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The Recording Academy Establishes Black Music Collective

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The newly launched collective comprises a group of prominent Black music creators and professionals who share the common goal of amplifying Black voices within the Recording Academy and the wider music community
Recording Academy
Sep 3, 2020 - 6:30 am

The Recording Academy has today (Sept. 3) announced the creation of its Black Music Collective (BMC), a group of prominent Black music creators and professionals who share the common goal of amplifying Black voices within the Academy and the wider music community.

As part of the Recording Academy's commitment to evolving hand-in-hand with its membership, BMC will serve as a space for members to speak openly about new and emerging opportunities in Black music across all genres and identify ways to drive more representation.

The launch of BMC follows the Recording Academy's recent partnership with Color Of Change, the nation's largest online racial justice organization, in July, which set forth to create a Black music advisory group. The BMC fulfills this promise and is bringing together creators and business leaders to create a pipeline of future industry trailblazers. Leaders will meet regularly and initiate programs that will encourage participation and accelerate Black membership in the Recording Academy.

Jeffrey Harleston, Jimmy Jam, Quincy Jones, Debra Lee, John Legend, and Sylvia Rhone will serve as honorary chairs of the BMC. A distinguished leadership committee will be confirmed in the coming weeks and will work in sync with the honorary chairs to propel the collective's mission. Recording Academy Trustee Riggs Morales and Washington, D.C., Chapter Executive Director Jeriel Johnson will lead the initiative internally. 

"The Black Music Collective is necessary to help drive the Recording Academy into a new era. Creating an open space for Black music creators can only benefit our membership as a whole," Harvey Mason jr., Chair and Interim President/CEO of the Recording Academy, said. "Through the past few months, I've been personally invested in propelling this collective along with Chapter leadership within the Academy. Together, we will elevate Black music creators within our organization and the industry at large." 

"As Black music continues to drive culture, it is essential we grow and maintain representation within the Academy and the music industry," Valeisha Butterfield Jones, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer of the Recording Academy, said. "We're thrilled to help develop the leaders of tomorrow with impactful educational and experiential programs that we will announce in coming weeks."

In March 2018, the Recording Academy established a third-party task force to examine issues of diversity and inclusion within the Academy and the broader music community. The Academy has since taken action on the Task Force's initial assessment and recommendations and has made additional strides to facilitate a culture of belonging while recognizing the need to focus on underrepresented communities. Recent initiatives include the hiring of a Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, a $1 million donation to Color Of Change, alignment with #TheShowMustBePaused movement created by Jamila Thomas (Atlantic Records) and Brianna Agyemang (Platoon), and the development of an industry Inclusion Rider and Toolkit to be released later this year.

Stay up to date on the Recording Academy's progress, future announcements and recent initiatives on diversity and inclusion.

Recording Academy Invites & Celebrates Its 2020 New Member Class

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The Wiltern in Los Angeles

The Wiltern in Los Angeles

Photo Courtesy of Live Nation

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Live Nation Looking To Convert More Than 100 Venues Into Polling Places

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The plan is part of Live Nation's newly announced, wide-spanning initiative aimed at increasing civic engagement and supporting voting access in the upcoming 2020 elections
John Ochoa
GRAMMYs
Sep 16, 2020 - 10:38 am

Live Nation, the world's largest concert promoter, has announced a voting and civic engagement initiative that's aiming to convert more than 100 of the entertainment company's nationwide venues into polling places, a company representative unveiled Wednesday (Sept. 16). 

The global entertainment company is currently working with local officials across the U.S. "to examine the feasibility" of using the Live-Nation-owned venues as polling places, a press release notes. 

Currently, the company has confirmed four of its properties as polling sites in their respective jurisdictions: The Wiltern and Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, Emo's in Austin and The Buckhead Theatre in Atlanta. Philadelphia's The Fillmore is in the "final stages of the vetting process," according to the press release. 

Read: Capturing Los Angeles' COVID-Closed Venues

The plan is part of Live Nation's newly announced, wide-spanning initiative aimed at increasing civic engagement and supporting voting access in the upcoming 2020 elections. The initiative also includes benefits for Live Nation employees, including paid time off to vote on Election Day. 

