Seated among a colorfully-draped stage, it was obvious that six-time GRAMMY nominee Halle Bailey was speaking to her people. 

The packed room at GRAMMY House in downtown Los Angeles on Feb.2 listened intently as Bailey led a Masterclass for GRAMMY U Members, which was moderated by GRAMMY- winning artist and songwriter Muni Long. The event was presented by Mastercard.

In a live streamed conversation, Bailey offered a rare insight into her success in music and film — which includes two albums released with her sister Chloe Bailey, her lead role as Ariel in the live version of Disney’s The Little Mermaid and the role of Nettie Harris in the remake of The Color Purple. She also discussed balancing her career with her personal life as a brand new first-time mom.

While the Masterclass celebrated Bailey's achievements, it was also a showcase of what Ruby Marchand, the Recording Academy’s Chief Awards & Industry Officer, described as "the future of music." 

Your cultural devotion and impact is something that the Recording Academy deeply cares about and we are here to help you find your careers, find your relationships, find your deepest inspired source that can help guide you," Marchand said before bringing out Bailey and Long. "Believe in yourselves, have the self confidence to take risks to make decisions that are right for you, that are right creatively, musically, and that’s the journey of GRAMMY U." 

The Recording Academy’s President Panos A. Panay then made a special announcement that ensures a more diverse and inclusive future for the nearly 20-year-old GRAMMY U, which currently hosts 6,000 members and 30,000 alumni. GRAMMY U recently expanded its membership eligibility to increase inclusivity beyond college enrollment.

"I know everyone knows the Recording Academy for the GRAMMY Awards, but the mission of the Academy is ultimately about fostering the next generation of creators," he said. "It’s about providing a platform and a way of advocating for what we think is the most important class of citizens, which are the people that are creating these amazing songs and the music and the beats that move all of us."

Both Bailey and Long had incredible advice for attendees to apply to their own lives as early-career creatives. Read on for five of the biggest lessons from the 2024 GRAMMY U Masterclass.

Absorb Greatness & Get Aligned

Long suggested that the audience set an intention to learn as much as possible from the Masterclass. These lessons can be absorbed through osmosis, she noted.

"When you are in the presence of people that you admire and you respect — whether that’s Halle, or myself or whoever — understand that there is a frequency that you have to be aligned with in order to get closer to the beats that you desire," she said. 

Long encouraged attendees at GRAMMY House and on the livestream to "align yourselves with the things that you want to see in your future." The "Hrs & Hrs" singer added that she wanted "to elevate you with my frequency, my intention, my energy."

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Family Comes First

Bailey and her sister Chloe first garnered attention at kids singing cover songs on YouTube, which led to being signed to Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment label as Chloe x Halle. They’re working on their third album together and also both have solo projects. At the Masterclass, Bailey emphasized the importance of family and how Chloe helped instill her with confidence.

"I was truly grateful and blessed that I was able to start in this industry with my big sister Chloe, who is my angel, my guide, my protector always," she said. "The beautiful symbolism of having a sister there to guide you through everything in life is that she’s filling me up with courage and joy and me just really believing in myself because that's something that I really needed to work on, and still do a bit today."

The 23-year-old has said she has learned that she can do more than she ever expected, and working with her family was crucial. "Being able to start that way with that anchor is something I was so, so grateful for."

Balance The Personal & Professional  

Bailey recently had her first child, a baby boy named Halo; Long wanted to know what she’s learning now when trying to keep a personal and professional balance.

"I feel like I've reached this new level of maturity," Bailey said. "Especially being a mother now, which is so crazy to say! But I feel Like I've learned how to balance it by shutting the world out. That's the first thing. I have to shut out the opinions of other people when it comes to social media, Twitter, Instagram, I just have to not read anything, I have to turn it off…"

Motherhood has opened a new "can of worms" for Bailey. "You see, really, your heart in your hands in this beautiful being. So I feel like I have such a greater purpose and so much more to do for him, and so much more that I want him to be able to experience," she said. "So it gives me a new motivation and drive and passion for myself, for my family, for my life, for everything."

Find An Anchor In Artistry

Since Bailey’s career was kickstarted by YouTube success, Long asked what advice Bailey has for aspiring artists when it comes to making content and using social media today.

"I would say for anybody who is trying to start out and be in this confusing industry where the world of social media is crazy now — you have so many things to think about as an artist," Bailey said. "What I try to do for myself is block out all of those things and take it back to being in the garage with my pen and pad and writing out my true thoughts and my love for music. That’s what I stand on."

Bailey also encouraged the audience to have a realistic view of their work — something the veil of social media can make challenging.

"All of the glitz and glam is cool in this industry," she added, "but you know when you start working in it, it's very up and down. There’s a lot of 'nos'...but if you anchor yourself with your love for your artistry, that is what matters the most."

Things change every day, Bailey continued, "but if you find that love for what your passion is then you just stick to that. So remain open to being who you are and remembering why you started."

Ignore The Haters

Bailey admitted that mean comments on social media can really hurt and make her pull away, but she has learned to ignore the noise and focus on her music.

"I just ignore, ignore, ignore," Bailey said. "If somebody says something I don’t like, I don’t want to hear it. I don’t listen. I just have to say to myself, ‘Thank you, I respect and appreciate your opinion, but I agree to disagree.’ And I’m going to show you otherwise."

"That’s actually great advice," Long replied. "You not only have to say that, but you have to distance yourself because — what we were talking about in the beginning, leading through osmosis — you can also take on negativity through osmosis as well. So if you allow yourself to continuously be eroded by other people’s perception of who they think you should be versus how you see yourself, that's very dangerous."

After the Masterclass concluded, Bailey surprised the audience with a lovely live performance of "Angel," her first solo single that’s been nominated for Best R&B Song this year. Tune in to the GRAMMY Awards on Sun. Feb. 4 to see if she wins!

2024 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Full Nominees List

While Atlanta continues its reign as one of the hip-hop capitals of the world, its creative and music communities want the globe to understand that its music scene is more than just sections in the club with bottle service, beats and rhymes.

So for the Recording Academy's Atlanta Chapter Nominee Celebration at The Loft in midtown Atlanta on Jan. 25, the intimate live music venue showcased a range of talent. The soul-stirring performances stuck to attendees' ribs like the shrimp and chicken sausage etouffee that "New Soul Kitchen" host Jernard Wells was serving in the back.

It was on and poppin’ once Senior Executive Director Michele Caplinger and Atlanta Chapter President Henny Tha Bizness welcomed members and their guests. DJ Willy Wow!, whose Hip Hope For Kids! is nominated at the 2024 GRAMMYs for Best Children’s Album, was spinning tunes while Chapter Secretary Mara Davis warmed up the crowd as emcee. A wall featuring all of this year’s Atlanta-based nominees displayed ATL's diverse array of talent.

Killer Mike hit the stage dressed in all-white denim with a wooden pulpit to spit a few scriptures from his three-time GRAMMY-nominated magnum opus, MICHAEL. Backed by the gospel harmonies of the five-member vocal ensemble Mighty Midnight Revival and Trackstar the DJ working the turntables, Mike encouraged the audience to put their phones away and just vibe to the music.

The majority of the audience complied. The rapper and businessman opened with "Motherless" while a headshot of his late mother, Denise, sat on an easel flanked with white flowers. He landed into "Shed Tears" and "NRich" before taking the crowd six miles west in his old school Chevy to his old stomping ground, Adamsville, for "Exit 9" and closing with his movement "Scientists and Engineers."

"Atlanta made the best hip-hop album of 2023," Mike told the crowd.

Muni Long appeared in a sheer gown that resembles a Ciroc bottle’s color schemes to deliver her tender R&B ballads "Made For Me" and "Hrs and Hrs" with a vocal delivery sweeter than the Sweet Cheats cookies shaped like a GRAMMY.

"This was amazing," said Long, who took home a golden gramophone for Best R&B Performance for "Hrs & Hrs" in 2023. "It’s always an honor to be recognized by your peers. I had no idea that that record was going to do what it did. I’m forever grateful and can hopefully do it again."

