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Gelareh Rouzbehani

Gelareh Rouzbehani

Photo: Daniel Prakopcyk

News
Why A&R Matters: 7 Women Share Their Experiences why-ar-matters-streaming-era-7-women-share-their-experiences

Why A&R Matters In The Streaming Era: 7 Women Share Their Experiences

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We spoke with women working in A&R-related roles across labels and other music organizations to learn about why, even with streaming dominating the industry, their jobs are more vital than ever
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
May 2, 2019 - 10:41 am

As we continue to celebrate 20-year anniversaries of great albums from 1999, one can't help but reflect how different the music industry is today.

For instance, instead of purchasing a physical copy of an album from your go-to music chain, nowadays audiences primarily consume music via streaming services like Spotify or Apple Music. And if they want to hear something new, they simply turn to computer-generated algorithms that can recommend what you might like based on what you've already listened to. Artists, meanwhile, can simply upload their music straight to streaming services, effectively cutting out industry gatekeepers and middlemen who once offered exclusive access to distribution.  

But just because it's easier to hear and share music with the world in 2019, that doesn't mean it's become simpler to write a great song or keep people's attention.

That's where A&R—which stands for "artists and repertoire"—is still highly relevant. An A&R team's goal is to not only bring in the talent to a label or publisher, but to also help the artist develop their sound, find new collaborators and make sure they have all the tools and support they need to continue to succeed.

We spoke with seven women working in A&R-related roles across labels and other music organizations to learn about what A&R looks like in 2019, creating safe, fairer spaces for women in the music industry, helping artists capture audiences' ever-waning attention, and why, even with streaming dominating the industry, their jobs are more important than ever.

Artists Matter, And A&R Does Too

One thing is clear: With an abundance of choice comes the danger of oversaturation. When A&R professionals step in, they help artists navigate details of the industry and make sure their voices cut through the noise.

As Latoya Lee, VP of Creative Services at Atlas Music Publishing (which has offices in the musical hotspots of New York, Los Angeles, Nashville and Atlanta) puts it: "More so than ever the market is very oversaturated, and I think we're in this space where everyone thinks they're well equipped for everyone's job and that's not the case… most of the time it's the team behind that person that really helps you stand out."

Meanwhile, Taylor Lindsey, VP of A&R at Sony Music Nashville, explains how the shift in country music, where more now performers are also songwriters, has moved the focus of their work to encourage more creative collabs. "I think that where before A&R was really just about finding songs and giving them to artists now it's more of an opportunity for us to help go 'okay, here's a writer that you haven't thought to write with yet. We need to get you in a room with them,'" she said.

Stephanie Wright, who also works in country music as the VP of A&R at Universal Music Group Nashville, made the same point about the shifts in country. She added that A&R "is a different process for a new artist or one that is three or four albums in, then it's more about how they're staying relevant."

Gelareh Rouzbehani, CEO of Rouz Group, an A&R and artist management company she founded in Los Angeles after her time working on the label side, speaks to the vital role of A&R within the greater structure of a label. "I think A&R is the nucleus of the record label; without the right song, the right music, you don't really have a product to push, and other departments can't do their work. I think it always starts with the music... and then from there we build on."

Allison Jones, SVP of A&R at Big Machine Label Group, another major Nashville label, echoed this. "A&R is the funnel through which music gets sent whether it be to a record label or a publishing company or to an artist directly. The term artist and repertoire means the artist and the repertoire of songs that they sing. So as long as there's music there has to be someone that is going to make sure it gets funneled to the right place."

She continued, highlighting that even as the digital music era makes music discovery easier, it is still important to have an A&R team focused on finding the gold. "I think now more than ever it's really key to have that front line of A&R that's scouring all those [music and social media] platforms, in addition to the good old fashion meetings and the good old fashion going to shows and showcases," Jones added.

Data Helps, But It Can Only Reveal So Much

Speaking of the digital music age, sometimes when an artist's streaming accolades are shared, it can sound like someone reading random numbers off a spreadsheet. But with some context, streaming numbers and other data can show us a lot and help an artist and their team test out what resonates with listeners and what doesn't. As several women pointed out, streaming numbers come from real people listening to your music, which is, of course, important to pay attention to.

Everyone seems to agree that while looking at various data points available across streaming and social platforms can help an artist and their team make more informed decisions, it is important to take it with grain of salt and balance it with the irreplaceable gut instinct. Barbara Sealy, who is the Managing Partner at SB Music Management in Los Angeles, pointed to exactly that.

"Data is hugely helpful but it could also be a hindrance. Data can tell you what's popular now, but not necessarily tell you what's good and that's where you have to have go along on gut instincts. I have to really take that data and know how to break it down, but also know how to balance it," Sealy says.

She points to different ways you can look at data, like comparing streaming numbers for songs before and after an artist tours and to dig into website data to see where people are listening to their music, as they should be touring there.

Quality Always Matters

While the current musical landscape may make it easier for artists to share music and potentially snag a blip of listeners' attention with a viral moment, as Wright points to, they still need to be ready for this moment, and to have what it takes to keep their attention. "Attention comes quicker; streaming gets your music out and exposure can come fast, but they may not have been prepared for it."

