In the midst of GRAMMY Week, as the Recording Academy celebrates another spectacular year in music by honoring our 60th GRAMMY Awards nominees, it's the perfect time to highlight those who used their voices to speak up and advocate for the rights of all music creators.
Several current nominees have been active on the advocacy front.
Zac Brown Band, who are nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for "My Old Man," were honored for their advocacy work during the 2016 GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards. In addition, band member John Driskell Hopkins has actively participated in the Recording Academy Atlanta Chapter's advocacy efforts.
Singer/songwriter Ledisi, who is nominated this year for Best R&B Performance ("High"), Best Traditional R&B Performance ("All The Way") and Best R&B Album (Let Love Rule), was not only a performer during the 2015 GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards, but she also participated in Advocacy Day.
Up for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Album for "First Began" and Gumbo, respectively, PJ Morton wrote a Digital Music News op-ed titled "The Laws Governing Music Creators' Compensation Are Unfair And Outdated," in which the singer/songwriter urged lawmakers to update outdated copyright laws to make sure all musicians get paid a fair market rate. In 2017 he also participated in the first Louisiana Music Industry Day, which urged state leaders to support legislation that would strengthen the music industry in Louisiana.
Bernie Herms, nominated for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for "Oh My Soul," and wife Natalie Grant, also up for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for "Clean," teamed up to attend the 2017 GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards and Advocacy Day where they met with several members of Congress, including chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.).
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BSgjvrTBgNR/" data-instgrm-version="8" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.5% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BSgjvrTBgNR/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Headed to Capitol Hill to speak to law makers on behalf of music creators for #GRAMMYSOnTheHill. I'm honored The Recording Academy thought I was knowledgeable enough to speak about copyright laws, but just incase, I'm really glad this super intelligent guy is coming with me because he makes me sound smarter #supportmusic</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nataliegrant/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Natalie Grant</a> (@nataliegrant) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-04-05T15:29:23+00:00">Apr 5, 2017 at 8:29am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>
Lady Antebellum, who earned two 60th GRAMMY nominations for Best Country Duo/Group Performance ("You Look Good") and Best Country Album (Heart Break), were 2014 GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards honorees for their tireless advocacy work. In addition, Hillary Scott, Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley are members of the GRAMMY Creators Alliance, a collective designed to provide an amplified voice on Capitol Hill for music creators.
A nominee for Best Children's Album for Lemonade, Justin Roberts participated in the 2017 GRAMMYs on the Hill initiative, where he met with Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and 2017 District Advocate Day, where met with Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.),.
Meanwhile, Anthony Hamilton, who is nominated for Best Traditional R&B Performance ("What I'm Feelin'"), also participated in the 2017 edition of District Advocate Day and met with Rep. Alma Adams (D-N.C.).
Shelly Peiken, nominated this year for Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling) for her industry-examining audio book Confessions Of A Serial Songwriter, attended the Los Angeles Chapter's Advocacy Town Hall on Sept. 14 at The Village studios to discuss the advocacy issues critical to music creators.
Catch the 60th GRAMMY Awards live on CBS on Sunday, Jan. 28 at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT.