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Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT)

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The Recording Academy Celebrates The Senate Passage Of The Music Modernization Act

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The Recording Academy and its members across the country are ecstatic at the decision made in favor of the historic bill and celebrate for all music creators.
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Sep 18, 2018 - 5:27 pm

The Music Modernization Act has been passed by the U.S. Senate. The Recording Academy and its members across the country are ecstatic at the decision made in favor of the historic bill and celebrate for all music creators.  

The MMA, now formally titled the Orrin G. Hatch Music Modernization Act, will create a new and transparent collection entity to ensure that songwriters always get paid for mechanical licenses when digital services use their work, close the "pre-1972 loophole" so that digital services will pay legacy artists and give copyright protection to producers and engineers for the first time in history, among other rights.

"The passage of the Music Modernization Act by the Senate is a historic moment for the tens of thousands of music creators across the nation," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the Recording Academy. "Since first proposing the music industry unite around a common bill in 2014, our members have lobbied in Washington and all 50 states to achieve this vision. When creators raise their voices for fairness, they make great progress."

Portnow and the Recording Academy have been strong advocates for the passage of the MMA. In 2014, Portnow testified in front of congress and called for comprehensive copyright updates. Since, the Academy has galvanized its membership of songwriters, performers, and studio professionals to advocate for the bill through several initiatives, including GRAMMYs on the Hill and District Advocate day.

"The passing of the Music Modernization Act by the Senate is a huge turning point," said Harvey Mason Jr., Recording Academy National Advocacy Committee Co-Chair and four-time GRAMMY-nominated producer and songwriter. "This vote says loudly and clearly that music and those that create it are valued by our government and its citizens. We are all so thankful for this step to ensure music makers are compensated fairly."

More information on what the passing of the MMA means for the music industry:

For Songwriters

  • Create a new and transparent collection entity to ensure that songwriters always get paid for mechanical licenses when digital services use their work.
  • Help ASCAP and BMI secure fairer rates for their songwriters.
  • Establish fair compensation for songwriters when the government sets rates.

For Artists

  • Close the "pre-1972 loophole" so that digital services will pay legacy artists the compensation they deserve.
  • Establish fair compensation for artists when the government sets rates.

For Studio Professionals

  • Give copyright protection to producers and engineers for the first time in history.

For more on the Recording Academy's ongoing advocacy work, visit www.grammy.com/advocacy

GRAMMYs

Michael Sticka 

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Michael Sticka Named GRAMMY Museum President

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Sticka, who first joined the organization in 2014 and formerly held the position of Executive Director at the GRAMMY Museum, will continue to lead the museum's growth and strategy
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Jul 30, 2019 - 2:14 pm

The GRAMMY Museum has promoted Michael Sticka to President as the Recording Academy and the Latin Recording Academy make the largest conributions to the museum in either organization's history.

Sticka, who first joined the organization in 2014 and formerly held the position of Executive Director at the GRAMMY Museum, will continue to lead the museum's growth and strategy. He will also "oversee all aspects of Museum operations, including curatorial, development, marketing, grants and awards, public and education programs, and more," a statement said. His contract will extend through 2022. 

“As Executive Director, I’ve witnessed our team’s incredible passion, hard work, and dedication, which has strengthened our impact and presence in the Los Angeles music and education communities,” said Sticka. “I’m honored that the Board has entrusted me in the role as President, allowing me to continue leading this extraordinary team with the purpose of driving our social good within the community and uphold the Museum's mission to educate, inspire, cultivate creativity, and share the significance of music."

Sticka, who created the museum's Community Engagement Department as executive director, said the museum will continue to invest in its community engagement, curatorial mission and education program. Sticka said the museum's goal is to reach 100,000 over the next five years. 

The Recording Academy contributed $5 million for museum renovations and technology updates, while the Latin Recording Academy will donate more than half a million dollars in a three-year period to grow the Latin music exhibits, education programs and the hiring of a Latin music curator. Both presidents of each organization shared their excitement for Sticka's promotion and their investment in the museum's work. 

