Recording Academy Elects 19 New Leaders To Its 2022-2023 National Board Of Trustees

The Recording Academy has elected 19 new leaders of diverse backgrounds and disciplines to add to its 2022-2023 <a href="https://recordingacademy.com/press-room/trustees">National Board of Trustees</a>. Effective today, the newly elected Trustees join the <a href="https://www.recordingacademy.com/news/board-trustees-announced-tammy-hurt-rico-love-ommas-keith-christine-albert">Academy's midterm Trustees</a>, including National Officers <a href="https://www.grammy.com/news/2022-grammys-tammy-hurt-ukraine-war-speech-video-recording-academy-board-of-trustees-chair">Tammy Hurt (Chair)</a>, <a href="https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/rico-love/4903">Rico Love (Vice Chair)</a>, <a href="https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/ommas-keith/3700">Om'Mas Keith (Secretary/Treasurer)</a>, and Christine Albert (Chair Emeritus), in upholding the Academy's mission to serve and represent the music community at-large. In partnership with <a href="https://www.grammy.com/artists/harvey-mason-jr/4668">Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr.</a>, the Board of Trustees helps strategically guide and shape the mission and policies of the Academy and its commitment to promote <a href="https://recordingacademy.com/inclusion">diversity, equity and inclusion</a>, fight for creators' rights, protect music people in need, preserve music's history, and invest in its future.

Recording Academy members play a key role in shaping the next generation of the organization's leaders on a local and national level. Each year, the Academy's 12 Chapters' Voting and Professional Members vote in their respective <a href="https://recordingacademy.com/recording-academy/news/everything-you-need-know-about-recording-academys-2022-chapter-board">Chapter Board Elections</a> to elect their Chapter's Governors. Of the <a href="https://www.recordingacademy.com/recording-academy/news/2022-large-trustees-election-guide">Trustees that serve on the National Board</a>, eight are elected by Voting and Professional Members of the Academy (four each year) and 30 are elected by the Chapter Boards (15 each year). The remaining four seats are composed of the National Trustee Officers serving the roles of Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary/Treasurer, and Chair Emeritus, who are currently midterm, and are elected by the Board of Trustees once every two years. All positions on the Board of Trustees are subject to two two-year term limits.

2022-2023 RECORDING ACADEMY NATIONAL BOARD OF TRUSTEES

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			<a href="https://www.grammy.com/artists/yolanda-adams/105">Yolanda Adams</a>*
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			Ferddy Calderon
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			David Gross
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			<a href="https://www.grammy.com/artists/mike-knobloch/19131">Mike Knobloch</a>*
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			<a href="https://www.grammy.com/artists/chuck-ainlay/428">Chuck Ainlay</a>*
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			Alex E. Chávez*
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			Jordan Hamlin*
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			<a href="https://www.grammy.com/artists/john-legend/16994">John Legend</a>*
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			<a href="https://www.grammy.com/artists/cheche-alara/248258">Cheche Alara</a>
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			<a href="https://www.grammy.com/artists/dave-cobb/18959">Dave Cobb</a>
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			Jennifer Hanson
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			<a href="https://www.grammy.com/artists/rico-love/4903">Rico Love</a>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			Christine Albert 
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			Beth Cohen
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			<a href="https://www.grammy.com/artists/david-swag-rcelious-harris/245655">David "Swagg" Harris</a>
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			Susan Marshall
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			Maria Elisa Ayerbe
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			Samantha Cox
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			Tammy Hurt
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			<a href="https://www.grammy.com/artists/julia-michels/19205">Julia Michels</a>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			Nabil Ayers*
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			<a href="https://www.grammy.com/news/doug-emery-music-creators-have-unique-opportunity-polarized-times">Doug Emery</a>*
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			<a href="https://www.grammy.com/artists/J--Ivy/38171">J. Ivy</a>
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			<a href="https://www.grammy.com/artists/pj-morton/4920">PJ Morton</a>*
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			Larry Batiste
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			Anna Frick
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			<a href="https://www.grammy.com/artists/terry-jones/3288">Terry Jones</a>*
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			<a href="https://www.grammy.com/artists/natalia-ramirez/287078">Natalia Ramírez</a>*
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			<a href="https://www.grammy.com/artists/marcus-baylor/11571">Marcus Baylor</a>
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			EJ Gaines*
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			Andrew Joslyn*
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			<a href="https://www.grammy.com/artists/michael-romanowski/18084">Michael Romanowski</a>*
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			Jennifer Blakeman*
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			Kennard Garrett
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			Om'Mas Keith
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			Von Vargas*
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			Evan Bogart
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			Tracy Gershon
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			<a href="https://www.grammy.com/artists/thom-tk-kidd/11667">Thom "TK" Kidd</a>*
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			Gebre Waddell*
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			<a href="https://www.grammy.com/artists/bun-b/1367">Bun B</a>
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			Chelsey Green*
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			<a href="https://www.grammy.com/artists/angelique-kidjo/9915">Angélique Kidjo</a>
			</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">
			&nbsp;
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