Muni Long ┃Derek White/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Alt-pop artist Forrest Isn’t Dead came with melodic pop meshed with alternative rock that blurs between something out of CBGBs and The 40 Watt Club. The quartet turned up the amps and got the crowd on its feet with "Born or Made," "Here We Are," and "The Light."

"My happiness is to be able to get up on that stage, make the music, and try to help people through whatever they’re going through with the words that I share from my own life," Forrest Isn’t Dead frontman Forrest Kleindienst said.

Sibling foursome The BoykinZ threw some country twang, ‘50s girl group harmonies and 808 claps together to give hoedowns a trunk rattling makeover. The sisters threw on some pink, cowboy hats and studded denim costumes for a cool cover of TLC’s "Waterfalls" featuring "Mama" Jan Smith on guitar.

Rudy Currence posted up in black leather behind a Nord Stage 3 keyboard for some gospel-flavored soul: taking the audience back to his daddy’s Rock Hill, S.C. church as he covers Donny Hathaway’s "A Song For You" and Gnarls Barkley’s "Crazy."

Recording Academy Chair of the Board of Trustees Tammy Hurt considered the evening’s performances to be perfect precursor for the diverse musical acts that will hit the stages during GRAMMY Week.

"It’s great to be home and see these amazing artists from this city being celebrated," Hurt said. "Music brings us together, and events like tonight are a prime example of what it means to be a part of a community."

Several local and state representatives also pulled up to join in on the fun and recognize how important the music business is to Atlanta and the state of Georgia.

"We export music all around the world, so this is what we do," said State Senator Sonya Halpern. "Atlanta is a place where you can do music, be successful at it, and we want to help grow more people to be part of the industry and understand all of the opportunities."

"I’m a creative legislator, and you have to be in this day and age," said artist-turned-State Representative Inga Willis. "The pipelines are what are fueling the music industry as a whole. Atlanta music influences everything. We define sounds and genres while reshifting and recreating, and we’re the business."

The Atlanta Chapter’s executive team expressed confidence that each act and the vibe of the night left attendees pleased with an evening they will never forget.

"People don’t really understand how diverse the Atlanta community is," Tha Bizness said. "We have a strong hip-hop, R&B, country, bluegrass, rock and a great DJ scene all within an amazing community. When you bring all of that together, allow the drinks to flow, the food to be great, and the people should be energized, you’ll have an electrifying night."

2024 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Full Nominees List

The Atlanta Chapter's celebration was sponsored by Sean O'Keefe Enterprises, The MLC and City National Bank.

Halle Bailey’s stardom continues to reach new heights. Following her first solo GRAMMY nomination, Bailey will be the featured artist at the GRAMMY U Masterclass Presented by Mastercard. The annual GRAMMY Week event will be held at GRAMMY House in Los Angeles on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024.

Moderated by GRAMMY-winning artist Muni Long, Bailey's will offer practical insights about crafting a unique path as an artist. Attendees will learn how to follow their creative intuition and translate their passion to diverse sectors of the music industry. Drawing inspiration from Bailey's multifaceted music career, this program will explore the versatility of her artistry, from acting to music.

Bailey has recently explored lead roles in blockbusters such as The Little Mermaid and The Color Purple, yet the multitalented artist considers music her first love. In their early teens, Halle Bailey and her sister, Chloe, received millions of views on their YouTube covers, leading them to be discovered by Beyoncé, who signed the sister R&B duo Chloe x Halle to her label in 2015. Since, Chloe x Halle have earned five GRAMMY nominations for their soulful albums, The Kids are Alright and Ungodly Hour.

At the 66th GRAMMY Awards, Halle Bailey is nominated for her first GRAMMY as a solo artist; her single "Angel" is up for Best R&B Song. This marks the sixth GRAMMY nomination of her career.

Bailey's story of artistic growth and cultural representation has inspired many young creatives who are interested in working in the entertainment industry. At just 23 years old, her insight on balancing multiple artistic endeavors is sure to resonate with emerging Gen Z creatives. From young professionals exploring their interests to those perfecting their craft, Bailey will encourage GRAMMY U attendees to continue expanding on their musical passions.

