MusiCares hearing clinic backstage at Ultra

MusiCares hearing clinic at Ultra Music Festival

Photo: The Recording Academy

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Ultra 2018: Music Professionals Get Free Custom Ear Protection From MusiCares

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For the first time, Ultra and MusiCares partner to provide artists and crew with custom ear molds and free hearing protection
Nate Hertweck
MusiCares
Mar 24, 2018 - 4:49 pm

Each year in late March, Miami is taken over by dance music DJs, industry players and enthusiasts. At the core of the festivities is Ultra Music Festival, a three-day blowout in downtown Miami featuring the world's biggest DJs and live acts. This year, for the first time, MusiCares partnered with Ultra to provide free custom hearing protection for artists, engineers, crew members, and other music professionals working at the festival.

MusiCares Booth

With its mission to provide health and human services to those working in the music community, MusiCares has a long track record of providing information and resources to promote hearing protection. Throughout the year, the organization presents hearing clinics at music festivals, conventions and live music events across the country.

"I really believe in what you are doing and that custom fitted ear devices are actually the future of hearing protection."

Backstage at Ultra this weekend, MusiCares set up shop to capture custom ear molds from artists and crew members to provide free hearing protection.

GRAMMYs

Dozens of people took advantage of the services, with clients expressing their gratitude and excitement.

"I really believe in what you are doing and that custom fitted ear devices are actually the future of hearing protection," said one music pro. 

"I thought the experience was seamless and easy," said another. "Actually, it felt refreshingly cool in the ear to get the measurement, and I can't wait to have my own custom in-ears."

With all of the festival sets, club shows and after parties in Miami this weekend, the need for hearing protection awareness and supplies is as crucial as ever. Through partnerships such as these, MusiCares hopes to help more people create and enjoy the music for longer.

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opioids bottle

Photo: Tom Kelley/Getty Images

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The Truth About Opioids: How To Turn The Tide On Addiction

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Some of the most commonly prescribed pain medications can also be the most dangerous — before you begin, first get the facts about opioids
Nate Hertweck
MusiCares
Mar 29, 2018 - 1:04 pm

Understanding the purpose, dangers, and the side effects of any drug is critical before beginning treatment. Such as the case with opioids, a group of drugs commonly used to treat pain and relieve suffering. As these drugs become more and more commonly prescribed — and abused — it's important to arm yourself with a strong understanding of what they are, what they do, and how to manage their use before putting yourself at risk of addiction or overdose.

Dave Navarro's Powerful Message Of Hope

According to a recent piece from Turn The Tide Rx, "Opioids are drugs that work by reducing the intensity of pain signals that reach your brain. These drugs can be helpful for a short time but they have serious risks. Up to 1 out of 4 people receiving long-term opioid therapy in a primary care setting struggles with addiction."

This alarming statistic warrants a closer look at the drugs themselves, and their alternatives, before beginning treatment. Commonly prescribed opioids include Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, Codeine, Morphine, and Fentanyl, and while all of these can be an important part of pain treatment in some circumstances, their short-term benefits must be weighed against the lack of scientific evidence that opioids are the best prescription pathway to properly treat chronic pain.

The more serious risks of using opioids are addiction and overdose. Addiction to these drugs can destroy careers, families, and lives. Overdosing on opioids can even happen by accident due to their effect on the part of the brain that regulates breathing, especially when combined with alcohol or sedative medicines. These types of chemical mixtures are often present in fatal overdoses.

These drugs also come with dangerous side effects including nausea, vomiting, constipation, sleepiness, dizziness, confusion, and increased sensitivity to pain.

Because of these dangers, many seek alternative pain treatments to opioids. And if you are prescribed opioids, you should be careful to manage your pain in a way that keeps you safe. Start with a low dosage and go slow, remembering to never take opioids in greater amounts than prescribed. Avoid taking opioids with alcohol or mixing with any other sedatives, muscle relaxers, sleeping pills or other prescription pain relievers. Be sure to follow up regularly with your doctor, especially if you are taking opioids long-term.

