GRAMMY FOUNDATION® TO PRESENT 16TH ANNUAL ENTERTAINMENT LAW INITIATIVE® LUNCHEON & SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTATION FEATURING KEYNOTE BY ROBERT KYNCL, HEAD OF CONTENT AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS AT YOUTUBE

RENOWNED ENTERTAINMENT ATTORNEY DON PASSMAN TO RECEIVE
SERVICE AWARD
Scholarship Program For Promising Entertainment Law Students Awards Cash Scholarships;
Winners Present Papers At Annual ELI Luncheon During GRAMMY Week

 WHO:           

The GRAMMY Foundation® will present the 16th Annual Entertainment Law Initiative® Luncheon & Scholarship Presentation featuring a keynote address by Robert Kyncl, head of content and business operations at YouTube. Don Passman, a partner in the law firm of Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown, will be the recipient of the 2014 Service Award, which will be presented by multi-GRAMMY®-winning artist Randy Newman. The honor is awarded to an attorney who has demonstrated a commitment to advancing and supporting the music community through service. Other program participants include: Ron Wilcox, ELI Executive Chair; Ken Abdo, ELI Program Chair and top music industry attorney (Lommen, Abdo, Cole, King & Stageberg, P.A.); and Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy® and the GRAMMY Foundation. At the luncheon, a cash scholarship of $5,000 will be awarded to the author of the winning paper, and $1,500 will be awarded to each of four runners-up. Additionally, all ELI writing competition finalists will receive airfare, hotel accommodations and a ticket to the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards®, which will be held at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, and broadcast live at 8 p.m. ET/PT on the CBS Television Network, as well as invitations to other GRAMMY Week activities.

WHAT:          

The 16th Annual Entertainment Law Initiative Luncheon & Scholarship Presentation, one of the most prestigious events held during GRAMMY^® Week, a celebration that culminates with the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards. Established in 1998 to recognize and further the connection between the legal profession and the recording community, the ELI program seeks to address legal issues confronting the music industry.

 The GRAMMY Foundation^® was established in 1989 to cultivate the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music to American culture. The Foundation accomplishes this mission through programs and activities that engage the music industry and cultural community as well as the general public. The Foundation works in partnership year-round with its founder, The Recording Academy^®, to bring national attention to important issues such as the value and impact of music and arts education and the urgency of preserving our rich cultural heritage. In recognition of the significant role of teachers in shaping their students’ musical experiences, the GRAMMY Foundation and The Recording Academy are partnering to present our first Music Educator Award. Open to current U.S. music teachers in K through college, the Music Educator Award will be given out during GRAMMY Week 2014. For more information about the Foundation, please visit www.grammyfoundation.org. For breaking news and exclusive content, please like "GRAMMY in the Schools^®" on Facebook at www.facebook.com/grammyintheschools and follow @GRAMMYFdn on Twitter and Instagram.   

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: If you are interested in covering any of these events, you MUST request credentials no later than 6 p.m. PT on Monday, Jan. 20. Credentials will be picked up at media check-in on the day of the event. MEDIA MUST BE CREDENTIALED. All satellite truck/van parking must be coordinated no later than Monday, Jan. 20.

MEDIA R.S.V.P. MANDATORY:

Christina Cassidy/GRAMMY Foundation/310.392.3777/christina.cassidy@grammy.com

Hannah Berryman/GRAMMY Foundation/310.392.3777/hannah.berryman@grammy.com

Media Contacts:

Christina Cassidy/GRAMMY Foundation/310.392.3777/christina.cassidy@grammy.com

Hannah Berryman/GRAMMY Foundation/310.392.3777/hannah.berryman@grammy.com

# # #