She added that as someone working in A&R, "With the vast amount of music that is out there now, I think it's going to become important, as far as A&R goes, to really suss out what things are authentic and have that true artistry about them, that will have lasting power."

Wright continued, "You want to invest in the long haul…[to ask yourself] how do you get the consumer the authentic things that they're going to want to follow and to continue stay engaged with?"

Rouzbehani underscored the power of quality music. "I think music is cyclical, and it comes in waves. I'm a firm believer that great artists and quality products will always win in the end. I hope that we continue to work toward elevating those that are actually putting out amazing bodies of work," she said.

Sealy echoed this as she talked about the difficulty she has seen some of her artists face that don't fit neatly into genre boxes. Even though it may take time, she firmly believes that in the end, quality music will always see its time of day. "When good music comes out, everybody will absolutely support it. And we've seen that time and time again," she said.

A&R Is Still About Opening Doors...

Ashley Calhoun, VP of A&R at Pulse Media in Los Angeles, spoke to the importance of opening the door for others to help continue to create a more equal playing field across the music industry.

"I think everyone who's in a position and who has the ear to the executives and consultants that make those decisions should speak up. I think that's super important because if we don't say anything about it, nothing's going to change," Calhoun explained.

She continued, emphasizing the importance of practicing what you preach. "We just really have to have each other's backs because if we don't, we can't expect men or someone else to. Even though there's a lot of great men that really support this vision, we have to just be proactive."

…To Keep Moving The Music Industry To Be More Inclusive & Fair

Lindsey said that while she is proud of the many female artists on Sony Nashville, she and her colleagues recognize that representation in country music is an issue. "It's definitely something that we're paying attention to and we are pushing harder and we are pushing back at because there are female artists in town that deserve to be here."

She added to this point; "I would really love to see more diversity especially in country music…There are so many great artists out there that really kind of don't necessarily fall into a genre. They have country sensibilities or they might have some pop melodies, or they have pop sensibilities and country lyrics…So because of those things I think that it would be really great just to see country open up a little bit more and have more diversification."

Lindsey also stressed the importance of the music industry as a whole coming to a decision as to "what the fair and just compensation needs to be for songwriters and artists across the board," an important point which came up in all of the conversations.

Lee shared her biggest hope for the industry is to see "more black women in positions to make decisions." She continued, underscoring what she sees as her role to help make this happen.

"And A&R more so than anything, because we have lots of women in marketing and lots of women in promotions and radio, and we have lot of women in publicity and those positions, but we don't have enough black women in A&R. That is very important to me, because that's going to be the defining moment in my career, being able to say that I molded the next generation of young women music executives, but also young black women executives."

Like Lee, each woman we spoke with clearly saw a key part of their role in A&R as not only opening doors for the artists they work with, but for other women looking to get their foot in the door on the other side of the music industry. They all spoke of who helped champion them to get their start in the industry, with several pointing out they didn't have female mentors to work with or look up to on their teams. This is why they see female to female mentorship as another important part of their career.

The Importance Of Female Mentorship

Sealy emphasized the importance of making the time for other women, even if it's just a few minutes to answer a few questions. "We all need to be talking to each other…And mentoring is really, really important…We really need, as women, to stop and make a little bit of time for that next girl coming up. Even if we've kind of got to the top of where we are, we need to ensure opportunities are there for others, and especially create an opportunity to be that woman mentor."

Each of the women echoed the importance of mentorship and dialogue in some way during our conversations. Rouzbehani eloquently summarized the importance of empowerment and encouragement.

"I think it's so powerful when women come together," she said. "We've seen it happen time and time again in history, and in the industry now we're seeing more of it, and it's really making an impact. Younger girls, whether they're on social media or they see if from afar, they're a part of this, I think are influenced and inspired by that."

Jain On How Coachella Helps International Artists, Honoring Miriam Makeba's Legacy & More

House of Blues

House of Blues

Photo: Vince Bucci/Getty Images

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House Of Blues Hosting Music Job Fairs For Youth house-blues-foundation-hosting-music-industry-job-fairs-youth-across-us

House Of Blues Foundation Hosting Music Industry Job Fairs For Youth Across The U.S.

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The Music Forward Foundation's free All Access Fest events will feature music industry employers as well as panels and hand-on workshops for young people
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Oct 4, 2019 - 1:09 pm

Yesterday, Oct. 3, the House of Blues Music Forward Foundation announced they will be bringing back their All Access Fest music industry job fairs to select U.S. cities later this month. Following the event's launch last year, it will return to New Orleans, Las Vegas, Chicago and Los Angeles, and kick off in Orlando.

And the good news continues... @billboard https://t.co/qIBP7SsBdm

— House of Blues Music Forward Foundation (@HOBMusicForward) October 4, 2019

Registration is free and open to youth ages 16-22 interested in learning more about different music-related career paths and meeting potential employers. The first of the five events takes place next week, on Oct. 8, in New Orleans, followed by Las Vegas on the 17th, Orlando on the 21st, Chicago on the 24th and finally Los Angeles on Oct. 31. All are held at House of Blues/Live Nation run venues.