“Under Michael’s leadership and guidance, the GRAMMY Museum has not only secured substantial new investments from the Recording Academy and the Latin Recording Academy, but has also seen a tremendous increase in visitors, revenue from attendance, merchandise and event sales, and more” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the Recording Academy and Chair of the Board of Directors of the GRAMMY Museum. “The Museum’s growth and path towards cementing its status as ‘the’ steward and place where Music Has A Home, as well as its future financial and business well-being is reflective of and a testament to Michael’s strategic vision, impressive operational skills, and exceptional leadership.”  

“We are thrilled to expand our relationship with the GRAMMY Museum,” said The Latin Recording Academy President/CEO Gabriel Abaroa Jr. “The Latin Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Museum share the commitment of educating the public about the significant contributions Latin music has made in the world. I look forward to expanding our presence inside the GRAMMY Museum in an impactful way that guides the narrative and preserves the stories of Latin music and its creators."

GRAMMY Camp Inspires Dreams, Not Fantasies

GRAMMYs

Michael Sticka

Photo: Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

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GRAMMY Museum Awards $200,000 In Grants To Music Health, Research Projects & More

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The Museum's grant program, which awards organizations and individuals annually, has given more than $7.5 million to over 400 grantees to date
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Jul 10, 2019 - 11:25 am

15 recipients will have the opportunity to do music related research as well as work on preservation and archiving programs thanks to a generous grant from the GRAMMY Musuem Grant Program.

The grants, funded by the Recording Academy, will award $200,000 to recipients in the U.S. working on various projects, including reasearch on how musical training affects complex memories, musical ahedonia and singing accuracy's relationship to cognitive function. Among preservation projects, some recipients will work on archiving 960 audio reels belonging to Cajun and zydeco artists, uncirculated jam tapes from four-time GRAMMY-winning folk musician John Hartford and "221 rare interview recordings with African-American actors, performers, composers, musicians, and scholars, among many other preservation projects."

"The work we help fund includes an impressive array of projects that are at the forefront of exploring music's beneficial intersection with science, and that maintain our musical legacy for future generations. The initiatives announced today exemplify the Museum's mission to uphold music's value in our lives and shared culture," Executive Director of the GRAMMY Museum Michael Sticka said. 

The museum's grant program, which awards organizations and individuals annually, has given more than $7.5 million to over 400 grantees to date, Sticka said.  

The GRAMMY Museum Grant Program strives to aid efforts advancing the archiving and preservation of "recorded sound heritage of the Americas for future generation."

ReImagined Returns With More Exclusive & Unexpected Cover Performances All Summer Long

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Branden Chapman

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GRAMMY BTS: Fun Facts With Recording Academy CBDO Branden Chapman

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The Recording Academy's Executive In Charge of Production and Chief Business Development Officer Branden Chapmen shares what happens behind the scenes during the Biggest Night In Music and surrounding events
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Mar 8, 2019 - 5:39 pm

A lot goes down months, weeks and even days before the GRAMMY awards every year. From the events leading up to the telecast during GRAMMY week and finding new ways to take viewers behind the scenes to events after the GRAMMYs, including the Latin GRAMMYs and special tribute specials like the upcoming Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul, the Recording Academy is busy year-round finding ways to connect with audiences and the music community.

Teams in marketing, development, digital media and beyond work tirelessly to make sure it all runs smoothly. Forbes recently sat down with the Recording Academy's Executive In Charge of Production and Chief Business Development Officer Branden Chapmen to talk about what happens behind the curtain around the Biggest Night In Music and surrounding events. Here are some of the fun-facts and insights he shared:

On How GRAMMY Week Came To Be:

"Many years ago, when I first started with the Academy, we actually had something called Grammy Fest, which was a month-long series of events. But ultimately we did not control or produce all of them. We decided approximately a year or two into Neil Portnow's term that we wanted to have greater control and greater focus on amplifying the message around the Grammy Awards and all of our good causes and the people that we go to support, the music community. So we decided that we would no longer do a Grammy Fest, where somebody could simply apply to affiliate with us. We said let's narrow the scope, make it Grammy week and make everything owned or operated by one of us or one of our affiliates at MusiCares or the Grammy Museum Foundation currently. So that's what became Grammy week. So we ultimately made a very strategic decision that we know when the world's eye is focused on us...

