Jason Mraz has been a renowned singer/songwriter for years — and now, he's taking a big stride in his efforts to boost music education.

Enter the GRAMMY Museum's Sunday Brunch With… is a new fundraising event series in support of the Museum's GRAMMY In The Schools education programs.

Launching the inaugural Sunday Brunch, the Museum is thrilled to team up with Mraz and the renowned VERSE LA, located in Toluca Lake, for a morning of great music and food. Guests will dine on a three-course brunch while enjoying music performed by a jazz trio put together by a GRAMMY In The Schools education program alumni. 

Following the meal, guests will be treated to a rare, up close, and personal 45-minute performance from two-time GRAMMY winner Jason Mraz to close out the afternoon.

This inaugural event is presented by Union Bank and generously supported by VERSE LA, which is owned by long-time GRAMMY Museum supporter and 17-time GRAMMY Award-winning mixer, Manny Marroquin. Proceeds from the event will benefit the GRAMMY Museum's music education programs, which annually impact more than 35,000 K-12 students and teachers across the country.

For tickets and more info, click here — and we'll see you at what will undoubtedly be a soul-nourishing event in service to all who desire a music education!

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Are you tapped into the GRAMMY Museum’s ongoing slate of live events happening in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles? If not, you should be.

The interactive, educational museum dedicated to the history and winners of the GRAMMYs has four terrific events coming up — ones that allow you to get into the minds and hearts of those who make our musical culture turn.

See below for a list of GRAMMY Museum in-person public programs happening in April 2024:

Wednesday, April 3, 2024
7:00 p.m.
Reel To Reel: La Santa Cecilia Featuring a Film Screening & Conversation
Mexican American band La Santa Cecilia will have a special screening of the film "Alma Bohemia" and talk about their creative process with producer Sebastian Krys.

Thursday, April 4, 2024
7:00 p.m.
Reel To Reel: The Greatest Hits Featuring a Film Screening & Panel Discussion
A special screening of "The Greatest Hits" will be held with a post-screening panel discussion about the making of the film featuring Ryan Lott of Son Lux, director Ned Benson, and music supervisor Mary Ramos. All ticket buyers will receive a Greatest Hits double LP vinyl.

Monday, April 8, 2024
7:30 p.m.
A Conversation With The Drums Moderated by Jason Kramer
New York-based indie pop artist The Drums will talk about the creative process of his latest album Jonny, his career, and more.

Tuesday, April 23, 2024
7:30 p.m.
Spotlight: Tenille Townes Moderated by Erin Osmon
Nashville-based rising artist Tenille Townes will talk about her latest project As You Are and will perform.
For more information and ticket links to programs, visit here — and we’ll see you on site in L.A.!

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"I don't know what we're doing in this Star Wars room."

So uttered Beth Ditto, the singer for the dance-punk band Gossip, on a cool Wednesday evening in Brooklyn during early spring. She was referring to the angular, futuristic venue, National Sawdust, a beloved Williamsburg music space with world-class sound. The crowd burst into hysterics — for the umpteenth time.

The event was part of the GRAMMY Museum's "A New York Evening With…" series, where beloved artists open up in a Q&A, take audience questions, and perform a few tunes. Generally a mellow affair punctuated by the occasional chuckle, Ditto's iteration of "A New York Evening With…" had the air of a stand-up set.

Compounding the humor was moderator T. Cole Rachel, whose byline has appeared in New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork and many other outlets — simply because he was Ditto's polar opposite. Ditto was a riot in full makeup, tangerine hair and a zebra print dress ("I got this from Target!" she crowed). Rachel, on the other hand — patient, bearded and prosperous-looking, clad in reasonable browns and olive greens — played the straight man.

The cheerfully long-suffering Rachel patiently steered the interview through a barrage of idiosyncratic, drawled jokes; self-ridicule; evaded queries; and wild gesticulations. "Beth is one of the funniest people I know," Rick Rubin, who produced their first new record in 12 years, Real Power, told The New York Times this year, also calling DItto "a naturally great singer."

The small Brooklyn audience may have been in a galaxy far, far away (actually, it's five minutes from Whole Foods). But from the jump, Ditto was preoccupied with inner space — and Gossip fans bought the ticket to take the ride.