"We are thrilled to present our second annual All Access Fest for youth interested in music careers—on and off stage," Music Forward Foundation Executive Director Nurit Siegel Smith said in a statement. "This unique program offers young people from under-represented communities free resources and networking opportunities to help them navigate a career in music."

Related: Khalid, Carlos Santana & More To Mentor Underserved Aspiring Artists Through House Of Blues Foundation

The foundation, via Billboard, reveals that the Recording Academy, House of Blues/Live Nation and Ticketmaster are among the companies represented at the job fair, and notes there will also be "experiential lounges" from GRAMMY U, CD Baby and others.

Hands-on learning stations will also be offered, as well as panels on topics like "The Working Musician's Experience" and "Gender Equality in the Music Industry." Each event is slated to run from 9 a.m. to noon and will, additionally, host performances from alumni of the foundation's artist development programs.

Experts will be on hand from Live Nation, along with and exhibitions by GRAMMY U, CD Baby, Full Sail, Hercules, Hurdl, Massive Act, Music Supervisor and Novel Effect for attendees.

The fairs run from 9 a.m. to noon and also include panels, hands-on technical learning stations, local employers and representatives from post-secondary schools, as well as live performances by alumni from Music Forward's artist development programs.

The foundation was established by the House of Blues in 1993 to bring music and the arts to schools and youth, especially in underserved communities. Recently, the organization announced a new mentorship program, the Ambassadors Council, where established artists including Carlos Santana, Khalid and Lauren Daigle can directly connect with and inspire these communities.

For more info on All Access Fest, including registration, please visit their webpage.

Historic Berkeley Folk Venue Freight & Salvage Welcomes A New Generation Of Music Fans

Behind the Record

Photo: Recording Academy

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Artists: #GiveCredit & Honor Your Collaborators artists-find-out-how-givecredit-celebrate-your-collaborators-today

Artists: Find Out How To #GiveCredit & Celebrate Your Collaborators Today!

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As Behind the Record launches today, find out how you can join the movement and create a Credit Cover showing gratitude to everyone you worked with on your album or single
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Oct 25, 2019 - 12:24 pm

Today, the Recording Academy officially launched Behind the Record, a new social media campaign aimed at showcasing everyone who worked together to make an album or record possible. If you're an artist and haven't yet shared your Credit Cover—a reimagined album cover with all the contributors' names on the front—today's the day to give credit where credit is due by sharing one and thanking your collaborators.

Using the Credit Cover generator is simple and only takes a few minutes. And once you've created one, you have a lovely visual to help you not only #GiveCredit and celebrate all the people who helped behind-the-scenes of your musical project, it also helps your fans discover them as well. Read on for a step-by-step guide on how to create and share your new Credit Cover(s).



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Credits have been a casualty of the digital age, for all that we gained with streaming we lost in the opportunity for recognition and even discovery. #BehindTheRecord champions all professional music creators and aims to connect with artist fan bases in order to give recognition to those who work tirelessly on these recordings. View out story to learn how YOU can #GiveCredit.

A post shared by Recording Academy / GRAMMYs (@recordingacademy) on Oct 25, 2019 at 9:17am PDT

"The importance of credits, particularly in art, cannot even be measured. It's such a collaborative effort to make art—even from a singular place. Even for the artist who draws onto the page there is still often a team of people who makes the sharing of it possible. To acknowledge my team and my crew is really important because they help me LIVE! They help me to focus and they offer me time which is perhaps an even more important commodity because that time allows me to create." - Lalah Hathaway

STEP 1: Create & Download Credit Cover

GRAMMYs

If you are a Recording Academy member, you should have already received an email from us with information on how to create your Credit Cover; you can use that login code to access the generator here. If you didn't receive the email, please reach out to givecredit@recordingacademy.com for assistance.

Once you have accessed the Credit Cover generator, submit the info for the LP, EP or single you want to create the new cover for. Our Behind the Record partner Jaxsta has kindly provided credits for Merlin, Warner Music, Sony Music and Universal Music Group releases, so if your project was released under one of these labels, credits should auto-populate.

Double-check the names and spelling, and then download the three images (your Credit Cover, the original cover art and the Behind the Record logo). If you opt into sharing your cover in the gallery (a.k.a. do not check the "hide credit cover" box), it will be showcased in our growing collection on behindtherecord.grammy.com.

STEP 2: Upload To Social & Tag Collaborators

GRAMMYs

Now that you have your images ready for sharing, upload to your social platform of choice and tag your fellow creators. For Instagram, we suggest using the image carousel feature with the Credit Cover first.

"Creating timeless music is a team sport. My intent with Diaspora was to be a bridge between the west and other black cultures around the world, and assembling a grand cast of collaborators was essential to that goal. Highlighting all the producers, writers, vocalists, session musicians, engineers, studios, and more that were a part of the record isn't just important to me as an artist, but it's important for the fans too.

