Recording Academy® Invites 2,300 Qualified Music Creators and Professionals to Join Its Membership
09 Julio 2020 - 8:30AM
Business Wire
Today the Recording Academy® extended membership invitations to
more than 2,300 established music professionals from wide-ranging
backgrounds, genres and disciplines. The invitation is a reflection
of their important contributions to music and potential to
influence progressive changes within the music industry. The 2020
class of invitees is 48 percent female, 21 percent African
American/African descent, eight percent Hispanic, and three percent
Asian American and Pacific Islander. The representation of this
class also spans ages, genre and region. The Recording Academy's
current membership is 26 percent female and 25 percent from
traditionally underrepresented communities.
"We are proud of the strides we've made toward ensuring our
membership is diverse and inclusive, which is reflected within this
new pool of invitees,” said Harvey Mason jr., Chair and Interim
President/CEO of the Recording Academy. "While this progress
signifies meaningful impact, there's still more work to be done.
We'll continue to fight to achieve inclusive representation across
gender, race, age, national origin, sexual orientation, and beyond
within our community. Furthermore, we’re excited to see how the
contributions of the incoming new member class will help inspire
meaningful change within the music industry."
"Building out our membership body is a process that encourages
inclusivity from start to finish, and it's a privilege to extend
invitations to the 2020 class of invitees that represent the
wide-ranging backgrounds and crafts that makes the music industry
so unique," said Kelley Purcell, Senior Director of Member
Outreach at the Recording Academy. "These individuals will
become the driving force behind the Recording Academy, and it's
encouraging to see how our membership continues to evolve each year
as we take steps toward building a more inclusive and vibrant
community."
Convening virtually in April, the Recording Academy's Peer
Review Panel of music creators evaluated new member submissions
considering a range of criteria — including craft, genre and
overall diversity. The more than 2,300 new invitations were
extended under the Academy's community-driven and peer-reviewed
membership model. Implemented in 2018 in an ongoing effort to build
a more representative and relevant membership body, the annual
member submission process entails two community-centered key
elements: industry recommendations and peer review.
Ensuring that the Recording Academy's membership is fully
representative of the music community has been a longstanding goal
of Recording Academy Trustees. In December 2019, the Recording
Academy pledged to implement 17 of 18 reforms set forth by the
Diversity & Inclusion Task Force, including increasing outreach
to diverse communities and doubling the number of women voters by
2025. Specifically, this means 2,500 new women voters by the year
2025.
To celebrate the incoming new member class, GRAMMY.com Editor-In-Chief Justin Dwayne
Joseph hosted a moderated discussion on June 24 titled "Your
Academy: Welcoming The 2020 New Member Class." Featuring new
invitees and existing members, the conversation showcased an
authentic look into what it means to be a member of the Academy,
the important initiatives worked on year-round, progress members
hope to see within the Academy, and diversity and inclusion in the
music industry at large. The roundtable debuted today on GRAMMY.com.
In order to participate in the process for the upcoming GRAMMY
Awards ®, new members have to accept their invitations by Sept. 15,
2020. The first voting ballot opens Sept. 30 and closes Oct. 12.
The 63rd GRAMMY Awards are set to take place Jan. 31, 2021, at the
STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.
For more information on the Recording Academy's membership
process and requirements, visit here. For full information
and details surrounding the new class visit here.
ABOUT THE RECORDING ACADEMY
The Recording Academy represents the voices of performers,
songwriters, producers, engineers, and all music professionals.
Dedicated to ensuring the recording arts remain a thriving part of
our shared cultural heritage, the Academy honors music's history
while investing in its future through the GRAMMY Museum®, advocates
on behalf of music creators, supports music people in times of need
through MusiCares, and celebrates artistic excellence through the
GRAMMY Awards — music's only peer-recognized accolade and highest
achievement. As the world's leading society of music professionals,
we work year-round to foster a more inspiring world for
creators.
For more information about the Academy, please visit
www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow
@RecordingAcad on Twitter, "like" Recording Academy on Facebook,
and join the Recording Academy's social communities on Instagram,
YouTube, and LinkedIn.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200709005243/en/
Andie Cox Recording Academy T. 310.581.8654
andie.cox@recordingacademy.com
Christina Dudash Recording Academy T. 310.581.8678
christina.dudash@recordingacademy.com