Therefore we spend a lot of time focusing our projects initiatives and mission on other events that can amplify and promote the message for the Grammy Awards. But also call attention to all the good work that the Recording Academy and our affiliates at MusiCares and the Grammy Museum Foundation do."

Some Events During GRAMMY Week Are Just For The Music Community:

"At this point you can't stop social media. I believe that one of the reasons that people clamor to get into this room and attend the pre-Grammy gala is because we don't announce who the talent is before the event. We don't talk about the guest list before the event. It has become one of the industry's most preeminent events, where everybody wants to get inside to see and witness something that is likely only gonna happen once in a lifetime. I personally don't think we'll ever see Beck performing at the lead singer with the surviving members of Nirvana ever again. We put experiences on there that you can only see if you're in the room. There is social media, so people will put snippets up, put pictures up. But this isn't for worldwide consumption like the Grammy Awards. It's a unique event and I think that's why it's made such an impact on the industry and continues to stay relevant. Some of what we do should only be the industry, for our fellow musicians. Our voting is established on a peer-based system."

On How The Recording Academy Highlights Music Beyond The GRAMMYs:

"Since I joined the Academy, we've gone from one telecast to five. We now have the Grammy Awards, the Latin Grammy Awards, typically it's our fourth quarter special, this year is a little more unique where we taped it and we're gonna play our Grammy salute to Aretha Franklin in March and then we have our post telecast special. Then one of the shows that is not on CBS, but PBS is when we celebrate our Lifetime Achievement Awards. Our Grammy salute to music legends. So we have expanded our presence not only to the industry, but to the world at large by developing and producing multiple telecasts that would call worldwide attention to us and our Academy. So that has been a strategic decision as well as many as local events. We have summer events in most of our chapter offices and we have a presence in Washington, DC to promote our advocacy and all of that is really year round."

You can read the full interview at Forbes.

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900 Music Creators Invited To Join Recording Academy As Voting Members

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Invitations were sent to vocalists, songwriters, producers, instrumentalists and engineers from a range of music genres, ethnicities, age and gender groups in an effort to make the Recording Academy and the greater music community a more inclusive space
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Oct 4, 2018 - 4:21 pm

As a part of an effort to make its membership better reflect the diverse community it represents and help make the music industry a more inclusive space, the Recording Academy has invited 900 music creators of diverse backgrounds to join its membership.

Invitations were sent to vocalists, songwriters, producers, instrumentalists and engineers from a range of music genres, ethnicities, age and gender groups, recommended by the Recording Academy and its independent Diversity & Inclusion Task Force. Creators who accept invitations by Nov. 15 will have the opportunity to make immediate change by participating in final round of voting for the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards. Invitees who accept after the date will be able to participate in next year's awards cycle. All invitees were pre-qualified for membership requirements by the Recording Academy.

"Our invite initiative is a first step to reach out to the diverse, talented individuals who make up the music community," said Tina Tchen, Chair of the Task Force. "The Recording Academy should reflect the scope and scale of the music industry and recognize the creative and artistic endeavors that enable it to thrive. Having a truly diverse membership is the foundation for any change. This initiative is one of the many ways the Task Force is encouraging change in practices while nurturing a more inclusive organization for Academy members today and for generations to come."

The Recording Academy, with input from the Task Force, has developed a new membership model that will focus on community-driven recommendations and will include a peer-review. The new model will go into effect Nov. 19.

The Diversity & Inclusion Task Force was established by the Recording Academy and assembled by Tchen earlier this year to look at issues of inclusion and diversity in the Recording Academy and greater music community. With the help of the Task Force, the Recording Academy has diversified its Nominations Review Committees and National Governance Committees. These committees look over many aspects of the operations of the Recording Academy, including awards and telecast. This year the Nominations Review Committees is 51% female and 48% people of color, compared to the group that was 28% female and 37% people of color last year. The National Governance Committees is 48% female and 38% people of color this year. Last year, its composition was 20% female and 30% people of color.

The Task Force also hosted Listening Forums in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Nashville to hear its member's experiences in the music industry.

READ: Recording Academy Names Diversity And Inclusion Task Force Members