On Oct. 9 and 10, the Recording Academy hosted the HBCU Love Tour in Atlanta, Georgia, the second installment of the newly launched series. A collaborative initiative presented by GRAMMY U, the Recording Academy’s college program fostering the professional growth of future music industry leaders, and the Black Music Collective (BMC), an advisory group within the Recording Academy working to celebrate and advance Black music and Black creators and professionals across the music industry, the HBCU Love Tour aims to empower students at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) who are looking to make a name for themselves in the music industry.

Students from HBCUs, such as Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark Atlanta University, attended events featuring some of the most influential Black artists and professionals in music, including Armani White, Rico Love, Kat Graham, and others.

Launched in April by the Recording Academy’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) team, which is spearheaded by DEI Vice President Ryan Butler, the HBCU Love Tour gives students an exclusive opportunity to learn from music industry leaders as well as Academy executives. Recording Academy Chair of the Board of Trustees Tammy Hurt, Vice Chair on the Board of Trustees and BMC Chair Rico Love, and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. helped initiate the HBCU Love Tour as well.

By combining the missions of the Black Music Collective and GRAMMY U, the HBCU Love Tour created an inclusive atmosphere that went beyond representing Black students, creators and artists. From the student showcase to the red carpet, here are five of the most exciting highlights that went down at the HBCU Love Tour in Atlanta this month.

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A Wide-Ranging And Exciting Student Showcase

A student performs | Courtesy of GRAMMY U

The HBCU Love Tour started off with a student showcase at Vinyl at Center Stage on Sunday, Oct. 9. Hosted by Manni Supreme, with beats by DJ RicoVeli, the showcase included rap, R&B, soul, and spoken word performances.

The 11 artists featured in the showcase — WickDaDon, Lila Jai, Mr Boy, Rocky Chatman, Nena Hayes, Kinga World, Nia Simone, Morgan Edwards, Kenarri, Nay Speaks, and Hasani Vibez — submitted their music and were chosen to perform before a prestigious panel of judges, including Rico Love, Len Brown, Daniela Rivera, and Ebonie Ward.

Celebrating Student Showcase Winner Nia Simone

(From left): Tammy Hurt, J.I.D, Nia Simone, Rico Love, Baby Tate, and Ryan Butler | Courtesy of GRAMMY U

After an astounding performance of one of her original songs, judges selected Clark Atlanta University student Nia Simone as the showcase winner. Simon's vocals lit up the room and left the crowd in awe.

As her prize, Simone received a check for $1,000 from the HBCU Love Tour. She also received the opportunity to open up at the HBCU Love Tour event the following day and performed her new single, "Oh No, Not Me," in front of renowned artists and fellow students.

Read More: How The HBCU Love Tour Inspires Young Black Students To Prosper In The Music Industry

Rico Love, Baby Tate & J.I.D Demystified The GRAMMY Awards

(From left)  J.I.D, Rico Love and Baby Tate | Courtesy of GRAMMY U

One of the featured events at the HBCU Love Tour included a panel titled "Demystifying the GRAMMY Awards," which was presented by the Black Music Collective and featured panelists Rico Love, Baby Tate & J.I.D.

The panelists elaborated on the ins and outs of the awards process, its purpose, and its significance to the music industry. The panel "gave me a better insight from an artist's point of view in terms of working hard, submitting music for nominations, and ensuring they are active and present in the Recording Academy," said Atlanta GRAMMY U Representative Amir Duke, who also provided behind-the-scenes support for the event.

Armani White Discussed Marketing & Social Media In GRAMMY U's Masterclass

Kat Graham and Armani White | Courtesy of GRAMMY U

Though his career is made up of years of hard work, Armani White is best known for going viral on TikTok with his hit, "BILLIE EILISH." The social media frenzy over his song played a significant role in his skyrocketing career, White said during a masterclass presented by GRAMMY U and Mastercard.

In the masterclass, which was moderated by musician, actress and producer Kat Graham, White spoke about using social media to create a viral buzz and shape your music career. White and Graham also spoke with students about utilizing social media to their benefit and avoiding becoming just another viral fluke in favor of becoming an industry sensation.

GRAMMY U Reps & Campus Ambassadors Witnessed All The Action

GRAMMY U representatives | Courtesy of GRAMMY U

GRAMMY U representatives and campus ambassadors received the opportunity to work closely with Recording Academy staff to bring the HBCU Love Tour to life.

Sinclaire Dupre, the GRAMMY U Campus Ambassador for Spelman College, supported Recording Academy Social Media Marketing Director Laura Rodriguez. "I worked closely with [Laura] and was able to get content all around the event spaces, interview guests, performers, and contestants, and behind-the-scenes moments," Dupre said. "I learned so much, like how to edit content, apply overlays, angles, and tactics within posting. I learned about timing, catching moments, and posting schedules."

Dupre feels that her experience with the HBCU Love Tour was unique compared to other moments in her career, in that she was able to focus most of her energy into capturing the special moments of the weekend as a professional rather than being an attendee looking in.

Jonathan Weaver, GRAMMY U Representative for Washington and a student at Howard University, sees extraordinary value in the HBCU Love Tour. "It recognizes the impact that the Black community has had on the music industry," he said. "It was a great opportunity that showed that people are investing in the future of young, Black creatives."

The HBCU Love Tour plans to continue on to other cities to develop and celebrate Black students, who are invaluable to the future and foundation of the music industry. The Black Music Collective and GRAMMY U will strive to advance opportunities for HBCU students who will become the next generation of creators, artists, and music business professionals.

Meet GRAMMY U's 2022-2023 Student Representatives

Marking a major step forward in the music industry and online learning, the Recording Academy has partnered with industry-leading online music education platform Forte to provide and expand access to the highest quality in music education for students of all levels. Through the new partnership, Forte, known for its use of high-definition audio quality and user-friendly design, will be the only online platform where students can access accomplished musicians from the Recording Academy’s esteemed membership, including GRAMMY winners and GRAMMY nominees.

More than 100 Forte teachers have been verified as members of the Recording Academy or as GRAMMY winners or GRAMMY nominees. This process included a screening for each instructor that guarantees Forte teachers hold significant teaching experience and background, ensuring all students receive instructions and lessons from knowledgeable and experienced educators.

"Members of the Recording Academy are among the most experienced and prestigious music creators in the world, working in the highest levels of the music industry," Forte co-founder and CEO Mark Murtagh said in a statement. "If a student has ever dreamed of learning an instrument or song writing from a GRAMMY nominee or winner, Forte now makes that possible. This unprecedented partnership exemplifies Forte's mission to radically expand access to high-quality music education and the Recording Academy's dedication to advancing the future of music."

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. further spoke on the revolution of online music education.

"Online learning is revolutionizing education, expanding access and creating new opportunities for families and students everywhere," Mason jr. said in a statement. "The Recording Academy is proud to help expand music instruction through our partnership with Forte. Our extraordinary members are excited to share their expertise and knowledge with future music creators."

All lessons will be on Forte's online platform. Learn more and sign up now for lessons via Forte's official website.

GRAMMY Museum & Recording Academy Announced Second Annual Quinn Coleman Memorial Scholarship

Cheers filled the room on July 28 as guests of the Recording Academy's Washington, D.C. Chapter block party — the chapter's first in four years. 

The world has changed significantly since the Chapter's last block party, but as Chapter President Tamara Wellons (who is also a gifted vocalist) noted, one thing remains the same: "Music is that thing that really helps us." 

The six-hour event provided the opportunity for both fellowship and knowledge-building. The first half featured a Creator Lounge, where panelists spoke on the nuances of an ever-changing industry and how musicians can adapt, advocate and monetize their work. The block party itself took place on the rooftop of THRōW Social D.C., and included finger foods, cocktails and performances by local artists. Among those artists was DJ Oji, a Brooklyn-bred and Baltimore-based house DJ.

The block party fell on the same day as The Day that Music Cares, the first-ever day of service for the music community. To commemorate this day, attendees were encouraged to bring school supplies for the chapter’s back to school drive. 

For Wellons, it was extremely important that the block party be equally diverse, informative, and fun. The goal was for the local music community to walk away with the knowledge they need to advance their careers.

"One thing we wanted to do was have our block party be just a little different  not just an average party," Wellons told GRAMMY.com. "We wanted to get organizations that offered grants, like the Maryland State Arts Council or the D.C. Commission [on The Arts & Humanities]. They have these grants and things that a lot of our music community don't know about and have not taken advantage of completely."

The advancement of knowledge about available resources, along with the idea of advocacy, were huge themes throughout the event. Members attended discussions about the potential uses of AI, the RAP Act and the importance of ensuring all creators get paid fairly.

The first panel, which was led by Todd Dupler, the Recording Academy’s Acting Chief Advocacy & Public Policy Officer, and Dr. Chelsey Green, the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, discussed the Academy’s efforts to fight on behalf of music creators.

"What's great about the Recording Academy is that we represent all creators, no matter their craft or their genre," Dupler said. "Especially here in the Washington D.C. chapter, there's always been great synergy between having a chapter in our nation's capital and the advocacy work that we do year-round." 

Members of the D.C. Chapter were also given exclusive access to register early for District Advocate Day, an initiative through which Recording Academy members across the country can get involved in the Academy’s advocacy work. 

"My hope is that [members] understand that we value not only what they do as an Academy member, but who they are as a working musician, [as well as] what needs they have as an artist and how we can support that," said Green, a skilled violinist and founder of the Green Project, an ensemble that aims to break down stereotypes around the violin and viola. "We're all part of one Academy, and that is what the Academy is about. It’s about the community supporting creators year-round."

The second panel, which was led by YouTube Music Global Music Strategist Lead Mahlet Seyoum, discussed YouTube monetization and how creators can benefit from the use of assets like YouTube Shorts. For Seyoum, it is important for marginalized creators, especially Black ones, are able to profit and receive the utmost credit for their work.

"I'm always going to be holding it down for us and making sure that the people who are really the bedrock of the culture — are producing the most content and are at the top of the charts — are able to monetize, profit off of and grow from their creativity, from their work and from their art," said Seyoum.

The block party portion of the event kicked off with performances by Pinky Tha Rapper and Noochie, two Washington D.C. rappers on the rise, along with sounds by DJ Joxfroxi. 

"[D.C.’s] just a very unique place when it comes to fashion, music, even the Black experience," said Noochie, who is known for his #FrontPorchFreestyles series on Instagram and is inspired by D.C.'s life and culture. "I've been to a lot of other cities, and I don't feel as comfortable as I do here. I consider myself lucky to be from here."

Other performers included DC-based indie soul band Oh He Dead, as well as three-time GRAMMY nominee Raheem DeVaughn and his go-go band, the Crank Crusaders.

Wayna, a GRAMMY-nominated singer and actress who co-authored the Best Song For Social Change Award, enjoyed each aspect of the block party, which allowed for learning, relaxation and entertainment. A newly elected member to the Recording Academy’s Board of Trustees, she resonated greatly with the messages around advocacy.

"I became an artist because I wanted to tell stories, and very often the stories that I want to tell — and a lot of marginalized artists want to tell — are those of people who don't have a voice," she said. "The point of creating that empathy and connection through music is so that we can have a world where it's more equitable and people have more opportunities. That is the outcome of great art."

The energy at the block party certainly indicates that the Recording Academy's D.C Chapter knows how to party; but more than that, they know how to cultivate community and connection during a time at which those things are needed most. 

2023 GRAMMY Camp Musicians Share Their Artist Session Experiences

GRAMMY night is Music's Biggest Night — but it takes the whole year to get there.

If the GRAMMYs process seems fairly elaborate, that's because it is. It’s built on a finely tuned system that ensures the most fair, accurate and transparent process possible. And now, the Recording Academy is giving an inside look into the annual GRAMMY Awards process like never before.

The Recording Academy just unveiled a dynamic online hub giving artists, music professionals and music fans alike a deep dive into the annual GRAMMY Awards process. The reimagined GRAMMY Awards journey page, launched today, offers an interactive, engaging online resource for anyone looking to learn more about the inner mechanics behind the GRAMMYs. 

A comprehensive resource and online hub for all things GRAMMYs, the page explains the GRAMMY Award process in full, from submissions to GRAMMY voting to GRAMMY nominations and beyond, offering users many opportunities to dig deeper throughout the experience. It also includes a timeline of key GRAMMY dates and deadlines and overall GRAMMY Awards milestones.

The GRAMMY Awards journey page is a 24/7, 365 resource for Recording Academy voting members, artists and media companies submitting GRAMMY-eligible product, and nominees as well as everyday music fans.

Click here to get started and explore the GRAMMY Awards process in full.

The Online Entry Process For The 2024 GRAMMYs Explained: How To Submit, Upcoming Deadlines & Webinars, GRAMMY Nominations & Voting Process, And More

As part of our annual marquee membership initiative, the Recording Academy has today officially extended invitations to nearly 3,700 music creators and industry professionals to join its 2023 New Member Class. Of the total invitations sent today, more than 2,800 invitees qualify to become Voting Members and more than 800 invitees qualify to become Professional Members.

Newly invited members must accept invitations to join the Recording Academy by Friday, July 14, in order to participate in the entire process for the 2024 GRAMMY Awards, officially known as the 66th GRAMMY Awards. See below for a full list of upcoming deadlines pertaining to the 2023 New Member Class invitations.

Spanning a wide range of genres, crafts, backgrounds, and regions across the music industry, these exceptional invitees epitomize the essence of music – leading the direction of our creative community, bringing forth ideas to propel positive progress, and expanding our mission to cultivate a more enriching world for creators. The Recording Academy invites them as members, but also as torchbearers of our mission to reflect the vibrant global music community we proudly serve.

From voting at the annual GRAMMY Awards to advocating for music people to championing music education and philanthropy, our membership powers everything we do at the Recording Academy. Each year, our membership continues to grow and evolve to reflect the ever-changing music industry, with every new class and every new member helping to cultivate a stronger, more vibrant, and more diverse music community. 

As active members of the Recording Academy, members play a vital role in shaping the future of the music industry locally via their respective Chapters as well as nationally. Only Recording Academy members, in addition to media companies, can submit their music and works for GRAMMY Awards consideration. Voting Members also determine the annual GRAMMY nominees and ultimate winners each year. As well, members can propose amendments to the official GRAMMY Awards Rules and Guidelines, including proposals for new GRAMMY categories and major changes to pre-existing categories. Members can also run for a Recording Academy Board position or Committee, vote in Chapter elections, participate in member-only programs, and support fellow musicians through advocacy.

"Our members' active participation is instrumental to fulfilling the Recording Academy's mission of serving music and all people who make it possible," Kelley Purcell, Vice President of Membership & Industry Relations for the Recording Academy, says. "We encourage our newly invited members to join the Academy and take part in serving, celebrating, and advocating for their fellow creators year-round and drive positive change in the name of music."

Read more below for important information and upcoming deadlines related to Recording Academy membership.

Upcoming Events & Resources For Members:

For current and newly invited members looking for more information about Recording Academy membership, watch an Instagram Live conversation below and on the official Recording Academy Instagram page. The conversation features new member class invitees Myles Frost, Rap-Unzel and Chrissy Metz and is moderated by Ashley Thomas, Sr. Director of Member Outreach & Systems at the Recording Academy. 

For new members looking to maximize their Recording Academy membership, read our official membership resource guide to learn more about the Academy, our affiliates, and our membership and advocacy efforts. Here, you can learn how you can get involved with the Academy, including service and advocacy opportunities, Chapter information, annual programs, and more. 

Mark your calendar now: The Recording Academy is hosting our inaugural New Member Welcome Week to celebrate and welcome our newest members. Taking place Monday, Aug. 21 — Friday, Aug. 25, New Member Welcome Week will offer virtual and in-person opportunities to connect with your fellow new members and Academy leaders. Additional details will be shared soon.

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Upcoming Key Dates & Deadlines:

Friday, July 14: Deadline to accept membership invitation to participate in the entire 2024 GRAMMY Awards process

Recording Academy Membership Overview:

The Recording Academy offers three membership types:

Voting Membership is for performers, songwriters, producers, engineers, instrumentalists, and other creators currently working in the recording industry.

Professional Membership is for music business professionals whose full-time, primary business activity directly supports music creators such as music executives (e.g., labels and label distributors, publishers, promoters, performing rights organizations), creator representatives (e.g., agents, managers, lawyers, publicists), industry writers (e.g., authors, journalists), and music educators (e.g., college/university educators, music/trade school educators).

GRAMMY U Membership is for students currently enrolled full-time in a college, university or trade school with a desire to work in the recording industry upon graduation.

Please join us in celebrating these extraordinary new member invitees and welcoming them into our Recording Academy in the name of music. Share the news of your membership on social media. Tag and follow the Recording Academy on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn and use the hashtag #IAmTheAcademy in your social media posts.

Learn more about Recording Academy membership and membership benefits as well as the Recording Academy's various wings and Chapters.

Read exciting reactions from some of the newest Recording Academy members and invitees below.

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Recording Academy Elects Tammy Hurt, Dr. Chelsey Green, Gebre Waddell, And Christine Albert As National Officers And 19 Leaders To 2023-2024 Board Of Trustees