The company, in partnership with poll worker recruitment initiative Power The Polls, is also providing active employees with a full day of paid time off to serve at the polls in an effort to address the national shortage of poll workers caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

To support the wider initiative, Live Nation is partnering with multiple organizations, including: More Than A Vote, a coalition of Black athletes and artists "combating systemic, racist voter suppression," according to the nonprofit's Facebook page; Civic Alliance, "a non-partisan group of businesses working together to build a future where everyone participates in shaping our country," according to the organization's website; and HeadCount, a "non-partisan organization that uses the power of music to register voters and promote participation in democracy," according to its website. 

"Core to what we do at Live Nation is helping amplify voices on stage around the world, and supporting voting is another important way we want to continue making voices heard," Live Nation President and CEO Michael Rapino said in a statement. "We're honored to work with such incredible partners and will do everything in our power to support and empower voter engagement among our employees and the public."

Soul Clap Wants You To Rave The Vote This 2020 Election

Nick Demangone of Exeter Township sanitizes his hands before browsing records for sale at Vertigo Music in West Reading

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RIAA 2020 Mid-Year Report: Recorded-Music Revenues In The U.S. Grew More Than 5 Percent During The First Half Of 2020 Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

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A new study from the RIAA shows that revenues from recorded music in the U.S. grew to $5.7 billion in the first half of the year, a boost largely driven by strong streaming numbers.
John Ochoa
GRAMMYs
Sep 10, 2020 - 11:55 am

A new mid-year report from The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) shows that revenues from recorded music in the U.S. grew to $5.7 billion, up from $5.4 billion as Billboard reports, in the first half of 2020; the change marks an increase of 5.6 percent.

Paid streaming subscriptions, which increased by 24 percent to more than 72 million on average, a growth of 14 percent in the first half of 2020 when compared to the first half of 2019, largely drove the aforementioned revenue growth.

Streaming music revenues—returns from subscription services like paid versions of Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon and others; digital and customized radio services, including revenues distributed by SoundExchange like Pandora, SiriusXM and other internet radio; and ad-supported on-demand streaming services like YouTube, Vevo, and ad-supported Spotify—grew 12 percent to $4.8 billion in the first half of 2020. 

Paid subscription revenues grew 14 percent to $3.8 billion, and further increased their share as the largest contributor, accounting for 67 percent of total revenues in the first half of 2020, according to the RIAA report. 

Digital downloads, a market that continues to shrink in the streaming age, fell from 8 percent to 6 percent for the category's share of total revenues in the first half of 2020. 

As the COVID-19 pandemic continued to wreak havoc on the U.S. and international music business as well as the global advertising markets, "growth in ad-supported streaming revenues slowed dramatically," the RIAA writes.

As well, revenues from physical products decreased by 23 percent year-over-year to $376 million in the first half 2020, Variety reports. The RIAA report indicates a "significant impact from music retail and venue shutdown measures around COVID-19, as Q1 2020 declines were significantly less than Q2 compared with their respective periods the year prior." 

Revenues from vinyl albums increased in this year's first quarter, but later decreased in the second quarter, resulting in a net overall increase of 4 percent for the first half of 2020, the report reports. Vinyl album revenues, which reached $232 million, accounted for 62 percent of total physical revenues, marking the first time vinyl exceeded physical CDs for such a period since the '80s, as well as 4 percent of total recorded-music revenues.

Read the RIAA's 2020 mid-year report in full.

RIAA Report: Latin Music Is Growing Faster Than The Overall U.S. Music Market

Valeisha Butterfield Jones

Valeisha Butterfield Jones

Photo: Erik Umphery

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The Recording Academy Welcomes Valeisha Butterfield Jones As First-Ever Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer

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The newly appointed global business leader will join the executive leadership team responsible for advancing the Recording Academy's mission and ensuring that diversity and inclusion are core to business values and standards
GRAMMYs
Apr 30, 2020 - 6:30 am

The Recording Academy has appointed Valeisha Butterfield Jones as its first-ever Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer. 

Butterfield Jones, who will report directly to Academy Chair and Interim President/CEO Harvey Mason jr. effective May 11, will join the executive leadership team responsible for advancing the Recording Academy's mission and ensuring that diversity and inclusion are core to business values and standards and demonstrated throughout the organization.

Butterfield Jones, an award-winning and globally recognized business leader with proven impact at the intersections of technology, politics and entertainment, joins the Recording Academy family following recommendations set forth by the Recording Academy Diversity & Inclusion Task Force in December 2019 with a request for the Academy to hire a Diversity & Inclusion Officer at the executive level responsible for enterprise-wide diversity and inclusion efforts by May 1, 2020. As set forth in the recommendation, Butterfield Jones will bring business acumen and strategic rigor to inclusion practices across all areas of the Recording Academy, including internal and external programs, organizational and staff culture, membership, awards and related initiatives. As Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Butterfield Jones will design, build and implement world-class programs and industry standards focused on inclusion, belonging and representation for underrepresented communities and creators.

