The Recording Academy could not fulfill its duties as music creator ambassadors across the nation without the leadership of black women.
In a recently published piece by Essence, the magazine hightlights some of the powerhouses behind the Academy in honor of Black Music Month. From Yolanda Adams and former A&R executive Qiana Conley leading the Recording Academy chapters in Texas and Los Angeles, respectively, to trustees like Lalah Hathaway and SassyBlack being at the forefront of chapters across different states, black women are shaping the future of the home of the Biggest Night In Music, beyond the GRAMMY awards.
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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"> View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div></a> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BxkdKwMBxbJ/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">#ASCAPPopAwards with this fellow @recordingacademy beauty @brittyvette! </a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cueofthegoldencoast/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Qiana Conley</a> (@cueofthegoldencoast) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2019-05-17T16:02:05+00:00">May 17, 2019 at 9:02am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
Recording Academy chapters, established in cities across the country, provide a community approach to the music industry through networking opportunities, professional development events and more.
"Women are a vital part of the world and they’re a vital part of our organization," Executive Director of the Recording Academy Washington D.C. chapter Jeriel Johnson told Essence. "They are committed to their careers and support each other,” said Johnson. “You can see the bond."
As Essence notes, almost a dozen black women make up the D.C. chapter board; Tracy Hamlin, Priscilla Clarke and Elise Perry are just a few.
“Women are a vital part of the world and they’re a vital part of our organization,” Johnson said.
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