*Identifies Trustees elected this year to their first or second term.

Bold identifies National Officers.

"I'm honored and excited to welcome this diverse and accomplished group of creatives to the Academy's leadership team," Mason said. "These newly elected leaders will be instrumental in continuing the Academy's transformation by serving as representatives for their peers on all things, from refining the GRAMMY Awards process to advocating for creators' rights and beyond. We thank the Academy members who participated in this year's elections and look forward to the continued progress that this esteemed group of Trustees will achieve."

"I can't wait to work alongside this stellar group of leaders as we continue to build on the Academy's progress these past two years," Hurt said. "Our Board reflects the diverse music community we represent, and I know these talented minds will help expertly guide the organization with music creators' best interests at heart."

<a href="https://www.recordingacademy.com/recording-academy/membership/governance">View the full list</a> of the Recording Academy's Board of Trustees, Chapter Officers and Academy bylaws.

<a href="https://recordingacademy.com/recording-academy/news/recording-academy-turns-65-anniversary-harvey-mason-jr-valeisha-butterfield-jones-panos-panay">The Recording Academy Turns 65: A Nod To Its Beginnings And A Commitment To A New Era</a>

https://therecordingacademy.com/content/photo

Rec Acad Elects National Board Of Trustees Leaders

Watch Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. Appear On "Drop The Mic: The Business Of Music" Panel

The Recording Academy's very own CEO, Harvey Mason Jr., just got deep on the mechanics of the music biz. On May 4, Mason participated in the Milken Institute Global Conference 2022, appearing on the panel "Drop the Mic: The Business of Music."

Moderated by Shirley Halperin and featuring additional speakers Marc Cimino (Chief Operating Officer, Universal Music Publishing Group), Sherrese Clarke Soares (Founder and CEO, HarbourView Equity Partners) and Scott Pascucci (Chief Executive Officer, Concord), "Drop The Mic" explored how the music business has expanded beyond playing records and attending live concerts.

&lt;style&gt;.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }&lt;/style&gt;&lt;div class='embed-container'&gt;&lt;iframe src='https://player.vimeo.com/video/701341459?embedded=true&amp;source=video_title&amp;owner=16486522' frameborder='0' webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

In 2022 and beyond, the industry encompasses downloads, catalog buys, creative NFTs that serve as souvenirs, virtual experiences, and a whole lot more. In the below video, captivating speakers detail how we can follow these developments into a brave new world for music and music people.

Comprising more than 180 public and private sessions, Milken Institute Global Conference 2022 featured nearly 2,000 attendees participating in-person — along with thousands more viewing the livestream from around the world.

Enjoy the video, which clocks in at more than an hour, and keep checking RecordingAcademy.com for updates on how the music business continues to evolve, flourish and thrive as a nurturer of the world.

<a href="https://recordingacademy.com/recording-academy/news/everything-you-need-know-about-recording-academys-2022-chapter-board">Everything You Need To Know About The Recording Academy's 2022 Chapter Board Elections</a>

Watch Harvey Mason Jr. Appear On Music Biz Panel

Recording Academy's Black Music Collective And Amazon Music Select "Your Future Is Now" 2022 Scholarship Recipients

Four students across four Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) will receive $10,000 in scholarships and the opportunity to participate in an immersive rotation program with Amazon Music and Recording Academy leaders.

Body Text - "Your Future Is Now" 2022 Scholarship Recipients Announcement

The Recording Academy's [Black Music Collective (BMC)](https://www.recordingacademy.com/inclusion/black-music-collective) and partner Amazon Music have selected **Jayden Ahmad Potts (Jackson State University)**, **Amir Duke (Morehouse College)**, **Jasmine Gordon (Spelman College)**, and **Zsana Hoskins (Howard University)** as the recipients of the **["Your Future Is Now" scholarship](https://www.recordingacademy.com/inclusion/your-future-now)**, which provides students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with the opportunity to learn and explore all facets of the music industry.

Launched in [February 2021](https://www.recordingacademy.com/news/recording-academy-black-music-collective-amazon-music-scholarships), the returning scholarship offers students the chance to receive $10,000 for the 2022/2023 school year and the opportunity to participate in an immersive rotation program with Amazon Music and Recording Academy department leads, providing each student a detailed look at their particular field of work within the music industry. To coincide with these scholarships, the BMC and Amazon Music will also award two HBCUs a $10,000 grant each for equipment for their music programs to be announced later this summer.

"As part of our commitment to advance Black music, we've created another opportunity for Black rising talent to enter the world of music and entertainment with the second annual 'Your Future Is Now' scholarship," Ryan Butler, Vice President of [Diversity, Equity and Inclusion](https://www.recordingacademy.com/inclusion) at the Recording Academy, said. "We're honored to work with Amazon Music to lay the foundation for Amir, Jasmine, Jayden, and Zsana's music industry career goals."

This diverse group of students represents four schools, four stages of their higher education journey, and four different areas of interest in the music industry. Ahmad Potts is a freshman at Jackson State University interested in sound engineering and producing; Duke is a senior at Morehouse College interested in management and A&amp;R; Gordon is a sophomore at Spelman College interested in music marketing; and Hoskins is a junior at Howard University interested in music journalism and programming.

Learn more about the [Black Music Collective](https://www.recordingacademy.com/inclusion/black-music-collective) and the ["Your Future Is Now" scholarship](https://www.recordingacademy.com/inclusion/your-future-now).

[Your Future Is Now: Music Industry Executives Discuss The Benefits Of Historically Black Colleges And Universities](https://www.grammy.com/news/your-future-is-now-music-industry-executives-benefits-hbcu-historically-black-colleges-universities)

2022 "Your Future Is Now" Scholarship Recipients

The Recording Academy Turns 65: A Nod To Its Beginnings And A Commitment To A New Era

Over the weekend, the Recording Academy will hit a quiet yet significant milestone: 65 years will have passed since its inception. How does one even come to terms with the enormity of this legacy?&nbsp;

No online post could encapsulate everything that’s happened with the Recording Academy since 1957 — a year Eisenhower was president, <a href="https://www.grammy.com/artists/elvis-presley/6033">Elvis</a> reigned in the charts, and the Space Race heated up.

Still, it’s worth pausing and considering how the seeds were sown all those years ago and how the Recording Academy is flourishing as a renewed organization in 2022.

<h2 dir="ltr">1955: The First Seeds</h2>

In response to a request from the Hollywood Beautification Committee, five top L.A.-based record executives met on April 28 to determine names of artists worthy of their own star on the Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame.

In attendance were Paul Weston of Columbia, Lloyd Dunn of Capitol, Sonny Burke of Decca, Jesse Kaye of MGM, and Dennis Farnon of RCA Victor. The focus was to develop criteria to use as a "yardstick" to determine which names should be submitted.