 

Understanding the different cultural figures behind the record—from P2J, a Nigerian-English composer based in London, to Blinky Bill, a producer/musician based in Kenya—is key to understanding why and how the music came together, and will enhance the listening experience. I'm beyond excited about the Recording Academy taking the time to put a spotlight on the members of our music community that don't always get the attention they deserve." - Goldlink

STEP 3: Share Your Message Of Gratitude!

GRAMMYs

The final step is to share your message of gratitude for the amazing contributors to your project, and to encourage other artists to do the same! We've included a suggested caption below, but feel free to speak straight from your heart.

"I'm joining the movement to bring the names of people from Behind the Record to the front. These are all the amazing professionals behind [Album Title]. Thank you all! Artists, it's time to give credit where credit is due. Go to RecordingAcademy.com/CreditCover to create the Credit Cover for your latest album. #GiveCredit @RecordingAcademy [use @RecordingAcad on Twitter]"

Don't forget to use the hashtags #GiveCredit, #BehindTheRecord and #WeAreMusic to join in on the global conversation!

Pandora Supports Behind The Record, Launches Full Song Credits

Behind the Record
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Behind The Record Celebrates All Music Creators behind-record-celebrates-behind-scenes-creators-your-favorite-albums

Behind The Record Celebrates Behind-The-Scenes Creators Of Your Favorite Albums

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The brand-new Recording Academy initiative encourages artists to thank the fellow creators who helped their music come together, thus, helping fans dive deeper Behind the Record
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Oct 24, 2019 - 7:00 am

This Friday, Oct. 25, the Recording Academy will launch Behind the Record, a new social media initiative to highlight all of the creators that made your favorite albums and records possible. The goal is to ignite a cultural conversation by inviting artists across genres to recognize all of their collaborators' tireless behind-the-scenes work, for the music their fans adore.

The conversation kicks off on Friday, when the first group of artists will share their reimagined album covers—Credit Covers that highlight the songwriters, producers, engineers and other collaborators—on social media.

Credits have been a casualty of the digital age, for all that we gained with streaming we lost in the opportunity for recognition and even discovery. Behind the Record champions all professional music creators and aims to connect with artist fan bases in order to give recognition to those who work tirelessly on these recordings."

If you are artist, you can participate in Behind the Record by creating and sharing a Credit Cover for a single or album using the online generator. Once you create your Credit Cover, you can join the conversation by sharing it across your social media platforms and tagging the amazing collaborators now featured on the cover.

Please use the hashtags #GiveCredit, #WeAreMusic and #BehindTheRecord when posting, so everyone can find and discover it.

Behind the Record is supported by the Recording Academy's Producers & Engineers Wing. Additionally, Jaxsta, a database of official (non-crowd-sourced) music credit information for members of the music community, offered support by providing credits for Merlin, Warner Music, Sony Music and Universal Music Group releases. Pandora, TIDAL and Genius also partnered with the Academy to help make this project possible.

For more information, or if you're interested in creating a physical limited-edition sleeve, please contact givecredit@recordingacademy.com or visit www.grammy.com/behindtherecord.

For music fans, artists and behind-the-scenes magic-makers alike, don't forget to explore and join the conversation on social media, starting Friday, with #GiveCredit, #WeAreMusic and #BehindTheRecord.

GRAMMY Museum To Celebrate 20 Years Of Latin GRAMMY Excellence With New Exhibit

Lightning in a Bottle 2018

Lightning in a Bottle 2018

Photo: Aaron Glassman

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All The Best Summer/Spring Music Festivals your-2019-guide-best-summerspring-music-festivals

Your 2019 Guide To The Best Summer/Spring Music Festivals

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Having trouble keeping up with 2019's many music fests? We've got you covered with this comprehensive list of 20+ ones to check out across North America—plus a few abroad
Ana Monroy Yglesias
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
May 8, 2019 - 10:40 am

Both weekends of Coachella 2019 have come and gone, which means that we are fully entrenched in music festival season in North America. Since late last year, the fest lineups keep coming, and, like many of you, we couldn't be more excited for the sunny, music-filled days around the corner.

To help you keep abreast on all the major fests you can explore this summer, we've compiled this handy list to highlight some of the ones across the country (plus a few abroad) you may want to check out.

https://twitter.com/LIBfestival/status/1124147462766092293

We'll be here soon ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/4ha61ZY8Hi

— Lightning in a Bottle (@LIBfestival) May 3, 2019

Related: Jan Blomqvist Talks Playing Coachella, Berlin Techno & Covering The Rolling Stones

MAY
 

Lightning in a Bottle | May 8–13 | Bakersfield, Calif.

Need to get away and lose yourself in the music ASAP? Well, Lightning in a Bottle is probably calling your name. Bring your pool floaties to cool off in Buena Vista Lake, home to the new location of the Southern California camping music fest. Run by the good time experts/electronic music connoisseurs at the DoLaB, which just made an appearance at Coachella; the environmentally and socially conscious event was one of the first major "transformational music festivals" that so many others have been modeled after.