"I'm very nervous, because we're doing this together and we're good friends," Ditto announced at the outset. "I have been struggling personally with what it's like to not be face-to-face with people, and how much division there is between people I know who love each other very much, and who are on the same side of things." Whatever she was specifically referring to, this "A New York Evening With…" event was a refresher in raw conversation in good faith.

In indie circles, Ditto is something of a folk hero, slaying dragons of queerphobia and fatphobia; Rachel noted seeing an early Gossip show, where the audience was permeated with queerness. Which is one thing to see in 2024, and entirely another 20-something years ago. But Ditto isn't the type to preach; her strength is humor wrapped in brutal honesty.

Ditto's quick with a self-directed fat joke, and she's open about her ADHD diagnosis. This meant the audience was continually swept up in humorous ways: a squeaking chair or crackling beer can would invariably bring the conversation to a halt, and prompt some variation on "You OK? Wherever you are?"

The Q&A touched on the band's history and 12-year break, as well as the revolutionary influence of artists like Cyndi Lauper and the B-52s. ("Ohhhh my god!" she shrieked to the question from the audience, "Have you ever seen an alien or ghosts?"

But Ditto's lovably scattered demeanor and palpable nerves rendered the Q&A uber-casual — basically a warm-up to the music. Instruments and amps sat onstage; members of Gossip were to pick them up and rock out. As soon as Ditto was out of talking mode and into rocking mode, any awkwardness melted away: she's known to be a livewire performer.

"I know that I joke a lot," Ditto drawled beforehand, in a moment of vulnerability. "To my bandmates, and to all the people who are on tour with us, and who have been here — there's so many people, not only y'all, and all my friends, I just want to say, thank you. I'm just really grateful." A round of applause.

Then, immediately, Ditto cracked a joke about hot rooms as a heavier person: "You get this little triangle where your butt was, and you wipe it off. Anyone else?" ("Wooo!" replied the audience.) "Every time I'm at the airport…" 

And with that, Ditto blasted off, as Gossip laid down a four-on-the-floor groove for their 2009 Music For Men cut "Love Long Distance." When life on Earth is a Death Star for those of different sizes or sexualities — punk rock is the hyperspace button.

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The GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles is setting the stage for an immersive exploration into the world of Korean pop music over the next two years. Starting April 10 through June 10, the Museum will host its inaugural K-pop-focused pop-up display, "KQ ENT. (ATEEZ & xikers): A GRAMMY Museum Pop-Up," set against the vibrant backdrop of its 3rd floor red carpet gallery.

This limited-time exhibit shines a spotlight on ATEEZ and xikers, two dynamic boy groups under the banner of Seoul-based KQ Entertainment, a leading South Korean record label and entertainment agency. Highlighting a pivotal moment, ATEEZ is slated to be the first K-pop boy group to grace the stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival during the exhibit's run.

Michael Sticka, President/CEO of the GRAMMY Museum, expressed his enthusiasm for the genre, stating, 

"Korean pop music stands as a monumental phenomenon in the music and cultural landscape. Over the next two years, we're excited to delve into the world of K-pop through specialized exhibits and programming, starting with this pop-up featuring exclusive items from xikers and ATEEZ, who are set to make history at Coachella."

“Korean pop music is one of the greatest phenomena in the history of recorded music and culture. The GRAMMY Museum plans to celebrate the world of K-pop, its much-deserved success, and worldwide chart-breaking artists by curating dedicated exhibits and programming over the next two years. We look forward to launching this series with exclusive outfits and props from xikers and ATEEZ, who are making history at Coachella this year.” 

KQ Entertainment's CEO, Kyu Wook Kim, shared his pride in K-pop's global influence and the recognition of ATEEZ and xikers by the GRAMMY Museum, emphasizing the importance of breaking musical boundaries worldwide with K-pop. 

"The global spread of K-pop is truly remarkable and it is a great honor to see ATEEZ and xikers represent K-pop music at the GRAMMY Museum," said Kim. "Witnessing our artists’ hard work and dedication being recognized on such a large scale by the GRAMMY Museum is truly a privilege and fills us with so much pride. We aim to continue to do our best to work with our artists to break boundaries in music on the global stage with K-pop." 

ATEEZ and xikers, in their statements, expressed honor and excitement for their inclusion in the GRAMMY Museum's exhibit. 

ATEEZ highlighted the significance of showcasing elements of their music creation. "It’s an honor to have pieces from our latest music release displayed at the GRAMMY Museum, where so many wonderful artists have left a piece of their musical history. There are so many elements involved in the process of our music creation and we’re excited to be able to share some of it through our music video outfits and props,” said ATEEZ.