This meeting also illustrated the growing importance of having a "proper means for rewarding people on an artistic level" — similar to the motion picture and TV groups. This group later became known as the Founder's Committee.

On May 20, Paul Weston presented criteria on how to best determine which artists should receive a star to the other members of the Founder's Committee. The total number of record sales was the primary benchmark used to select artists for this project.

<h2 dir="ltr">1957: The Academy’s Beginning</h2>

On May 28, The Founder's Committee met again: "A Group to Form a Record Award Society" convened at the Brown Derby Restaurant in Hollywood.

The meeting opened with a general discussion of the classifications for which awards should be given and current procedures. The name agreed upon for this new organization? The Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Mr. Dunn made the motion that "James Conkling become temporary chairman of the committee for the formation of the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences."&nbsp; The motion was seconded by Mr. Weston and carried unanimously.&nbsp;

Questions and concerns regarding the criteria to be used as a benchmark for the Hollywood Beautification Committee were discussed — and in attendance with the Founder's Committee was former Columbia Records president James B. Conkling.

<h2 dir="ltr">Flash Forward To 2022</h2>

When asked about the incredible strides the Recording Academy has made in recent years, CEO <a href="https://www.grammy.com/artists/harvey-mason-jr/4668">Harvey Mason Jr</a>. offered a rejoinder.

“That'll take up the whole interview — we don't have time for all the positive developments!” he told RecordingAcademy.com with a smile. “The great work that <a href="https://www.musicares.org/">MusiCares</a> has been doing over the last however many months during COVID. The way we're changing our membership. The way we're inviting members. The way we're constituting our boardroom. The way we're working in education initiatives. Our internship program; the <a href="https://www.recordingacademy.com/inclusion/black-music-collective">Black Music Collective</a>; our advocacy work at the GRAMMY Museum.”

Mason went on to touch on a crucial tentpole of the Recording Academy: diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). This commitment to giving all music people a fair shake manifests in communications, artist outreach, leadership, and so many other avenues.

For more information on the Recording Academy’s astounding developments in service to the global music community, check out the article “<a href="https://issuu.com/afmla/docs/grammys64?fr=sZmU0MzI1NzM4MjU">New Vision, New Era, One Academy</a>” in the <a href="https://www.grammy.com/news/everything-you-need-to-know-64th-grammys-awards-night-2022-program-book">2022 GRAMMYs program book</a> on page 130.

And this weekend, let’s ring in the Recording Academy’s 65th birthday — both with a nod to the past, but a renewed commitment to render service to all music people in the years to come.

<a href="https://recordingacademy.com/recording-academy/news/everything-you-need-know-about-recording-academys-2022-chapter-board">Everything You Need To Know About The Recording Academy's 2022 Chapter Board Elections</a>

https://therecordingacademy.com/content/contributor

The Recording Academy Turns 65

Meet Recording Academy Co-President Valeisha Butterfield Jones: The Executive Discusses Her DEI Roots, Her Life In Music & Her Mission To Make The Mus

After the <a href="https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/theshowmustbepaused-leaders-brianna-agyemang-and-jamila-thomas-reflect-social-justice-movement-one-year-later-interview">reckoning on race in America in 2020</a>, making sure people of all sorts are represented, respected and heard in the workplace took priority for some <a href="https://hrexecutive.com/number-of-the-day-dei-after-george-floyd/">85 percent of global employers</a>. It also elevated those who uphold the values of <a href="https://www.grammy.com/recording-academy/inclusion">diversity, equity and inclusion</a> (DEI) — including <a href="https://www.grammy.com/recording-academy/news/valeisha-butterfield-jones-panos-panay-named-co-presidents">Valeisha Butterfield Jones</a>, the newly appointed Co-President of the Recording Academy.