Most importantly, remember that help is only a phone call away. If you or someone you love is in danger of misusing or abusing opioids call your doctor immediately or contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's treatment help line at (800) 662-HELP. If you are a music person in need of help, please call MusiCares at (800) 687-4227.

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The Recording Academy @ ULTRA 2018

Photos: WireImage.com

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Ultra, Miami Music Week With David Guetta, Tiësto, MusiCares & More

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The dance music community gathered in Miami for the year's biggest shows, parties, panels and premieres —here is your all-access pass
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Mar 26, 2018 - 4:33 pm

Monday, March 26

  • Each year, the dance music artists, professionals, and enthusiasts from the whole world over make the pilgrimage to Miami Music Week. This year, we stopped by some of the week's hottest parties and most exclusive events to rub elbows with the world's finest DJs, including up-and-comers like Lost Frequencies, worldwide sensations such as Above & Beyond and genre pioneers like David Guetta.

    Go Inside Miami Music Week's Hottest Parties

  • As we all return home this Monday, head back to work and try to find our way back to reality, take a bleary-eyed look back at seven DJ sets from Ultra that stuck to the inside of our brains and beat hard on the walls of our hearts.

Sunday, March 25

  • Just before his sunset set at Ultra, we caught up with Dutch DJ/producer Tiësto to discuss "Boom" with Gucci Mane, music's power to heal and the motto that has informed his successful 20-plus-year career. Check out our exclusive chat with the GRAMMY winner.

  • Weren't in Miami this week? Live vicariously through our roundup of the hottest industry mixers, daytime beach bashes and exclusive afterparties from Miami Music Week. 

Saturday, March 24

  • For artists, crew members and music fans alike, there are few things more important than protecing your hearing. MusiCares, the Recording Academy's health and human services charity, was on the ground in Miami, providing hearing protection for artists and crew. Get the lowdown on what some of the clients had to say with our full report.

    MusiCares hearing clinic backstage at Ultra
  • On Thursday, David Guetta and Sia revealed their latest collaboration,"Flames." Just a day later, we sat down for an exclusive with Guetta for the full story on their fiery new single, his chemistry with Sia and how he's prepping for his headling set at Ultra.
     
    David Guetta photographed in 2018

Friday, March 23

  • Deep house DJ Nora En Pure's exotic moniker reflects her work: mysterious, unique and authentic. She capped off the resurgence of Winter Music Conference on March 22 with an intimate conversation covering her creative process, thoughts on the current state of dance music, and her deepest inspirations and dreams.

  • Despite the huge number of notable music documentaries captivating the stories behind the artists, albums, and movements we love, dance music has had disproportionately fewer shining moments on the silver screen, especially considering the genre's massive and ever-growing popularity and influence. Now, a new film changes all that — What We Started premiered at Miami Music Week on Mach. 22. Learn about the film with our report from the premiere.

Thursday, March 22

From South Beach to Wynwood, to Downtown and back, Miami is pulsing with the world's biggest DJs and most passionate dance music fans this week. The reason? There are several. Ultra Music Festival, Miami Music Week, and Winter Music Conference all coincide, making Miami the place to for all things dance music.

Inside Miami Music Week with top DJs

Whether you on the scene and unable to be everywhere at once, or you can't quite make it South Florida, the Recording Academy has you covered. We'll be bringing you inside access to all the hottest performances, parties and panels from on the ground in Miami.

Ultra Music Festival

Ultra Music Festival returns to its picturesque downtown Miami home this year for the festival's 20th-anniversary edition. While the annual lineup is always solid, 2018's docket is particularly strong with headlining sets on the way from a collection of GRAMMY winners and nominees including Afrojack, the Chainsmokers, David Guetta, DJ Snake, Kaskade, Steve Aoki, Tiësto, and many more.