This year's stacked musical lineup features seven stages and a variety of house, techno and bass artists, featuring GRAMMY-nominated British dance duo Disclosure, a 3D experience from Flying Lotus, Santigold, Toro y Moi, Gramatik, Channel Tres, DJ Koze and Damian Lazarus. There will also be yoga, sound healing, and engaging talks, like one with activist hip-hop duo Climbing PoeTree titled "Creativity is the Antidote to Destruction: Artistic Tools for Urgent Times."

Tickets are still available with options that range from two to five days; more info here.

Corona Capital Fest | May 11 | Guadalajara, Mex.

Taking place on Mexico's West Coast in the city of Guadalajara, Corona Capital will bring the country some of the biggest names in rock, electronica and pop. Featuring Phoenix, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Tame Impala, The Chemical Brothers, Christine & the Queens and more, the fest will give people in Mexico the unique opportunity to see artists that tend only to stop by in Mexico City, which hosts its own Corona Capital fest.

Those visiting the country for the fest will find the one-day event a convenient factor, as they can explore the rich history and culinary vastness of the second-largest city in the country, which is known to be the area where tequila and mariachi originated. Sports fans will find excitement in listening to music at the festival site, which is also home to the city’s soccer team, Las Chivas. For more information, visit the festival's website.

GRAMMYs at Corona Capital: Holy Ghost! On What "Do This" Is Really About & Why They Feel So Good About 'Work'

Electric Daisy Carnival | May 17–19 | Las Vegas

Rave lords Insomniac have been bringing the beats with their now-global Electric Daisy Carnival (and its many other EDM events) at the 23rd annual EDC. The flagship fest's ninth year in Las Vegas will take over Sin City from May 17–19 this year. The 2019 lineup is positively stacked with dance music greats, featuring GRAMMY winners Diplo, David Guetta and Tiësto, plus GRAMMY nominees TOKiMONSTA, Paul Oakenfold, Deadmau5, Above & Beyond and Kaskade.

Deadmau5 will be making his first return to the fest since 2010, bringing his new "Cube 3.0" stage setup, and Guetta will be back for his first time since 2012. Australian singer/songwriter DJ/producer extraordinaire Alison Wonderland, plus GRAMMY-nominated rave icons Steve Aoki and Armin van Buuren will bring fire to the three-day event.

If you want to get your dance on and check out the carnival rides, interactive art and plenty of lights and lasers with EDC in Vegas, you're in luck; tickets are still available. Check out EDC's website for more info.

Hangout Music Fest | May 17–19 | Gulf Shores, Ala.

If you're looking for something where you can chill in one spot, perhaps by a body of water, Hangout Music Fest in Gulf Shores, Ala. may be more along the lines of what you're craving. The 10th anniversary, which the organizers have coined a "music vacation," will take place on May 17–19 on the beach.

The stacked lineup of over 50 acts is pretty diverse among artists and genres, with big names in dance music such as GRAMMY winner Diplo, GRAMMY nominees Mura Masa and Sofi Tukker, along with Detroit hero GRiZ and dance festival favorite Alison Wonderland.

Meanwhile, artists in the pop/indie-rock arena include GRAMMY nominees Hozier and Bebe Rexha, as well fan favorites The 1975, Walk The Moon and Jimmy Eat World. 

For more info and to see the complete list of artists, visit the Hangout Fest website.

BottleRock | May 24–26 | Napa, Calif.

If you want to experience the literal fruits of the world-renowned Napa Valley wine country while listening to some solid jams, BottleRock, which is located in wine-rich Napa, may be the fest for you. Its seventh-edition festival's top-tier headliners are GRAMMY winners Imagine Dragons, Mumford & Sons and Neil Young, who will be playing with Lukas Nelson's band Promise Of The Real. Other notable acts include Santana, Pharrell Williams, Gary Clark Jr., Sylvan Esso, Logic, Lord Huron, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats and Tash Sultana.

Other festival highlights include the Culinary Stage, which features both music from the likes of Big Boi and Juanes, as well as more culinary-focused guests, including Antoni Potowski, the resident foodie of "Queer Eye." No matter your fuel of choice, attendees can expect an amazing selection of Northern California wine, beer and even craft cocktails, as well as food prepared by your neighborhood Michelin-starred Napa faves. The Silent Disco offers even more music, with GRAMMY-nominated dance greats The Crystal Method and Paul Oakenfold taking the decks.

Tickets, including one-day and three-day options, are still available on the fest's website.

More: Tomasa Del Real On Bringing Her Take On Reggaetón, NeoPerreo, To Coachella

https://twitter.com/Primavera_Sound/status/1114104145047445505

Pop icon @MileyCyrus to join Primavera Sound 2019 after Cardi B’s cancellation.https://t.co/b8sQr84YIk pic.twitter.com/qNA5nBvRsA

— primavera_sound (@Primavera_Sound) April 5, 2019

Primavera Sound | May 30–June 1 | Barcelona

If you've been itching to take a trip abroad in a scenic European city and have eclectic music tastes, you'll have a blast at Barcelona's Primavera Sound. The 19th edition of the music festival offers what organizers coined "The New Normal," a 50/50 gender split among performers. Of the 226 billed artists, over half are women.