Before accepting the role in 2021, alongside Co-President <a href="https://www.grammy.com/recording-academy/news/valeisha-butterfield-jones-panos-panay-named-co-presidents">Panos A. Panay</a>, Butterfield Jones was the Academy's <a href="https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/recording-academy-welcomes-valeisha-butterfield-jones-first-ever-chief-diversity">first-ever Chief Diversity &amp; Inclusion Officer</a>. "Valeisha has been a force in driving systemic change and enhancing equal opportunities for underrepresented groups across entertainment, technology and politics," Recording Academy CEO <a href="https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/harvey-mason-jr/4668">Harvey Mason jr</a>. said in 2020, the year she assumed that role.

And it's just that ability that led Mason jr. to bring her into the triage of Academy leaders, shifting to his role as CEO. How did Butterfield Jones navigate her trajectory to the executive leadership team at the Recording Academy? By never losing sight of her values — or her vision — as she maneuvered through the music industry for a quarter of a decade.

Read More: <a href="https://www.grammy.com/recording-academy/news/valeisha-butterfield-jones-panos-panay-named-co-presidents">The Recording Academy Names Valeisha Butterfield Jones And Panos A. Panay As Co-Presidents</a>

Butterfield Jones has constructed a singular legacy in the DEI space. After getting her start at HBO Sports, she worked as the global head of inclusion for Google, Inc., served as the national youth vote director for the Obama for America campaign, and served as the national executive director and senior vice president of Rush Communications / The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network.

She's also the co-founder of Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network (WEEN), a nonprofit, global coalition of people committed to the balanced, positive portrayal of women in the entertainment industry. Naturally, Butterfield Jones' mission also touches on the disability sphere; she was the national director of diversity and inclusion for the Alzheimer's Association.

Butterfield Jones's efforts have since garnered national acclaim: Institutions from Forbes to Fortune to Elle have recognized her.

Want to know more about this dynamic, young leader making the Recording Academy and the music industry at-large a more equitable and inclusive space? Get to know Valeisha Butterfield Jones via her work, wisdom and words.

<drupal-entity data-align="none" data-embed-button="video" data-entity-id="283219" data-entity-label="Video" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="" data-view-mode="wysiwyg"></drupal-entity>

Tell me about your early life and communion with music that started you down this path as Co-President of the Recording Academy.

My path to this role has been a long and rewarding one, for now — gosh! — almost 25 years.

It began when I was a child. When I was growing up in Wilson, North Carolina, I had a deep, deep passion for music. I was a superfan. I was the kid that listened to the radio all day — whatever new album was coming out, I was the first in line at the record store to buy it. Eventually, it evolved into me wanting to understand a little bit more of the business behind the art that I love so much.

[In the '90s,] Atlanta was a big hub for music as it is today. So, that was one of the key drivers for me to go to Atlanta, enroll in Clark Atlanta University [in 1996], and land my first job in music, working for <a href="https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/wu-tang-clan/16390">Wu-Tang Clan</a>. That's where it all began. It's been this beautiful, hard journey for almost 25 years — and I would not change a thing.

&lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet"&gt;&lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&gt;“You can lift as you climb, but they can’t be weights.” — Me&lt;/p&gt;&amp;mdash; VALEISHA (@valeisha) &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/valeisha/status/1356458213403545601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;February 2, 2021&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt; &lt;script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"&gt;&lt;/script&gt;

What was it like to take the leap from a DEI role to Co-President of the Recording Academy? What convinced you to accept the role?

It's an exciting leap — and not one that I expected. I was just really excited about the opportunity for DEI to be in such a senior leadership position at the Academy.

I think it really was a win for every DEI practitioner and person working in DEI across the globe. I don't want to overstate it, but I really feel like DEI is a business imperative and more companies and organizations are recognizing it as one. Harvey was such a visionary and leader, in my opinion, for seeing the value of DEI in his office. I just really appreciate the trust that he has in me to take on this new role.

What went through your mind when Harvey asked you and Panos to be Co-Presidents? Were there any reservations on your end? 

I'll never forget the call. He called me one evening and said, "Hey, I have this idea. Would you consider taking on this role as Co-President?" It was an immediate "yes." I didn't need to think about it.

I felt and still feel so honored — and quite frankly, blessed — to be able to do this work in a different way. So, zero hesitation, all excitement — really humbled by it. I feel ready.

