Thirteen-time GRAMMY winner Pharrell Williams understands how to wield his influence for the betterment of humanity. When he's not in the studio making award-winning music, the prolific multihyphenate spends his time supporting causes like education, sustainable fashion, conservation, and human rights, and leverages his platform to make change happen — creating a blueprint for merging passions with social causes.

The visionary's philanthropic reach is awe-inspiring. Since establishing his first non-profit, From One Hand to AnOTHER, in 2008 — a six-week summer camp that offers learning programs focused on science, technology and the arts to children from low-income families — Williams has given a host of communities access to resources, tools and life-changing opportunities. He's helped build an after-school center in his hometown of Virginia Beach, offered internships to students from Harlem, New York, and launched a non-profit initiative for Black and Latinx entrepreneurs on the heels of the 2020 racial justice protests.

Ultimately, the mega-producer wants to make the world a better place for future generations, which shines through in his dedication to education, climate action and equality. By taking action to tackle these big-picture issues, Williams is showing others in his position that it's possible to do what you love and make a difference in the world.

To mark Williams' efforts and their impacts, the multihyphenate will be honored alongside U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) at this year's GRAMMYs On The Hill in Washington D.C. The annual event spotlights congressional leaders and music makers who have worked together to raise awareness and pass legislation to help ensure fair pay and equal rights for creators. 

Ahead of the event on April 26 and 27, take a look at four ways Williams has supported the music industry — and beyond. 

He Advocates For The Protection Of Creators' Rights

Williams has made a concerted effort to negotiate with labels for control of his music, and he uses his platform to help fight for equality and equity for all artists. "I shouldn't be the only one with this preferred deal," Williams said to the head of Columbia Records after negotiating a deal to own his masters in 2015. "All artists should own their intellectual property — otherwise you're just working for someone else. It's really weird: They own the fields where you and God have laid the seeds; you do the harvesting, but they have the ownership."

Williams has consistently highlighted the importance of ownership in music, and his push to usher in new protections for artists extends to the virtual world. In 2021, the music mogul joined the advisory council of CXIP DAO, a decentralized organization that allows creators to protect their copyrights and manage their digital assets.   

Read More: Everything You Need To Know About GRAMMYs On The Hill 2023: What It Is, Who It Benefits & What It Has Accomplished

He Supports And Funds Arts & Music Education Programs

Williams got his musical start as a drummer in elementary school before taking band in middle school, where he met a similarly music-minded classmate named Chad Hugo, his future production partner in the Neptunes. Along with support from his grandmother, this educational experience shaped Williams into the innovator he is today, and encouraged him to center much of his philanthropy on the arts and education as a whole.

"I want all children to have access to that kind of creative growth, access, and support. All kids, not just my own," Pharrell told Billboard in 2019. 

His actions have shown just that: In 2009, Williams' non-profit launched a Summer of Innovation camp in association with NASA. His foundation would go on to donate school supplies and offer free after-school programs and camps to kids from his hometown areas. 

In 2018, the "Happy" singer partnered with American Express Platinum for The Yellow Ball, a fundraising event at the Brooklyn Museum to benefit Young Audiences Arts for Learning. Soon after, he joined forces with Verizon to launch a tech-forward music curriculum for underserved middle schools all over the country, which provides students with access to virtual reality, 3D printers and other emerging technology. 

He Launched A Private School

Back in 2021, Williams took his education advocacy to the next level when he announced the launch of Yellowhab, a tuition-free private school for third to sixth graders from low-income families in his home state of Virginia. Always innovating, Williams's micro-school takes "a future-forward approach" to learning that includes using tech and other methods to immerse students in the educational process.   

"If the system is fixed and unfair, then it needs to be broken," Williams said in a press release.  "We don't want lockstep learning where so many kids fall behind; we want bespoke learning designed for each child, where the things that make a child different are the same things that will make a child rise up and take flight."