The beautifully dense lineup includes both big names and hidden gems across genres, yet the headliners alone show that they are walking their talk. Erykah Badu, Future, Interpol, Tame Impala, Janelle Monáe, Solange, J Balvin, Rosalía, Nas, James Blake and Robyn all take the top spots.

The rest of the lineup is also filled with gems, including Kali Uchis, Liz Phair, Carly Rae Jepsen, Clairo, Cuco, Mura Masa, Empress Of, FKA Twigs, Pusha T and Big Red Machine (the National's Aaron Dessner and Bon Iver's Justin Vernon collab project).

The festival has also highlighted Primavera's commitment to urban music, with a focus on reggaeton and hip-hop. From the Latin side, in addition to unofficial second-wave reggaeton leader J Balvin, old-school genre legends Ivy Queen (one of the first and few women in the emerging scene in the '90s) and DJ Playero will be throwing down. From the U.S. side, Primavera 2019 will feature an exciting selection of female rappers, including Tierra Whack, Princess Nokia, CupcakKe and Rico Nasty.

Tickets, including single-day options, are still avaible on Primavera Sound's website.

Governors Ball | May 31–June 2 | New York City

Governors Ball Music Festival is returning for their ninth year on Randall's Island Park in New York City on May 31–June 2. 2019 will bring performances by headliners The Strokes and GRAMMY nominees Tyler, the Creator and Florence & the Machine.

The three-day music, art and music event certainly brings an N.Y.C.-inspired melting pot approach to their lineup, and this year does not disappoint. Other highlights include GRAMMY winners Lil Wayne and Kacey Musgraves, GRAMMY nominees SZA, Nas, The Internet, Jorja Smith, Bob Moses, Charli XCX, ZHU, plus Vince Staples, BROCKHAMPTON, Blood Orange, Clairo, Bazzi, MØ, Major Lazer (DJs Jillionaire, Walshy Fire and GRAMMY winner Diplo), Noname, Kaytranada, Gesaffelstein and King Princess.

More info on tickets, as well as the complete lineup and event details, can be found on the Governors Ball site.

Related: Tinder Teams Up With EDC, Gov Ball & More Music Fests For "Festival Mode"

JUNE
 

Roots Picnic | June 1 | Philadelphia

The Roots Picnic is back for its 12th year on June 1 and will feature a special headline performance from GRAMMY-winning band The Roots in celebration of the 20th anniversary of their 1999 album Things Fall Apart. 

H.E.R., 21 Savage and Lil Baby are among other artists on the music festival's bill. Raphael Saadiq,Tank & The Bangas and City Girls will also perform at the one-day event, taking place at its new location at The Mann At Fairmount Park in Philly. 

"We finally have a Roots Picnic in the Park," The Roots' manager Shawn Gee and President of Live Nation Urban said. "The vision 12 years ago was always to provide an all-day musical and cultural experience in Fairmount Park. Black Thought, Questlove and I grew up spending our Sunday afternoons at the Belmont Plateau in Fairmount Park watching Philly DJs spin, and enjoying the vibe and the culture. It's a great feeling to be able to come full circle."

For more information on tickets, visit the Ticketmaster website.

https://twitter.com/SplashHousePS/status/1128040756503928833

GRAMMYs

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Splash House | Jun 7–9 | Palm Springs, Calif.

Splash House has been bringing the beats to the pastel-colored desert of Palm Springs for several years now, and will return June 7–9 (as well as in August). GRAMMY-winning French electro heavyweights Justice, GRAMMY-nominated U.S. house music stalwart Armand van Helden, New York-based house producer Jai Wolf and U.K. bass/trap champ TroyBoi will headline. The three-day fest takes place poolside at three beautiful desert aesthetic hotels: The Renaissance, The Riviera and The Saguaro.

The rest of the lineup offers an equally impressive and diverse group of electronic artists, including GRAMMY nominees Jax Jones and Dirty South, along with Pete Tong, A-Track, CRAY and more. Shiba San, Dusky, Kidnap and a few others will keep the vibes going into the nighttime, with official after-hours shows at the Palm Springs Air Museum.

Daytime tickets for the June edition of Splash House went quickly, but they can be requested via a ticket exchange program. More info on all options can be found on Splash House's website.

Bonnaroo | June 13–16 | Manchester, Tenn.

Founded in 2002, this down-south outdoor fest once specialized in all things folk and jam. Nowadays, the lineup's diversified a bit, welcoming artists of nearly every popular genre. This year's Bonnaroo will take place June 13–16 at Great Stage Park, a 700-acre farm and event space in Manchester, Tenn., 60 miles southeast of Nashville.

The diverse group of artists on Friday alone include Phish, Childish Gambino, Solange, The Avett Brothers, Brockhampton, Courtney Barnett, Gojira, K.Flay and more. Post Malone, Odesza, Kacey Musgraves, The National, ZHU, John Prine, Maren Morris, The Lumineers, Cardi B and more will also get the farm grooving.

New for 2019, Bonnaroo will feature a "Sanctuary of Self-Love" campground experience curated by Paramore's Hayley Williams. There will also be circus acts, immersive cinema shows, theme parties, and the fest's first-ever Pride parade.