The Masterclass will kick off with a welcome mixer with sounds by GRAMMY U member DJ KAHLO where attendees can connect while grabbing custom merch and snapping photos.

For members who aren’t able to attend in person, the GRAMMY U Masterclass will be livestreamed on the Recording Academy’s YouTube and Twitch channels at 1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET.

6 Deep Insights From Jacob Collier & Jessie Reyez' GRAMMY U Masterclass Conversation

The Recording Academy’s GRAMMY House is returning for a second consecutive year for music makers, culture creators and rising industry leaders to participate in three program-packed days leading up to the 2024 GRAMMY Awards airing Sun, Feb. 4 on CBS and Paramount+. GRAMMY House is presented by Mastercard and runs from Thurs, Feb. 1, 2024, to Sat, Feb. 3, 2024, in Los Angeles.

As a longtime sponsor of the 66th Annual GRAMMY Awards, Mastercard is committed to connecting consumers to their passion for music and continues to be a dedicated supporter of the music industry, artists, fans as well as programs for emerging artists.

“I am so excited for this second installment of GRAMMY House,” said Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. “The response last year from younger fans and artists just starting their relationship with the Recording Academy was overwhelming, and we’re a better organization because of the increased engagement with them. I’m grateful for the amazing artists and partners who are helping make this year’s GRAMMY House an even bigger success.”  

The dynamic GRAMMY Week destination is carefully curated to honor and inspire a diverse community of music creators and professionals. Programming kicks off with a celebration of Women In The Mix and continues with an independent music panel, an emerging artist showcase, a GRAMMY U Masterclass presented by Mastercard, and the third annual #GRAMMYsNextGen party. GRAMMY House concludes with the debut of Academy Proud – the Recording Academy’s new initiative dedicated to uplifting the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Additionally, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the annual Latin GRAMMY Awards, The Latin Recording Academy will exhibit a time capsule that showcases important and memorable moments of Latin GRAMMY history, which will be available for guests to visit throughout the duration of GRAMMY House.

GRAMMY HOUSE PROGRAMMING

All events are invite-only.

A Celebration of Women In The Mix

Presented by PEOPLE and Sephora

Date: Thurs, Feb. 1, 2024

Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

The Recording Academy has teamed up with long time partner, PEOPLE, and Sephora to present an event honoring and amplifying the voices of women in music. Event programming includes a luncheon, panel discussion on the road to success, GRAMMY-nominated guests, and live performances by Sephora Sounds artists Rawan Chaya, Beth Million, and Dounia, who will DJ the event. PEOPLE and Sephora aim to serve as megaphones for women in music, creating pathways to professional success. Sephora will provide make-up touch-up stations and a music-infused photo booth. Dyson, a participating sponsor, will provide styling stations for hair touch-ups and curate an immersive listening experience with the Dyson Zone™ noise-canceling headphones. The Hartford is also a participating sponsor and will activate an interactive, augmented reality graffiti wall. 

 The Recording Academy launched Women In The Mix in 2019 to drive representation and provide opportunities for studio professionals, artists and beyond. Sephora Sounds is a music collective to support and amplify underrepresented, emerging artists through Sephora’s social platforms.

Growing Wild Independent Music Community Panel

Date: Thurs, Feb. 1, 2024

Doors: 2:45 p.m.

Time: 3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Leading professionals in the independent music community including Stan Founder and CEO Denisha Kuhlor, independent recording artist Cocoa Sarai, Splice CEO Kakul Srivastava, and SymphonyOS Co-Founder and CEO Megh Vakharia will discuss key trends and predictions for 2024 and beyond, moderated by Vydia VP of Label & Artist Relations Chris Maltese.

Beats & Blooms Emerging Artist Showcase

Date: Thurs, Feb. 1, 2024

Time: 8 p.m. – 11 p.m.