He Uses Fashion To Help Global Causes

The fashion influencer has created a number of clothing and accessory lines throughout his career, from the Billionaire Boys Club label to its many offshoots. He's partnered with high-profile brands to create collections that raise awareness and funding for socially conscious causes; in December 2022, his global lifestyle brand ICECREAM collabed with Mini USA for a capsule collection whose proceeds went to Polar Bears International, a non-profit that works to protect the endangered species.

But with eight million metric tons of plastic in the ocean, his sustainable denim collection with Bionic Yarns may be his most socially impactful. Over a two-year period, this collaboration converted an estimated seven million plastic bottles into clothing items.

"We are trying to infiltrate the entire spectrum of fashion, high-end and low. It's a part of sustainability and the cause is to never throw anything [plastics and trash] into the ocean again," Williams told Women's Wear Daily in 2014. "The ocean is just one part of the earth we're concentrating on, but the world is made up of 75 to 80 percent water. It's a huge place to start."

Inside GRAMMYs On The Hill 2023: How The Recording Academy Will Fight For Creator's Rights

Every passing year is significant to the Recording Academy, but 2023 ticked a noteworthy number of boxes for the world's leading community of music professionals. 

From achievements in the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) space, including a significantly diversifying membership class, to the millions of dollars granted to the music community by MusiCares, this year has been a watershed for the Recording Academy.

As we wave goodbye to 2023 and welcome 2024, here's a breakdown of the Recording Academy's achievements and initiatives from this banner year.

Serving & Representing Underrepresented Groups

The Academy's 365-day-per-year commitment to DEI paid off in a major way in 2023.

A record-breaking diverse group of 2,400+ music creators joined the Recording Academy this year as part of our 2023 New Member Class. In a demonstration of the Academy's commitment to remaking its overall membership, 50% of the new class are people of color, 46% are under the age of 40, and 37% are women. Full statistics surrounding the demographics of the new class can be found here.

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Read More: Recording Academy AAPI Members & Leaders On Where The Fight's Led Them And The Road Ahead

 The Recording Academy also supported students of color and students from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) across a number of initiatives. With support from our partners at United Airlines, the official airline partner of the GRAMMY Awards, the Recording Academy, our DEI team, and the Black Music Collective provided a once-in-a-lifetime experience at this year's GRAMMY Week for a select group of HBCU students. Made possible by United, 10 HBCU students from across the U.S. were gifted travel to attend the 2023 GRAMMYs, officially known as the 65th GRAMMY Awards, and the coinciding, week-long GRAMMY Week celebration in Los Angeles. The students also attended professional development programs in New York, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta.

For the third consecutive year, the Black Music Collective teamed up with Amazon Music to award five students with the "Your Future Is Now" scholarship, which awarded students at HBCUs $10,000 scholarships and the opportunity to be part of an immersive rotation program with Amazon Music and Recording Academy department leads. Elsewhere, the second annual Quinn Coleman Memorial Scholarship, presented by the Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Museum, awarded a scholarships and internships at the Recording Academy or Latin Recording Academy to five students from across the country.

Celebrating Marginalized Creators, Voices & Organizations

As 2023 winds down, the world is in turmoil, and as always, the Recording Academy has risen to this challenge. This year, the Academy joined many organizations and causes to support creators from marginalized groups and communities.

The Academy joined the Biden-Harris administration's first-ever U.S. national strategy to counter antisemitism; we hosted a listening session with Recording Academy leadership specifically curated for creators in Jewish music and collaborated with the Black Jewish Entertainment Alliance to present a panel discussion commemorating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. In June during Black Music Month, the Black Music Collective partrnered with the White House to host its first-ever Juneteenth Concert Juneteenth concert, which featured performances from Jennifer Hudson and Ledisi.

In May during Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, we celebrated Recording Academy members and leaders from the AAPI community.

On Indigenous Peoples' Day in October, our DEI team hosted a conversation with the cast and crew of "Reservation Dogs" to discuss the Indigenous community and their musical offerings to the world. Hosted by the Recording Academy's Executive Vice President of Communications, Sean Smith, the panel discussion featured the show's composer Mato Wayuhi and music supervisor Tiffany Anders, followed by a performance from Vincent Neil Emerson.

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The Recording Academy also gave back to the LGBTQIA+ community. For the first time ever, GLAAD, the non-profit LGBTQ advocacy organization, collaborated with Live Nation and the Recording Academy to present an expanded Spirit Day Concert in Los Angeles. Hosted by Frankie Grande and featuring an exciting lineup of performers and emerging young musicians, the event took a stand against LGBTQ youth bullying and provided a possibility model for the next generation to explore, learn, and grow into a future filled with empathy and kindness.

Serving & Supporting The Music Community

The Recording Academy does a lot more than hand out awards. And, naturally, this extended to the broader music community. Across all of 2023, the Recording Academy, led by our Washington, D.C-based Advocacy & Public Policy team, fought for creators' rights and elevated important policy issues that stand to affect the community

In April, the two-day GRAMMYs on the Hill 2023 event brought together congressional leaders and music makers to recognize those who have led the fight for creators' rights. The 2023 GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards, the premier annual celebration of music and advocacy in Washington, D.C., addressed the changing music landscape, celebrated music champions and pushed the industry toward progress. Sponsored by City National Bank and benefitting the GRAMMY Museum, this year's GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards honored 13-time GRAMMY winner Pharrell Williams, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) for their contributions to support music creators.

The Recording Academy also fought for creators on Capitol Hill via the annual Advocacy Day, where Academy and U.S. Congress leaders announced the reintroduction of the Restoring Artistic Protection (RAP) Act, leading the federal effort to limit the use of song lyrics in court and legal cases. As well, District Advocate Day 2023, the largest grassroots advocacy movement for music and its makers, saw Recording Academy members from across the country visit the local district offices of their elected representatives in Congress to discuss issues affecting the livelihoods of songwriters, performers, and studio professionals; the event, held in October, also hosted the first-ever GRAMMY Advocacy Conference, which provided another opportunity for Academy members to connect with each other and engage with the issues no matter where they live.

Elsewhere, the Academy addressed AI head-on with the Human Artistry CampAIgn, as well as a number of other initiatives to ensure music creators are top of mind when it comes to AI and copyright law.

During GRAMMY Week 2023, the Advocacy team fought for fair pay at 4th annual GRAMMY Fund Brunch and spotlighted music policy for members of Congress.

Celebrating & Recognizing Excellence In Music

There's a reason why the annual GRAMMY Awards are known as Music's Biggest Night around the world. And 2023, was no different. The Recording Academy celebrated music creators of all kinds at this year's GRAMMY Awards.

At the 2023 GRAMMYs, artists broke records and made history. Most notably, Beyoncé broke the all-time record to become the artist with the most GRAMMY wins in history, counting 32 GRAMMY wins to date. Elsewhere, Kim Petras became the first trans woman to win the GRAMMY for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, winning for her collaboration with Sam Smith, "Unholy."

The 2023 GRAMMYs also saw the debut of five new GRAMMY Awards categories, which included: Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical, won by Tobias Jesso Jr.; Best Score Soundtrack For Video Games And Other Interactive Media, won by composer Stephanie Economou for Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Dawn Of Ragnarok; Best Spoken Word Poetry Album, won by J. Ivy for The Poet Who Sat By The Door; the inaugural Best Song For Social Change Special Merit Award, won by Shervin Hajipour for "Baraye" and presented by First Lady Jill Biden; and several other GRAMMY categories.

Next year at the 2024 GRAMMYs, the Recording Academy will celebrate even more artists and creators with the debut of three new GRAMMY Award categories: Best African Music Performance, Best Alternative Jazz Album and Best Pop Dance Recording.

Impacting The World Through Music & Arts

For the Recording Academy, elevating music and the arts isn't an end to itself — it furthers change the world over. That's why this year the Academy collaborated with the U.S. government and several pro-social organizations to promote peace, diplomacy and democracy through music worldwide.

In September, the Academy joined United Nations Human Rights to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights alongside United Nations Human Rights representatives in NYC. In conjunction with this, the Recording Academy, the official Music Partner of Right Here, Right Now Music, with the support of United Nations Human Rights, committed to international Right Here, Right Now Mini Global Climate Concerts that aim to promote climate justice and rights-based climate action.

The Recording Academy is working to harness the power of music to promote social justice around the world through several global initiatives supported by United Nations Human Rights. The multifaceted Right Here, Right Now Music initiative is designed to engage major artists to use their talents and unique platform to elevate awareness of climate justice.

The Recording Academy also partnered with U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken to help launch the Global Music Diplomacy Initiative, an international initiative that will promote peace, diplomacy and democracy through music worldwide; during the launch event, Quincy Jones received the inaugural Peace Through Music Award.

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Celebrating The 50th Anniversary Of Hip-Hop

You may have heard that 2023 marked the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. And the Recording Academy didn't just rise to the occasion — it led the charge. 

At the 2023 GRAMMYs, hip-hop took over the GRAMMY stage all night. In addition to the star-studded hip-hop tribute at the 2023 GRAMMYs, Dr. Dre was the recipient of the inaugural Dr. Dre Global Impact Award and Kendrick Lamar solidified his GRAMMYs legacy with three GRAMMY wins for his groundbreaking 2022 album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, including Best Rap Album, Best Rap Performance, and Best Rap Song.

Clearly, that hip-hop revue at the 2023 GRAMMYs was just the beginning. Featuring an astonishing cross-section of hip-hop's most crucial originators and innovators, the once-in-a-lifetime live concert special "A GRAMMY Salute To 50 Years Of Hip-Hop" closed out the hip-hop celebration on the highest of notes.

Elsewhere, the GRAMMY Museum launched the immersive Hip-Hop America: The Mixtape Exhibit, while MusiCares, in partnership with Vivid Seats, launched Humans of Hip Hop, a program directed at providing resources tailored to the needs of the hip-hop community nationwide.

To top it all off, the Recording Academy partnered with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris to host a celebration for the 50th anniversary of hip-hop at her D.C. residence. This historic event featured performances from Lil Wayne, MC Lyte, Fat Joe, Remy Ma, Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, Jeezy, and many more.

Read More: GRAMMY.com’s 50th Anniversary Of Hip-Hop Coverage: A Recap

Giving Back To The Music Community

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MusiCares, the philanthropic arm of the Recording Academy and the leading music charity that provides a safety net of health and human services for the music community, has helped countless music people through mental, physical and financial challenges. In 2023, MusiCares continued and expanded their mission.

This year alone, MusiCares distributed $6.06 million in financial assistance and preventative care to 5,000 music professionals.

They also launched The Day That Music Cares, the music community's first annual day of service, as well as the Resilience On The Road Toolkit, a living suite of resources to help music people foster and maintain their well-being on the road  Last but certainly not least, MusiCares partnered with Togetherall to expand mental health support for music people.

Supporting The Next Generation Of Music Creators & Leaders

As one of the core pillars of the Recording Academy's year-long mission, we aim to inspire and support the next generation of music creators and professionals by providing opportunities, enrichment and mentorship. We achieved this goal via multiple initiatives this year.

In January, we announced our 2023 class of #GRAMMYsNextGen Ambassadors and Advisors; the program is intentionally designed to engage the under-40 music community and recognize the best and brightest power players behind the scenes of the music that drives culture today.

In August, GRAMMY U, the Academy's membership type for emerging professionals and creatives pursuing a career in the music industry, expanded its membership program by opening its eligibility to allow all individuals aged 18-29 who are actively taking an alternate path towards a career in music to apply for this premier program. This expansion created a more inclusive space for the future leaders and creative pioneers of the industry.

The GRAMMY Museum, the world-class leaders in music education, launched many initiatives aimed at supporting emerging artists and aspiring students. The 2023 installment of their GRAMMY Camp program welcomed Gracie Abrams, G Flip, Moore Kismet, Paul Klein from LANY, and Lizzy McAlpine as this year's guest artists; they discussed their career paths and helped students prepare for the music industry. In March, the GRAMMY Museum also launched its third annual GRAMMY In The Schools Fest, which provided music career exploration sessions for students and featured educational panels and workshops featuring artists and industry professionals. 

Across many of our Recording Academy Chapters, we celebrated the next generation of music leaders and creators. The New York Chapter's GRAMMY Career Day in October provided students with an in-depth exploration of the music industry, while the Los Angeles Chapter celebrated the NEXT Class Of 2023, which provided real-life experiences to Voting and Professional Members 21-35 years of age to foster their budding careers as they begin their paths as future leaders of the music industry.

The Recording Academy thanks all members and industry professionals who aided us in our ongoing mission to support all music people. We'll see you in what is sure to be a thrilling, productive 2024!

*—With additional reporting by John Ochoa*

2024 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Full Nominees List

If you're reading this, chances are you've decided to become a member of the Recording Academy. You are to be commended for this decision!

As part of the world's leading society of music people, you are in a unique position to make your voice heard — and effect change that not only manifests during the GRAMMYs show, but ripples throughout the music industry and world at large.

As such, becoming a member is merely the first step: it's time to use your platform to the fullest and get involved with the Academy's various divisions and initiatives. Below is a handy guide to the primary ways you can maximize your Recording Academy membership.

Fight For Music Creator's Rights

One of the most crucial divisions of the Recording Academy is Advocacy, which fights to protect the rights of music makers and advance their interests in the realms of /ocal, state and federal policy.

Additionally, Advocacy works to educate the public about key legislation and policy issues that affect everyone in the music community.

As an Academy member, you can get involved with Advocacy in a number of ways. One is by familiarizing yourself with GRAMMYs On The Hill, a two-day event consisting of the GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards and subsequent Advocacy Day.

Over the course of these events, music creators come together with Members of Congress to celebrate those who have been exceptional in their support of creator's rights and to advocate for the passage of legislation that will further improve those rights.

Read More: Everything You Need To Know About GRAMMYs On The Hill 2023: What It Is, Who It Benefits & What It Has Accomplished

Another important component of Advocacy is District Advocate, the largest grassroots advocacy movement for music and its makers.

This manifests every year in District Advocate Day, where Recording Academy members across the U.S. met virtually with their Senators and Congressional Representatives to fight for change for the music community.

Other facets of Advocacy to get acquainted with include the GRAMMY Fund For Music Creators and the quarterly advocacy newsletter and annual magazine. Furthermore, click here for a helpful landing page that features practical routes to support Advocacy initiatives.

Support The Next Generation of Music

The GRAMMY Museum's education initiatives aim to keep music in our schools and introduce music as a profession to young people.

Here are four ways they do this:

Education

The GRAMMY Museum's K-12 educational outreach and funding efforts ensure the future of music is only as strong as the next generation of creators. Last year alone, the Museum reached more than 700,000+ students through their free virtual education programming by way of GRAMMY Museum At Home and online streaming service, COLLECTION:live. 

Community Engagement

Their many public programs range from panels on the state of the music industry to intimate performances.

On-Site Exhibits

The Museum's Los Angeles location offers a variety of interactive and educational experiences that provide insights into artists who have shaped music history — as well as the creative process itself.

COLLECTION:live

Re:live Music Moments on COLLECTION:live, the official streaming service from the GRAMMY Museum featuring artist interviews, performances, and livestreams.

Support Music Makers

As a freshly minted member of the Recording Academy, you can help spread awareness of resources that aid all music makers in need.

Founded by the Recording Academy in 1989, MusiCares is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to supporting the health and welfare of the music community through preventative care, crisis relief and recovery support.

Here are just some of the ways MusiCares is here to support you and your peers in the music community:

Mental Health & Addiction Recovery Services

Support, referrals, and emergency financial assistance for counseling, psychiatric care, inpatient treatment, coaching, intensive outpatient care, group therapy, sober living and more.

Health Services

Financial assistance during medical crises and preventive services such as dental and medical screenings, hearing clinics, vocal health workshops, and assistance obtaining low-cost health insurance.

Human Services

MusiCares provides humanitarian disaster relief, and emergency financial assistance for basic living expenses like rent, utilities, car payments and insurance premiums. 

They can also assist with funeral costs, or instrument replacement/repair if stolen or damaged in a natural disaster — excluding wear and tear. 

The human services team also offers preventive programs addressing financial literacy, affordable housing, career development, legal issues, and senior services.

Support The Academy's Future & Evolution

As a member, you have the ability to make big moves at the Academy by:

• Recommending fellow music peers to become members

• Submitting projects for GRAMMY Awards consideration

• Proposing amendments to GRAMMY Awards rules

• Voting in the GRAMMY Awards process (if you're a voting member; key dates here)

• Getting involved in the Academy's DEI efforts

• Running for a Recording Academy board and/or participating on advisory committees

• Joining local chapters and voting in chapter elections

• Participating in members-only programs

• Supporting the Producers & Engineers (P&E) and Songwriters & Composers (S&C) wings

Additionally, you can become eligible to purchase GRAMMYs tickets and join the Latin Recording Academy as a dual member.

The Recording Academy is thrilled to have you as a member — whether you've already joined, or plan to join in the future! Watch this space for further news about Recording Academy membership and all other goings-on with the world's leading society of music people.

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

As we prepare to celebrate music's best and brightest at the 2022 GRAMMYs, officially known as the 64th GRAMMY Awards, we must also recognize those who are dedicated to serving our music community year-round.

The active participation of Recording Academy members makes a difference, whether it's voting in the GRAMMY Awards process, recommending peers for membership, or registering for the District Advocate advocacy movement.

The upcoming Chapter Board Elections are a pivotal opportunity to serve our local Chapter communities and to help launch the next generation of Recording Academy leaders. The results of this election will impact the future of the Academy from the local to the national level.

Here's everything you need to know about the Recording Academy's 2022 Chapter Board Elections before voting opens next week.

When are Chapter Board Elections?

The Chapter Board Elections are typically held in early April of each year. The 2022 Elections are open Tuesday, March 29, at 8 a.m. local time – Monday, April 4, at 11:59 p.m. local time.

What are Chapter Boards?

The Recording Academy's membership is organized into 12 Chapters nationwide. Each Chapter has a local Board of Governors that advises and supports the National Board of Trustees and collaborates with the Chapter President and Academy staff on local programming and Academy initiatives.

Who is eligible to vote in Chapter Board Elections?

Each Chapter's Voting and Professional membership vote in their respective Chapter Board Elections to elect their Chapter's Governors.

Who serves on Chapter Boards?

A Chapter Board is composed of Recording Academy members who are elected to the positions of Trustee; Chapter Officers, which include a President, Vice President, and Secretary; and Governors.

Why is voting in Chapter Board Elections important?

Voting is a right and a responsibility as a member.

While we love hearing creators' voices on stage and on recordings, it's our responsibility to listen to their concerns, ideas and recommendations in order to keep our Academy and our industry moving forward.

Your vote makes a difference.

Voting in this election is an opportunity to help drive the Recording Academy and our music communities forward by electing the best and brightest members to your Chapter's leadership.

Your vote helps ensure a diverse, inclusive and representative Board.

Recording Academy members elected to their Chapter Boards ensure the policies and procedures put in place by the Academy reflect the needs and aspirations of our vastly diverse music community.

Your vote is your voice.

As a member of the Recording Academy, your vote carries weight and is tremendously valued.

How can I vote in the Chapter Board Elections?

When the elections open on Tuesday, March 29, Voting and Professional members will receive an email from the Recording Academy with a direct link to their online ballot. This login will be different from each member's Recording Academy login.

Once you click on your ballot link, review the candidates' bios. Vote for the individuals who you believe will best represent your local music community.

Be sure to submit your Chapter Board Elections ballot before voting closes on Monday, April 4. If you have any questions or issues with your ballot, please reach out to elections@recordingacademy.com.

For more information about Recording Academy Governance or to view the current list of Elected Leaders, visit https://recordingacademy.com/Governance.

Recording Academy Bolsters Membership With 2,710 Music Creators And Professionals Invited