Tickets can be found on the festival's website.

GRAMMYs at Coachella: Sofi Tukker On Crafting Their "Ideal" Coachella Set, Giving Hugs To Maggie Rogers & More

Ruido Fest | Jun 21–23 | Chicago

For three days, Ruido Fest takes over Union Park, also home to Pitchfork Fest, and turns Chicago into a Latin alternative music mecca. This year, the music festival happening June 21– 23 celebrates its 5th edition and will gather iconic music groups like El Tri, Los Tigres Del Norte, Hombres G and Enanitos Verdes on the same stages as rising stars like Latin urban artist Tomasa Del Real, Helado Negro, Monsieur Perine and many more. From rock, to pop and electro, this festival boasts some of the best in established and up-and coming music artists in the Latin genre For more information on Ruido fest, visit their website.

Firefly | June 21–23 | Dover, Del.

Firefly Music Festival, which touts itself as "the East Coast's largest music and camping festival," returns for its eighth year in The Woodlands of Dover, Del. The June fest will feature GRAMMY-nominated headliners Panic! At The Disco, Post Malone and Travis Scott. 

GRAMMY winners TLC, Vampire Weekend and Zedd, as well as GRAMMY nominees Courtney Barnett, Death Cab For Cutie, DJ Snake and Tyler, The Creator will also perform at the woodsy fest. Alison Wonderland, Brockhampton, Dashboard Confessional, GRiZ, Kygo, Gucci Mane, Jessie Reyez, Snail Mail, Walk The Moon, and Young The Giant are also on this year's bill.

Tickets, along with "glamping" options, can be purchased on Firefly's website.

JULY
 

Essence Festival | July 4–7 | New Orleans

Essence Festival returns for its 25th year of celebrating black culture in New Orleans. The music portion of the event will take place from July 4–7 at the Mercedes Benz Superdome, with billed performers like Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Pharrell Williams, Brandy, Jermaine Dupri, H.E.R., Big Freedia, Ledisi, Mary J. Blige and many more. Former First Lady Michelle Obama will also bring extra inspiration to the main stage on Saturday.

Four other stages at the Superdome will showcase more talented artists such as AlunaGeorge, City Girls and Normani, as well as Mase, Ginuwine and Slick Rick.

Several different music fest ticket options are available, more info here.

Essence 2018: H.E.R. Opens Up On Mystery, Musicianship & Essence Fest

Mad Cool | July 11–13 | Madrid

Mad Cool Festival's diverse musical lineups have brought out a global fan base to its home in Madrid every year since 2016. Bon Iver, Vampire Weekend and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds top the lineup on Thursday, which also features Canada's Kaytranada, La Dispute and The Hives. Friday will bring out The National and the Smashing Pumpkins as headliners, plus Madrid's own Vetusta Morla, Wolfmother and Germany's Sophie Hunger, among other exciting acts. Saturday closes off the musical celebration with The Cure, The 1975 and Greta Van Fleet.

If this lineup hasn't inspired you to experience the fest, maybe visiting the beautifully historic city of Madrid will. Single-day and three-day tickets can be found on Mad Cool's website.

Pitchfork Music Festival | July 19–21 | Chicago

The 14th annual Pitchfork Music Festival, held at Union Park in Chicago, offers an eclectic lineup perfectly embodied by its headliners: GRAMMY-nominated dancefloor-pop innovator Robyn, GRAMMY-winning godfathers of funk The Isley Brothers and GRAMMY-nominated sister trio HAIM.

The Isley Brothers, consisting of remaining members Ronald and Ernie Isley, will be celebrating 60 years as a group at the fest, bringing the funk with "special guests," Pitchfork reports. GRAMMY-winning blues and gospel icon Mavis Staples will also bring her longtime musical excellence to the three-day event.

GRAMMY-nominated hip-hop powerhouses Earl Sweatshirt, Jeremih and Pusha T, along with fellow GRAMMY nominee and electro-pop stalwart Charli XCX, are also slated to play. Several innovative '90s acts will also be performing: London-based avant-garde dream-pop group Stereolab, Scottish folk-pop band Belle & Sebastian (who will be playing their 1996 album If You're Feeling Sinister in full) and Swedish GRAMMY-nominated MC Neneh Cherry, who earned a nod for Best New Artist at the 32nd GRAMMY Awards in 1999.

The festival prides itself on highlighting emerging talent; some of the up-and-comers on the lineup are 20-year-old dream-pop artist Clairo, L.A.-based social activist/rapper JPEGMAFIA, French-Cuban electro-soul sister duo Ibeyi and 21-year-old N.Y.C. rapper Rico Nasty.

Both weekend and single-day tickets are available; visit the fest's site for more info.

Float Fest | July 20–21 | Gonzales, Texas

Billed as the "only festival in the world to combine the Texas tradition of floating the river and live music," Float Fest 2019 will feature Gucci Mane, Major Lazer, Ice Cube, Kaskade, Portugal. The Man, The Flaming Lips, Big Gigantic, Zeds Dead, Grouplove, Big Boi, Jungle and more at its new home at a private ranch on the Guadalupe River in Gonzalez, Texas.