An emerging artist showcase, hosted by comedian Matt Friend, featuring performances by Sephora Sounds Artists Aint Afraid, Mastercard’s Artist Accelerator Artist Cocoa Sarai, and rising stars BETWEEN FRIENDS, Teezo Touchdown, and Tiana Major9. PEOPLE will amplify the showcase and Sephora will provide make-up and touch-up stations.

GRAMMY U Masterclass with Halle Bailey

Presented by Mastercard

Date: Fri, Feb. 2, 2024

Doors: 11 a.m.

Livestream: 1 p.m.

An exclusive masterclass with GRAMMY-nominated artist Halle Bailey, presented by Mastercard. GRAMMY U members are invited to attend this event in person and programming will be livestreamed for the public on the GRAMMY Awards YouTube & Twitch channels.

#GRAMMYsNextGen Party & Red Carpet

Date: Fri, Feb. 2, 2024

Red Carpet: 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Doors: 8 p.m.

The third annual #GRAMMYsNextGen Party for leading creators and professionals who are shaping the future of music, presented by Mastercard and Dyson. The party will feature live performances by first-time GRAMMY nominee Romy, Blaqbonez, Cyanide Beats, and Yasmin. As guests arrive on the red carpet they will experience music amplified by Sonos, and enjoy photo opportunities, light bites, food trucks, and refreshments. Guests can visit the Mastercard Secret Garden and Bloom House Speakeasy to learn more about their Priceless Planet Coalition initiative. Dyson will provide a pure, immersive listening experience, with opportunities to trial and capture content of the brand’s first audio technology, the Dyson Zone™ noise-canceling headphones. In addition, Dyson styling stations will be available for on-site touch ups and hands on access to its full range of haircare technology.

#GRAMMYsNextGen Ambassador Power Brunch

Date: Sat, Feb. 3, 2024

Time: 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

The Recording Academy will honor the 2024 Class of #GRAMMYsNextGen Ambassadors and Advisors with a private Power Brunch to celebrate the year’s successes. Sonos will celebrate their contributions by gifting the Era 300, its revolutionary new spatial audio speaker.

Academy Proud: Celebrating LGBTQIA+ Voices  

Date: Sat, Feb. 3, 2024

Time: 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.

In partnership with GLAAD and OUTLOUD, the Recording Academy is launching Academy Proud – a new initiative aiming to support and amplify LGBTQIA+ voices and drive queer representation at the Recording Academy and the music industry at-large. The debut mixer will feature photo opportunities, a live DJ and remarks from leaders in the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Additional Participating Sponsors:

• Smirnoff will be on hand with specialty bars serving specialty cocktails and its new Smirnoff SMASH vodka soda cans.

• CELSIUS will provide Essential Energy to all attendees through their Cosmic Vibe activation.

• FIJI Water will keep guests hydrated with Earth’s Finest Water in their 500mL and 330mL bottles, made from 100% recycled plastic (rPET).

The 2024 GRAMMYs, officially known as the 66th GRAMMY Awards, will air live hosted by Trevor Noah from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 4 (8 -11:30 p.m. LIVE ET/5-8:30 p.m. LIVE PT) on the CBS Television Network and will stream on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the special airs).

Stay tuned for more updates as we approach Music's Biggest Night!

2024 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Full Nominees List

It's that time again: The 2024 GRAMMYs is just a few months out — airing live Sunday, Feb. 4, from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Which means nominations for the 2024 GRAMMYs are just around the corner. On Friday, Nov 10, starting at 7:45 a.m. PT / 10:45 a.m. ET, nominations for the 2024 GRAMMYs will be announced via a livestream event airing live on live.GRAMMY.com. The nominations will also stream live on the Recording Academy's YouTube channel. 

The 2024 GRAMMYs nominations livestream event will feature a diverse cast of some of the leading voices in music today, including St. Vincent, Jeff Tweedy, Muni Long, Kim Petras, 2024 MusiCares Person Of The Year Jon Bon Jovi, and many others, who will be announcing the 2024 GRAMMY nominees across all 94 categories. Plus, the livestream event will also feature an exclusive GRAMMY Nominations Pre-Show and Wrap-Up Show, which will both feature exclusive videos and conversations about the biggest stories and trends to come out of the 2024 GRAMMYs nominations.

City National Bank is the Official Bank of the GRAMMYs and proud sponsor of the 66th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominations.

See below for a full guide to the 2024 GRAMMYs nominations livestream event happening next week:

Read More: How To Watch The 2024 GRAMMYs Live: GRAMMY Nominations Announcement, Air Date, Red Carpet, Streaming Channel & More

How Can I Watch The 2024 GRAMMY Nominations? 

The nominations livestream event will stream live on live.GRAMMY.com and the Recording Academy's YouTube channel.

When Are The 2024 GRAMMY Nominations Announced?

The 2024 GRAMMYs nominations will be announced Friday, Nov 10. The day kicks off with an exclusive GRAMMY Nominations Pre-Show, starting at 7:45 a.m. PT / 10:45 a.m. ET. Hosted by Emmy-winning TV host and “GMA3” contributor Rocsi Diaz, the GRAMMY Nominations Pre-Show will give music fans an inside look at the various initiatives and campaigns that the Recording Academy, the organization behind the annual GRAMMY Awards, supports on a year-long basis on its mission to recognize excellence in the recording arts and sciences and cultivate the well-being of the music community.

Afterward, starting at 8 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. ET, the GRAMMY nominations livestream event begins. The livestream event will begin with a special presentation announcing the nominees in the General Field categories, aka the Big Six, as well as select categories. On live.GRAMMY.com, exclusive videos announcing the nominees across multiple categories will stream as a multi-screen livestream event that users can control, providing a dynamic, expansive online experience for music fans of all genres. The nomination videos will also stream live on YouTube. The full list of 2024 GRAMMYs nominees will then be published on live.GRAMMY.com and GRAMMY.com immediately following the livestream event.

After the nominations are announced, stay tuned for an exclusive GRAMMY Nominations Wrap-Up Show. Co-hosted by "Entertainment Tonight" correspondents Cassie DiLaura and Denny Directo, the Wrap-Up Show will break down all the notable news and top stories from the 2024 GRAMMYs nominations. The GRAMMY Nominations Wrap-Up Show will stream live on live.GRAMMY.com as well as the Recording Academy's YouTube channel, X profile, Twitch channel, TikTok page, Instagram profile, and Facebook page.

Watch the 2024 GRAMMYs nominations livestream event and make sure to use #GRAMMYs to join the conversation on social media as it unfolds live on Friday, Nov. 10.

The schedule for the 2024 GRAMMYs nominations livestream event is as follows:

GRAMMY Nominations Pre-Show
7:45 a.m. PT / 10:45 a.m. ET

Nominations Livestream Event
8 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. ET 

Nominations Livestream Event Ends & Full Nominations Revealed
8:25 a.m. PT / 11:25 a.m. ET 

GRAMMY Nominations Wrap-Up Show
8:25 a.m. PT / 11:25 a.m. ET

^All times are approximate and subject to change.

Read More: Three New Categories Added For The 2024 GRAMMYs: Best African Music Performance, Best Alternative Jazz Album & Best Pop Dance Recording

Who's Announcing The 2024 GRAMMY Nominations?

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. will be joined by GRAMMY winners Arooj Aftab, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Jimmy Jam, Jon Bon Jovi, Samara Joy, Muni Long, Cheryl Pawelski, Kim Petras, Judith Sherman, St. Vincent, Jeff Tweedy, and "Weird Al" Yankovic, along with "CBS Mornings" co-hosts Gayle King, Nate Burleson, and Tony Dokoupil, to announce all the nominees for the 2024 GRAMMYs. 

When Are The 2024 GRAMMYs?

The 2024 GRAMMYs, officially known as the 66th GRAMMY Awards, will air live on Sunday, Feb. 4, at 8-11:30 p.m. ET/5-8:30 p.m. PT from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Music's Biggest Night will air live on the CBS Television Network and stream on Paramount+. 

Mark your calendars now for the 2024 GRAMMY nominations happening Friday, Nov 10.

With additional reporting by Morgan Enos.

2024 GRAMMYs: 4 Things To Know About The New Categories & Changes