Freimuth Promoted To VP, Awards
Four-year Academy veteran will oversee the Awards Department and manage the GRAMMY Awards process
GRAMMY.com
The Recording Academy announced today that it has promoted Bill Freimuth to Vice President, Awards.
Freimuth, who previously served as Senior Director, Awards, will now report to President/CEO Neil Portnow. In his new position, he will oversee the Awards Department and manage the Awards process for the annual GRAMMY Awards. He replaces Diane Theriot, formerly Senior Vice President, Awards, who recently retired.
"Bill possesses both the experience and the passion to serve and succeed in this integral role," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. "Over the past four years, he has proven his value to our organization by learning the intricacies of our Awards process, and upholding the standard of excellence of the GRAMMY Award. As he enters into this new leadership role, he will continue to ensure the integrity of our Awards process, and that the GRAMMY Award continues to be revered as the music industry's preeminent peer-recognized honor."
In addition to overseeing the Awards Department and managing the GRAMMY Awards process, Freimuth will oversee the production of the Pre-Telecast Ceremony, which occurs prior to the live telecast and where 90 percent of the GRAMMY Award recipients are announced. Freimuth will also manage the Special Merit Awards Ceremony, recognizing recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Trustees Award and the Technical GRAMMY Award, held the night before the telecast as a culmination of the series of events that take place during GRAMMY Week — the week leading up to the annual GRAMMY Awards telecast.
With more than 20 years of experience in the live entertainment industry, Freimuth has worked for various distinguished arts organizations. His award show experience includes founding and executive producing the Theatre LA Ovation Awards while he was Executive Director of Theatre LA, a theatre industry consortium. The Ovation Awards have since grown to become a prestigious peer-recognized honor, drawing national recognition to the Los Angeles theatre community.
Prior to joining The Academy in 2004, Freimuth was the Production Unit Manager for the Big Apple Circus in New York City where he managed a 38-week, 11-city tour and the artistic, house, operations, and road finance divisions for the circus. Previously, he was Executive Director of Performance Riverside — a theatre company — where he oversaw the artistic direction and general management of the troupe, as well as produced Broadway-style shows at the 1,400-seat Landis Auditorium in Riverside, Calif.