"We're thrilled to be moving to a new city and keep the tradition of our fest going. Gonzales is known as the birthplace of Texas independence and we can't think of a better place to celebrate a festival rich in Texas traditions such as live music, floating the river, and camping," Float Fest founder Marcus Federman said.

Additional performers include G. Love & Special Sauce, Missio, St. Lucia, Houndmouth, The Floozies and more. The fest will also be partnering once again this year with local business to organize a river cleanup project. 

Tickets, including weekend and day passes, can be found on Float Fest's website.

Related: Exclusive: Lizzo On Lollapalooza, New Music & RuPaul's 'Drag Race'

Lovebox | July 12–13 | London

Chance the Rapper, Solange, Cypress Hill and 2 Chainz are among the headliners that make the U.K.'s Lovebox an international music festival with one of the most exciting lineups. Taking place in London's Gunnersbury Park, the two-day fest will also have Lizzo, Brockhampton, Action Bronson, and Kaytranada hit the stage.

The fest will also feature plenty of U.K.-based artists, including J Hus and Slowthai. For more information, visit the festival's website.

https://twitter.com/Newportfolkfest/status/1126139788556427264

2019 ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT: Please welcome @TheHighWomen to this summer's Friday lineup. @newportfestsorg has made a donation on their behalf to @SheIsTheMusic. Learn more: https://t.co/H9SSWgrfQ7 pic.twitter.com/MfxrQJzC7t

— Newport Folk Fest (@Newportfolkfest) May 8, 2019

Newport Folk Festival | July 26–28 | Newport, R.I.

Newport Folk Festival returns for its 60th year to Newport, R.I., for a three-day fest. Taking place at Fort Adams State Park, Newport offers rolling lineup announcements, meaning some artists are still yet to be announced.

The genre-diverse bill is absolutely stacked: Audiences can expect sets from Maggie Rogers, Noname, Sheryl Crow, Hozier, Kacey Musgraves, Portugal. The Man, Stephen Marley and The HighWomen. The latter is a new country supergroup consisting of Amanda Shires, Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris and Natalie Hemby, who have yet perform together publically.

Even without the complete lineup, tickets to Newport have sold out. That said, tickets can be still requested via Newport's fan-to-fan exchange; more info here.

GRAMMYs at Newport 2018: Exclusive: Brandi Carlile On 'By The Way, I Forgive You' & "The Joke"

AUGUST
 

Lollapalooza | Aug. 1–4 | Chicago

Lollapalooza, the iconic Chicago fest held annually in the Windy City's Grant Park, always gets a long lineup of some of the biggest names in music, along with plenty of artists steadily rising to household-name status. For example, prior to dropping their major-label debut LPs this year, both Billie Eilish and Lizzo performed at the 2018 fest.

This year's flagship (organizers have launched Lollas globally now, too) event offers a diverse lineup, including GRAMMY winners Childish Gambino, Ariana Grande, Kacey Musgraves, Flume, Lil Wayne and H.E.R.. Janelle Monáe, The Strokes, J Balvin, Rosalía, Tame Impala and RÜFÜS DU SOL will also bring heat to the four-day fest.

For ticket information, visit Lollapalooza's website. 

Lolla 2018: Exclusive: Billie Eilish On Success, Her Radio Show & New Music

Outside Lands | Aug. 9–11 | San Francisco, Calif.

San Francisco's biggest music festival returns for its 11th year in the city's gorgeous Golden Gate Park. Outside Lands' 2019 lineup features 2019 GRAMMY winners Childish Gambino, Kacey Musgraves, Leon Bridges, Lauren Daigle, Ella Mai, PJ Morton and Anderson .Paak.

This year's stellar lineup also includes earlier GRAMMY winners Twenty One Pilots, Edie Brickell, Flume, Lil Wayne, Paul Simon and Mavis Staples. GRAMMY nominees Bebe Rexha, Tierra Whack, Blink-182, Counting Crows, Hozier, the Lumineers and Bob Moses will also perform among the trees of Golden Gate Park.

Three-day tickets are currently available for the fest, while Outside Lands typically offers one-day options closer to the event.

Made In America | Aug. 31–Sept. 1 | Philadelphia

Made In America Festival, started by GRAMMY-winning rap legend JAY-Z in 2012, boasts GRAMMY nominee Travis Scott and GRAMMY winner Cardi B as this year's headliners. The two-day event will also include performances from GRAMMY winners Anderson .Paak, with The Free Nationals, James Blake and Kaskade.

61st GRAMMY Awards first-time nominees Jorja Smith and Tierra Whack are also on the bill, along with rising rappers Juice WRLD and Blueface, among others. The eighth annual festival will take place outdoors at Philly's Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and is a great way to close out a busy festival season.

Tickets and more info are available on the fest's site.

No matter your musical and venue taste, there are plenty of festivals to keep you dancing all summer long. Stay tuned to grammy.com for updates on new lineup releases, along with exclusive behind-the-scenes artist interviews from the biggest events as we approach festival season.

Tyler, The Creator's Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival 2019 Coming In November

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