&lt;style&gt;.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }&lt;/style&gt;&lt;div class='embed-container'&gt;&lt;iframe src='https://www.youtube.com/embed//kZ0YZKoroBo' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

As Co-President, what are your overall strategies to elevate the Recording Academy and uplift all music professionals?

First, it starts with unity. Every day, you hear our Chair of our national <a href="https://www.grammy.com/press-room/trustees">Board of Trustees</a>, <a href="https://www.grammy.com/recording-academy/news/board-trustees-announced-tammy-hurt-rico-love-ommas-keith-christine-albert">Tammy Hurt</a>, and our CEO, Harvey Mason jr., talk about unity — and that's big. So often, we want to skip to the business. But we also have to be in the business of unity, and that's something that I know is a top priority for us and will continue to be.

The second is transparency: continuing to share what we can, when we can, to the widest possible audience. Always thinking about what we can share around our progress, what we can share about what we've learned — or even the areas that we want to improve — is important.

But then for us, it's global. So we're thinking about a global strategy. How do we reach more people to fulfill our mission in non-U.S. markets, while also making sure that we're expanding our offerings here in the U.S.?

You'll be hearing a lot more from us about what our plans are around that strategy — how we plan to always be more inclusive — and a part of that strategy will be expanding our global footprint.

<blockquote>
"​​In every single meeting now, you're hearing DEI as a part of the strategy and the focus. To me, that signals that we're really getting it and doing the work. Because I really believe that DEI shouldn't fall on one person — it's everyone's job."
</blockquote>

What are some lessons you absorbed from your background in DEI as per how the Recording Academy can improve as a diverse and inclusive space?

For me, it's really understanding how to analyze data and make data-driven decisions, but not at the expense of the human experience. What I believe is transferable is: How do we make business decisions with our hearts, and with data at its core?

As we think about every single area of our organization, DEI is at the heart of it. One of my dreams, always, since my first day in the role here as DEI Officer, was to make sure that we were building DEI capabilities across every single person and across every single department of the business.

And we're getting there. I really feel like we're moving in that direction. I'm so proud every time I'm in a meeting with our membership department and [Vice President of Membership &amp; Industry Relations] <a href="https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/vp-member-industry-relations-kelley-purcell-how-recording-academy-members-can-make">Kelley Purcell</a>, or with our Chapters in all 12 markets — or, you name it, the communications team, the marketing team.

In every single meeting now, you're hearing DEI as a part of the strategy and the focus. To me, that signals that we're really getting it and doing the work. Because I really believe that DEI shouldn't fall on one person — it's everyone's job.

&lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet"&gt;&lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&gt;**whispers** less talk, more action ....&lt;/p&gt;&amp;mdash; VALEISHA (@valeisha) &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/valeisha/status/1341895724384935936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;December 23, 2020&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt; &lt;script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"&gt;&lt;/script&gt;

What specifically can the Recording Academy and the music industry at-large do to create true diversity, equity, and inclusion in this field?

I think it starts with the fact that I am a Black woman working in the American music industry — and I have been for more than 20 years. It's really getting down to the real details around what the experiences of women like me and like many of our members are in music.

A part of that's around physical and psychological safety, part of that is around opportunity and access, and all the things that we need to thrive as women working in music. The <a href="https://www.grammy.com/recording-academy/news/women-mix-study-berklee-college-music-arizona-state-university-music-industry-inclusion">Women In The Mix Study</a>, which I'm so excited about, will really anchor and focus us around the areas that we need to prioritize for women working in the American music industry.

How do we resource it? How do we become better advocates? And again, how do we become better partners internally and externally in service of our members.

This study is going to help us find solutions to the issues facing women in music. That's the whole purpose of this study, and it's all-encompassing. We're going to find solutions that ensure that women in music can flourish and create pathways to success for them.

With the addition of yourself and Panos as Co-Presidents, Harvey's role has become a triage. What do you enjoy about the creative energy between you three?

