camp in which high school students learn more about careers in the music industry, including songwriting, audio engineering, music journalism, instrumental performance and more.

"Attending camp really pushed me to work harder and study more about production. I've just finished producing a five track EP, and I'm now learning about licensing, distribution, and advertising. I don't think any of this would have happened if I hadn't been given this opportunity and attended GRAMMY Camp," GRAMMY Camp alum Markus said.

For more information on how you can support the music education the GRAMMY Museum brings to students visit the GRAMMY Museum's donation page.

GRAMMY Camp—Weekend Brings Music Career Training To Pittsburgh

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900 Music Creators Invited To Join Recording Academy As Voting Members

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Invitations were sent to vocalists, songwriters, producers, instrumentalists and engineers from a range of music genres, ethnicities, age and gender groups in an effort to make the Recording Academy and the greater music community a more inclusive space
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Oct 4, 2018 - 4:21 pm

As a part of an effort to make its membership better reflect the diverse community it represents and help make the music industry a more inclusive space, the Recording Academy has invited 900 music creators of diverse backgrounds to join its membership.

Invitations were sent to vocalists, songwriters, producers, instrumentalists and engineers from a range of music genres, ethnicities, age and gender groups, recommended by the Recording Academy and its independent Diversity & Inclusion Task Force. Creators who accept invitations by Nov. 15 will have the opportunity to make immediate change by participating in final round of voting for the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards. Invitees who accept after the date will be able to participate in next year's awards cycle. All invitees were pre-qualified for membership requirements by the Recording Academy.

"Our invite initiative is a first step to reach out to the diverse, talented individuals who make up the music community," said Tina Tchen, Chair of the Task Force. "The Recording Academy should reflect the scope and scale of the music industry and recognize the creative and artistic endeavors that enable it to thrive. Having a truly diverse membership is the foundation for any change. This initiative is one of the many ways the Task Force is encouraging change in practices while nurturing a more inclusive organization for Academy members today and for generations to come."

The Recording Academy, with input from the Task Force, has developed a new membership model that will focus on community-driven recommendations and will include a peer-review. The new model will go into effect Nov. 19.

The Diversity & Inclusion Task Force was established by the Recording Academy and assembled by Tchen earlier this year to look at issues of inclusion and diversity in the Recording Academy and greater music community. With the help of the Task Force, the Recording Academy has diversified its Nominations Review Committees and National Governance Committees. These committees look over many aspects of the operations of the Recording Academy, including awards and telecast. This year the Nominations Review Committees is 51% female and 48% people of color, compared to the group that was 28% female and 37% people of color last year. The National Governance Committees is 48% female and 38% people of color this year. Last year, its composition was 20% female and 30% people of color.

The Task Force also hosted Listening Forums in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Nashville to hear its member's experiences in the music industry.

READ: Recording Academy Names Diversity And Inclusion Task Force Members