Reflecting on the opportunity to present their artistic vision alongside revered artists, xikers noted, "We’re so grateful for the opportunity to have our pieces displayed alongside our labelmate and seniors ATEEZ, as well as so many amazing artists that we’ve grown up listening to. Though it’s only been a little over a year since our debut, we’re so happy to take part in this opportunity at the GRAMMY Museum and hope that everyone has fun looking at all the interesting outfits and props that have helped create the xikers world in the music video of our latest release.” 

The exhibit will showcase an array of highlights, including:

• ATEEZ’s iconic outfits from their 2023 album "THE WORLD EP.FIN : WILL," featured in the "미친 폼 (Crazy Form)" music video.

• A collection of props from the "미친 폼 (Crazy Form)" video.

• xikers' outfits from their 2024 EP "HOUSE OF TRICKY: Trial And Error," showcased in their "We Don’t Stop" music video.

• An assortment of props from xikers’ initial mini-albums, including JUNGHOON’s outfit from their debut EP "HOUSE OF TRICKY: Doorbell Ringing," worn during their "도깨비집 (TRICKY HOUSE)" performance.

• For those interested in attending, further details and ticket reservations can be found on the GRAMMY Museum’s website.

For more information regarding ticket reservations for the exhibit, please visit HERE. 

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Year-round, the GRAMMY Museum commits itself to emphasizing how music enhances the human experience. As such, it just committed significant funds to this continuous inquiry.

On Nov. 28, the GRAMMY Museum Grant Program announced that $200,000 in grants will be awarded to 14 recipients in the United States to further a spectrum of research on a multitude of subjects, as well as support numerous archiving and preservation programs.

"This year marks the 36th year that the GRAMMY Museum and Recording Academy have partnered to provide much deserved funding for music research and preservation projects across the United States and Canada. During that time, we have awarded more than $8.3 million to 479 grantees," Michael Sticka, President/CEO of the GRAMMY Museum, said in a statement.

"It is our vision to lead in creating a world in which shared love of music sparks curiosity, creativity, and community," Sticka continued. "We are honored to help these incredible projects continue to inspire the music, science, and technology world of tomorrow."

Graciously funded by the Recording Academy, the GRAMMY Museum Grant Program provides funding annually to organizations and individuals, supporting efforts that advance the archiving and preservation of the recorded sound heritage of the Americas for future generations, as well as research projects related to the impact of music on the human condition.

In 2008, the GRAMMY Museum Grant Program expanded its categories to include assistance grants for individuals and small to mid-sized organizations to aid collections held by individuals and organizations that may not have access to the expertise needed to create a preservation plan.

The assistance planning process, which may include inventorying and stabilizing a collection, articulates the steps to be taken to ultimately archive recorded sound materials for future generations. 

A list of beneficiaries can be found below, and more information about the program can be found at www.grammymuseum.org.

Scientific Research Grantees

Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience - Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School — Boston, Massachusetts

Awarded: $19,848

Children with ADHD display vulnerabilities in rhythm perception and motor production that interfere with everyday activities. This project will characterize behavioral and neurophysiological profiles of auditory-perceptual difficulties in pediatric ADHD and their associations with motor performance. Findings have the potential to inform the individualized treatment of auditory-motor difficulties in pediatric ADHD, including a music-based intervention.

New York University — New York, New York

Awarded: $19,953

Increasing use of smart devices and social media among teenagers has led to concerns regarding their impact on mental health and cognition. This project aims to use digital art-based interventions (music, visual arts) to transform adolescent social media usage into stimulating activities, to mitigate negative effects of excessive 'passive' use of these platforms. We hypothesize that these will promote plasticity in brain networks previously described as impaired by social media overuse.

Northwestern University — Chicago, Illinois

Awarded: $20,000

This project will examine the use of singing and breathwork as an intervention for mitigating stress and increasing the psychological and social well-being of children globally. Using biomedical sensors, psychological measures and behavioral analysis to holistically evaluate effects, the goal is to improve understanding around and provide evidence for how music can serve as an accessible, low-cost response to mental health concerns across diverse cultural contexts.

University of Toronto — Mississauga, Ontario

Awarded: $20,000

When words are put to song, they are neurally tracked more accurately than spoken words — but no studies have related neural tracking to real-world outcomes like comprehension. Using mobile electroencephalography (EEG) in the classroom, this project will determine how neural tracking of song and speech relates to comprehension, intelligibility and memory. The results will inform basic science, classroom instruction and interventions for individuals with dyslexia.

Preservation Assistance Grantees

Colin Morgan — Sedro-Woolley, Washington

Awarded: $5,000

This project will implement the archive of Wadada Leo Smith, an established and well known creative musician, composer and trumpet player. An early member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians and one of the leading forces in music and education since the 1960s, Mr. Smith has advanced a wide variety of styles and techniques in the contemporary arena. The archive will be a definitive repository of Mr. Smith's work in music.

Painted Bride Art Center, as fiscal sponsor for Philadelphia Jazz Legacy Project — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Awarded: $5,000

The Philadelphia Jazz Legacy Project, through its fiscal sponsor Painted Bride Art Center, will plan the digitization and dissemination of 77 interviews with Philadelphia jazz musicians. Conducted from the early 1980s to early 2020s, the interviews are a treasure trove of jazz history, documenting the lives and careers of both world-famous and locally based Philadelphia jazz musicians.

Regan Sommer McCoy — New York, New York

Awarded: $5,000

The Mixtape Museum will begin planning, assessment and preparation to archive and preserve its recorded sound collections. These recordings contain some of the earliest sounds of hip-hop and one-of-a-kind mixtapes by fans and practitioners. The goal is to make these recordings available for research and use by the public.

Rico Washington — New York, New York

Awarded: $5,000

This project will preserve the sound recordings of Johnnie Mae Matthews, an influential African American entrepreneur in Detroit's music industry who shaped the careers of future stars such as the Temptations, Diana Ross and Motown mogul Berry Gordy. By digitizing the master tapes of her solo recordings and her record label catalog, this project corrects the erasure of African American women's contributions, highlighting their vital role in shaping music history.

Preservation Implementation 

Cape Breton University, Beaton Institute — Sydney, Nova Scotia

Awarded: $16,699

Founded in 1949, the Rodeo Records/Banff Collection is the most comprehensive example of significant regional and national Canadian commercial recordings in existence. This project will complete the digitization of at-risk master recordings and 78 rpm records, improve preservation methods for the physical collection, and provide greater online access for researchers.

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum — Nashville, Tennessee

Awarded: $20,000

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will assess, catalog, re-house, and make accessible a collection of approximately 8,160 radio transcription discs containing historically significant recordings. Select recordings from the collection will then be prioritized for digitization in the second phase of the project, based on preservation needs. The collection features interviews and performances with a variety of country music artists.

East Tennessee State University — Johnson City, Tennessee

Awarded: $20,000

The Archives of Appalachia at ETSU will clean and digitize 246 recordings from the Folk Festival of the Smokies in Cosby, Tennesee (1967-1999) and the Grayson County Old-Time Fiddlers' Convention in Independence, Virginia (1968-1979). These recordings contain unique performances that highlight old-time and traditional Appalachian music.

Kronos Performing Arts Association — San Francisco, California

Awarded: $12,500

This project will preserve and provide public access to content from the Kronos Hour and Radio Kronos broadcasts (1984-1991). Distributed by American Public Media, the programs feature recordings of new work by Kronos Quartet and guest artists, along with interviews of many prominent musicians and composers. The collection captures a unique view of the late 20th 

century cultural landscape across many musical genres.

University of Iowa Libraries — Iowa City, Iowa

Awarded: $11,000

The University of Iowa Libraries will digitize, preserve, transcribe, and translate Czech music and recitations on cylinder dating from 1903-1908 from two labels: Ed. Jedlička and Columbia. The Jedlička recordings constitute some of the earliest recordings made for a specific ethnic group, and include music, poetry, stories, and comedy. The Columbia recordings are rare European issues of Czech music and comedy.

University of North Texas — Denton, Texas

Awarded: $20,000

This project will digitally preserve an estimated 150 hours of interviews, conducted or collected by former NPR host and producer Tim Owens. The collection includes major jazz artists including Dizzy Gillespie, Percy Heath, Hampton Hawes, Milt Jackson, Arif Mardin, Tony Bennett, Jay McShann, and others. Once digitized, these items will be preserved in and accessible via the UNT Digital Library.

Revisit The 2023 Texas Chapter's Creators Summit: Discussions, Performances & More