We are three parts coming together as this trifecta of different experiences, leadership styles and ideas we want to bring to the table.

I think it's so exciting because we're going to learn from each other, stretch each other, and hold each other accountable. I think the three of us are really leaning into this new model in a very collaborative way. We are talking all day every day, we're building strategies together all day, and, more importantly, we're moving them to action.

So, I think it was such a brilliant idea for Harvey to bring in fresh voices — people with new ideas and different perspectives — to expand and move us into the next chapter as an organization.

<blockquote>
"It is the people's choice. We are putting the complete power and decision-making authority into our members' hands."
</blockquote>

There have been a lot of <a href="https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/2022-grammys-recording-academy-announces-major-changes">changes surrounding the GRAMMY Awards voting process</a>. What sparked these major shifts and what is the ultimate aim with them?

The beautiful thing about the Recording Academy is that we are a membership organization and the GRAMMY Award is a peer-voted award. The new changes that you've seen with our rules [reflect] the transparency that you've seen around our awards process.

The changes are a direct result of hearing from our members that they wanted to see a change. We are always listening and responding to the feedback from our members, and that's what you've seen through these awards changes.

We always follow the guidance and direction of our members, and that's what we've done here. I'm excited to be a part of an organization that puts its members and the creative community first. We respond when we hear the feedback.

Read More: ​​<a href="https://www.grammy.com/recording-academy/news/2022-64th-grammy-awards-first-round-voting-how-to-vote-guide-video">64th GRAMMY Awards: Everything You Need To Know About First Round GRAMMY Voting</a>

These voting changes will be implemented for the 64th GRAMMY Awards in 2022. Why is it especially important to vote this year?

It is the people's choice. We are putting the complete power and decision-making authority into our members' hands.

The voter turnout is so, so, so important this year because we really want to make sure that every single person's voice is heard and reflected on what you see throughout our voting process — and then, what you eventually see on GRAMMY night. I'm really excited about this model of letting our members decide.

Internally and externally, where do you see the Recording Academy in five years?

What I hope to see is that, one, we build on the solid foundation that has already been established over the last 64 years. So often, I think change can be scary, but what I'll say is that I'm excited to embrace it in a way that builds on the solid foundation.

The second thing is to make sure that every single member is heard and seen in the Recording Academy. It means we make sure that our members are part of our process, that we are being transparent about our process, and that we're always listening and making decisions based on the feedback from our members. That's so important.

Last but not least, I really hope that we accelerate our mission. We are in service of music creators and that's why we're here. We love music. We're part of the music community, and to be even better allies and advocates is the goal.

You'll start to see some of that in the next year —and even five years — with the services we offer, the support that we provide to music creators, and, ultimately, the programs that you'll be hearing about soon.

Again, just being a better partner to the music community every day is top-of-mind. We'll be doing that soon through some of the work that you've seen unfolding.

<a href="https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/2022-grammys-nominations-64th-grammy-awards-looking-ahead-how-to-watch">The 64th GRAMMY Awards: Everything You Need To Know About The 2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show &amp; Nominations</a>

<drupal-entity data-align="none" data-embed-button="subscription_module" data-entity-id="251161" data-entity-label="Subscription Module" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="" data-view-mode="wysiwyg"></drupal-entity>

Meet RA Co-President Valeisha Butterfield Jones

Meet Recording Academy Co-President Valeisha Butterfield Jones: The Executive Discusses Her DEI Roots, Her Life In Music & Her Mission To Make The Music Industry A Fairer Space For All

Grammy Global Header

Grammy Hamburger Menu

Global Hamburger Menu

RA_lockup_stacked_black

Subscribe Nav

Subscribe Nav Newsletter Form

Be the first to find out about GRAMMY nominees, winners, important news, and events.

LATEST NEWS

FILTER YOUR RESULTS BY:

FILTER YOUR RESULTS BY:

Join us on Social

LATEST NEWS

FILTER YOUR RESULTS BY:

FILTER YOUR RESULTS BY: