GRAMMY U, the Recording Academy's youngest membership group, is hosting their first-ever online conference, open to the public and streaming on the Recording Academy Facebook page next Fri., April 17 at 2 p.m. PST/4 p.m. CST/5 p.m. EST. The Virtual GRAMMY U Conference will be split into three parts: two panels—on mental health and music publishing, respectively—featuring industry experts and a conversation-plus-performance from U.K. alt-pop duo Oh Wonder.
The first panel, entitled "Stop the Stigma: Mental Health & Music" will focus on "how to stay connected while in quarantine and on the road, growing up in the spotlight and the impact of social media on mental health." This timely conversation will be led by music executive and Silence the Shame founder Shanti Das and powerhouse singer JoJo.
The other panel, "Publishing 101," will "break down the basics about publishing deals and royalties and the role publishers play in the careers of songwriters." The conversation will feature Ruby Amanfu, the Ghana-born, Nashville-based singer/songwriter who co-wrote H.E.R.'s GRAMMY-nominated "Hard Place," Jennifer Blakeman, NYU professor and President/CCO of One77, Al "Butter" McLean, Senior VP of Creative at Kobalt Music, Liz Rose, GRAMMY-winning songwriter and founder of Liz Rose Music Publishing; and Ana Rosa Santiago, VP of Latin Music at Universal Music Publishing Group.
The final segment, featuring Oh Wonder, will see the band discussing creativity during quarantine and the stories behind a few of their songs. They will also perform some of their new music—their latest LP, No One Else Can Wear Your Crown, was released in February, and their brand-new "Home Tapes" series sees them releasing new music from their home studio.
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The event was produced by GRAMMY U Reps from around the country, creating a fun and educational experience with their fellow music industry-aspiring peers in mind. They note that they'll feature student-submitted videos during the breaks in the programming as well as offer giveaways in the live chat during the conference.
Make sure to follow us on Facebook to stay in the loop on all things GRAMMY U, Recording Academy, MusiCares and music in the age of quarantine. And don't forget to tune in to our page on Fri., April 17 at 2 p.m. PST/4 p.m. CST/5 p.m. EST to watch and engage with the GU community during the Virtual GRAMMY U Conference.