GRAMMYs

Arcadia The Spider stage (by Arcadia Spectacular) at Ultra 2017
Photo courtesy Arcadia Spectacular

To mix things up at Ultra, the RESISTANCE Stages return with an incredible mix of underground dance music. This year the Carl Cox Megastructure, hosted as always by legendary DJ Carl Cox himself, features a stacked string of performances by Dubfire, Nicole Moudaber, and Paco Osuna. Meanwhile, the unforgettable Arcadia The Spider stage installation is back, and will will be led by dark techno visionary and Drumcode label boss Adam Beyer, along with sets from J.E.S.u.S. (Jackmaster, Eats Everything, Skream, and Seth Troxler) and Better Lost Than Stupid (Davide Squillace, Matthias Tanzman, and Martin Buttrich). This diverse mix of headliners and RESISTANCE stage acts ensure there will be something for everyone at this year's sold-out Ultra.

Miami Music Week

Miami Music Week coincides with Ultra each year, and brings countless parties and club shows to South Beach, making sure industry players and fans alike have no shortage of music to enjoy. We'll be tracking some of the wildest and most exclusive parties and hippest premieres throughout the week.

Winter Music Conference

Winter Music Conference is also enjoying a vital last-minute resurgence in 2018. After a long history of unofficially overlapping to make Miami the place to be in late March, Ultra and Winter Music Conference are now finally under the same roof, with Ultra's announcement earlier this week that it had officially acquired WMC. With these two powerhouses now in step to provide more programming and entertainment, the sky is the limit. We'll be following some of the can't-miss programs from WMC, bringing you the inside scoop on what's what in today's thriving dance music industry.

Many of the world's DJs who make the pilgrimage to Miami feel that Ultra and Miami Music Week mark the start of the New Year for dance music, an opportunity to show off the new stage sets they've been working on through the winter. Make sure you check back at GRAMMY.com all this weekend to see what surprises are in store.

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Dolly Parton

Photo: Rob Hoffman

News

Dolly Parton To Be Honored As 2019 MusiCares Person Of The Year

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The eight-time GRAMMY winner will be the first artist from the Nashville music community to be honored at the annual GRAMMY Week gala benefiting music people in need
Nate Hertweck
MusiCares
Sep 4, 2018 - 5:49 pm

Dolly Parton, country music's most-honored female performer of all-time, is about to add a very prestigious achievement to her list: 2019 MusiCares Person Of The Year.  

Recording Academy and MusiCares President/CEO Neil Portnow announced today that Parton will be the honoree at 29th annual benefit gala. Proceeds from the event will provide essential support for MusiCares, a charity founded by the Recording Academy that ensures music people have a place to turn in times of financial, medical, and personal need. The tribute will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Feb. 8, 2019, two nights prior to the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards.

"Dolly Parton has always been and continues to be a courageous trailblazer and indomitable inspiration for creators and artists—so for us to have the opportunity to honor her at our annual MusiCares Person of the Year gala is to pay tribute to a true pillar of strength and someone who we all look up to and cherish," said Portnow. " Dolly also knows the power of philanthropy and she has used her stardom to contribute to a wide range of causes from natural disasters to education and literacy programs."

"I am so excited and humbled to be honored as MusiCares Person of the Year," said Parton. "It's even more special knowing the gala benefits music people in need. I can't wait to hear all of the great artists singing my music."

Parton was recognized by the Recording Academy in 2011 with the Lifetime Achievement Award. With this latest honor, the country music icon earns the distinction of becoming the first artist from the Nashville music community to be honored at the annual GRAMMY Week gala benefiting music people in need.

"I couldn't think of anyone more deserving to be the first MusiCares Person of the Year representing the Nashville music community," says Parton's manager, Danny Nozell, CEO, CTK Management. "It's been a privilege to witness her generous heart firsthand for the last 14 years."