"We are thrilled to welcome Valeisha Butterfield Jones into the Recording Academy family," Mason jr. said. "Valeisha has been a force in driving systemic change and enhancing equal opportunities for underrepresented groups across entertainment, technology and politics. I'm excited to work with her to continue evolving the Recording Academy as an organization that represents our music community and a place where all voices are welcomed, supported and nurtured. We are so fortunate to have Valeisha's leadership in this crucial area."

"It's imperative that the music industry continue to make strides toward a more equitable and inclusive industry, and I am pleased to see the Recording Academy take this important step toward change within its own walls today by appointing Valeisha Butterfield Jones as its first-ever Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer," Tina Tchen, chair of the Recording Academy Diversity & Inclusion Task Force and president and CEO of TIME'S UP, said. "Creating this executive-level position was a principal recommendation of our Task Force because it is one significant way the Academy can demonstrate that issues of diversity are mission-critical and will be prioritized in the future."

"The Recording Academy has an opportunity and responsibility to ensure that diversity and inclusion is embedded in its core values. I'm deeply honored to join the Academy as we enter a new chapter of transformational growth, leadership and change," Butterfield Jones said. "During this unprecedented time in world history, together we will double-down on our focus to drive systemic change and equitable outcomes for underrepresented communities and creators."

Butterfield Jones formerly served as the global head of inclusion for Google, Inc., where she was responsible for accelerating diversity, equity and inclusion outcomes for underrepresented communities internally and externally across the global brand. Prior to joining Google, Butterfield Jones served as the national youth vote director for the Obama for America campaign, deputy director of public affairs for international trade at the U.S. Department of Commerce in the Obama Administration, executive director at Rush Communications (Def Jam Enterprises, Baby Phat, Phat Farm, Hip-Hop Summit Action Network) and as the national director of diversity and inclusion for the Alzheimer's Association. Her two-decades-long career began at Home Box Office (HBO Sports).

As a philanthropist, Butterfield Jones co-founded the Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network (WEEN) in 2007, a nonprofit global coalition of women and men committed to the balanced, positive portrayal of women in the entertainment industry. She also serves on the National Board of Directors of ColorComm, MC Lyte's Hip Hop Sisters Network and iVote.

How The Recording Academy Is Making Significant Strides Toward Diversity & Inclusion

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GRAMMY Museum Experience Prudential Center To Launch Fall Music Industry Program

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The classes aim to continue empowering students around the N.J. area and "develop the next generation of GRAMMY Award winners" 
GRAMMYs
Sep 18, 2020 - 12:49 pm

The GRAMMY Museum Experience Prudential Center in New Jersey is launching a fall session music industry program for students 13–18 years old. From Oct.10–Nov. 21, students can enroll for Contemporary Songwriting 101, Contemporary Songwriting 201, Audio Mixing 101 and Intro to Careers in Music Business. Leading the courses, Mark Conklin, Director of Artist Relations and Programming and other guest professionals in the industry will share their knowledge via Zoom. 

Behind The Board: Natalia Ramirez

The classes aim to continue empowering students around the N.J. area and "develop the next generation of GRAMMY Award winners," Conklin said in a statement.

He continued: “Building upon our extremely successful Summer Session program we’ve designed new offerings to provide high school students the building blocks for what it takes to succeed in the music business, both on and off the stage.”

The Contemporary Songwriting 101 and Contemporary Songwriting 201 classes will run for seven weeks every Saturday  starting on Oct. 10 from 9:30 a.m. EST until 12:30 p.m. EST. Tuition is $100 for each class.

Audio Mixing 101 will run for six weeks on Tuesdays, Oct. 13– Nov. 17, from 7 p.m. EST to 8:30 p.m. EST. Tuition is set at $75.

Intro to Careers in Music Business, for 11th and 12th grade students only, will run for four weeks Oct. 19– Nov. 9 on Mondays from 3:30 p.m. EST to 5 p.m. EST. Tuition is set at $50. 

A limited number of free scholarships are available for Newark residents for all classes. For more info on each class, their requirements and other aspects of the program, visit the museum website.

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