The MusiCares Person Of The Year tribute ceremony is one of the most prestigious events held during GRAMMY Week and includes a reception and silent auction offering an exclusive selection of one-of-a-kind items for bidding guests followed by a dinner and tribute concert featuring renowned musicians and other artists paying tribute to Parton's music and legacy.

Parton joins a prestigious list of recent MusiCares Person Of The Year honorees including Carole King, Lionel Richie, Tom Petty. and last year's honorees, Fleetwood Mac.  

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Avoiding Repetitive Stress Injuries For Musicians

Photo: James Fraher/Redferns

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Play It Safe: How Musicians Can Avoid Repetitive Stress Injuries

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Learn ways to stay on the right side of the fine line between building chops musically and breaking down physically
Nate Hertweck
MusiCares
Jul 12, 2018 - 3:04 pm

It's true, jobs of all types put workers at risk for repetitive stress injury — from construction workers to anyone spending a large amount of time typing — but for musicians, the danger is particularly perilous. Neck tension, shoulder and back pain, stiffness in the hand and fingers, you name it! The physically repetitious nature of practice and performance can escalate from even the smallest discomfort into a major problem.

Dave Navarro's Powerful Message Of Hope

How can musicians avoid repetitive stress injury? How can they spot signs of this pesky hazard before it grows into a beast? We've identified a few ways to protect yourself from this common hazard for musicians.

Pay Attention To Technique

Drummers, guitarists, horn players, string players, singers — all musicians should be concerned about using proper technique in order to preserve their skills and live to play another day, so to speak. While these techniques vary from instrument to instrument, as does each individual's own style and interpretation, there are a few constants. For instance, musicians should always make sure their performance strokes are relaxed, not forced. Sure, there are fast and dynamic moments in many songs and styles that employ force, but even the fastest players will tell you their speed comes from smoothness, not tension.

That's why the best way to address RSI is to stop it before it starts by identifying bad posture and harmful habits before the long-term damage is done. The nitty-gritty details of technique deal with taking cues from your body's sensations — such as tension, weight, or effort — and using them to inform your muscular control to reduce tension and increase relaxation while playing.

Stretch It Out

Thought stretching was only for competitive athletes? Think again! The muscles you use to perform are just as important as the ones athletes use to compete, so warming up and stretching are key. Take a look at these essential stretching techniques to get you started.

Stretching and proper care of your body can ensure you're always playing your best. Another way to improve your playing and overall health is to exercise regularly outside of music. Using your larger muscle groups by playing sports, running, rowing, yoga, or others forms of working out can help counterbalance the intense use of smaller muscle groups when you play music. 

Take It Easy

Just as listening to loud music can be damaging to your ears over time, practicing without a break for too long can hurt you in the end. If you have an extended rehearsal, be sure to step out periodically to rest and rejuvenate. If you're on tour, get plenty of sleep and don't over exert yourself in soundcheck or rehearsal. Even if you only play with a garage band on the weekends, try not to cram in three hours of straight practice. Add a few shorter practices during the week to build strength and take regular breaks during your marathon rehearsals.

Also, the stress of performing in front of an audience can also complicate RSI, so musicians can help themselves by finding ways to relax mentally before big performances. Mindfulness and meditation can be powerful tools for bringing your mental state to the stage with you while allowing you to focus on giving your best efforts to serve the music.

Speak Up

Listen to your body when you play, and if you're in pain, see a doctor. It may seem like strength building, soreness or muscle fatigue are part of the process, but serious RSI can be crippling if you let it go too long without treatment. A doctor visit can help you understand your limits and treat RSI symptoms properly.

But you'll need to be very careful with how you treat the pain associated with RSI, as some doctors may not be experienced in dealing with musicians in this manner, so seek a specialist. Musicians should also be careful with any type of pain medication, as it can not only mask the issue instead of treating it.

Learning these precautions may not be as exciting as mastering the "Spider Chord" or the "Purdie Shuffle," but if you want to keep playing, you need to learn how to play safe.

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