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.

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Managing your finances can be tricky — and establishing a pathway to financial security over the long haul, even more so. 

The Recording Academy's New York Chapter, in partnership with MusiCares, will host a webinar dedicated to demystifying financial planning as a vehicle for strong estate planning. Hosted by Lynn Gonzalez, Partner, Granderson Des Rochers, LLP, "Build Your Financial Foundations" will provide attendees with tangible takeaways related to managing your portfolio of assets throughout the duration of one's life and career. 

MusiCares and the New York Chapter hope that this financial planning information will encourage attendees to consider simple steps that they can take today to set themselves up for tomorrow. 

"Financial planning is crucial regardless of the business you’re in or whether you have written ten songs or 1000 songs,” says Nick Cucci, Sr. Executive Director for the New York Chapter. "It is the protection of your legacy and we hope that this webinar gives everyone some important advice on making decisions about your future."

The 60-minute webinar is open to all Recording Academy members and will be recorded and viewable on the Recording Academy's Membership YouTube channel as a partner program to the Mind Your Music Business program that MusiCares hosted in 2021. 

 "Build Your Financial Foundations" will be held at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET. Register here to attend.

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The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation announced the third annual Leading Ladies of Entertainment Connect TogetHER mentorship program, in partnership with She Is The Music, a global nonprofit that works to increase the number of women in music.

The mentors of this year’s collaborative program include: Founder of the music and entertainment public relations firm RondenePR, Róndine Alcalá; recording and mixing engineer and Vice President of N.A.R.S Records/Dream Asylum Studios Marcella Araica; Latin GRAMMY winning sound engineer Maria Elisa Ayerbe; Latin GRAMMY winning artist Goyo; Latin GRAMMY winning and GRAMMY nominated singer/songwriter Mon Laferte; Mayna Nevarez, Founder & CEO of Nevarez Communications and Chapter Chair Women in Music Miami; award winning journalist Pamela Silva;GRAMMY-nominated engineer and vocal producer Simone Torres; Latin GRAMMY winning composer Mónica Vélez and SVP Marketing and Promotion at Sony Music Entertainment México Ana Villacorta López. Each mentor will provide one-on-one virtual mentoring sessions with young women who want to follow a career in the music and entertainment industries.

Paying-it-forward and forging opportunities for future generations is a core pillar of the Mentorship Program, and for the third year, the Leading Ladies of Entertainment Connect TogetHER Panel expanded access to these Leading Ladies expertise. Presented by Spotify for Artists, the panel was held on April 15 and moderated by mentees Stephanie Acosta and Valeria Peñaranda, who were in conversation with mentors Róndine Alcalá, Maria Elisa Ayerbe and Mayna Nevarez.

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"Each year the mentorship program continues to evolve, we are grateful for the support of our mentors, the Leading Ladies of Entertainment who generously share their time and expertise to foster the next generation of women in Latin music," said Raquel "Rocky" Egusquiza, Executive Director of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation. "Together, alongside with She Is The Music, we work towards closing the gender gap within the Latin music industry."

"We are so proud and excited to continue to support and partner with Leading Ladies of Entertainment on our third year of the Connect TogetHER mentorship program," said Alexandra Lioutikoff, Co-Chair of She Is The Music Latin Committee, Group President of Universal Music Publishing for Latin America and U.S. Latin, and Board Member of the Latin Recording Academy. "Each year has given us the incredible opportunity to uplift more women in the industry and provide future generations with the tools to succeed."

The Leading Ladies of Entertainment initiative was created by the Latin Recording Academy in 2016 to honor and recognize professional and socially conscious women within the arts and entertainment fields who have made significant contributions and inspired the next generation of female leaders. 

The Latin Recording Academy Announces Two Major Events in Spain: A Tribute To Paco de Lucía & Latin GRAMMY Session in Málaga

On April 15, the Latin Recording Academy held the Latin GRAMMY Celebra: Paco de Lucía event in Cádiz, honoring one of the most influential guitarists in the history of flamenco and music in general.

In keeping with the Latin Recording Academy’s mission of promoting Latin music and building bridges between countries, musical genres and cultures, the event brought together an impressive number of artists and creators, who traveled to Cádiz, Spain to celebrate flamenco master Paco de Lucía.  

The celebration, attended by family members of the late Andalucian icon, witnessed unique and memorable moments beginning with the host and Latin GRAMMY nominee Miguel Poveda, who kicked off the evening with Federico García Lorca’s poem "La guitarra" before introducing de Lucía’s anthem "Entre dos aguas" alongside Juan Manuel Cañizares, José María Bandera, Rubem Dantas, Niño Josele and Abraham Laboriel. 

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From there, the night became a musical voyage around the world, creating opportunities for exposure to sounds beyond city and country of origin. Artists and friends of de Lucia performed some of the most beloved songs composed by the maestro, whose insatiable curiosity was a constant source of musical creation. That curiosity led him to incorporate the cajón into the flamenco genre, an event that artists Antonio Carmona, Rubem Dantes, Ané Carrasco, Tino Di Geraldo, Israel Suárez "Piraña," and Víctor Martínez chose to commemorate with a special performance during the ceremony.

The Gran Teatro Falla, where the very special musical event was held, also welcomed contributions from artists including Latin GRAMMY winners and nominees Oscar D’León, Eliades Ochoa and Berta Rojas as well as Latin GRAMMY nominees Diego Amador, María José Llergo, India Martínez, Maria Toledo y Rosario La Tremendita.  

The program also featured special guests Carlos Grilo, Jesús Guerrero, Juan Habichuela (nieto), Chonchi Heredia, José Heredia "El Gato," David de Jacoba, Jaime Calabuch "Jumitus," Noemí Humanes, the Makarines, Carlos Merino and Juan Parrilla — all of whom paid homage to de Lucía’s music and mastery. 

The evening’s electrifying final performance included young artists, who performed the song "Solo quiero caminar" arranged by Víctor Martínez, showcasing a striking fusion of musical genres and rhythms as they interpreted de Lucía’s musical legacy for future generations.

Also in attendance were Cádiz Mayor Bruno García and Arturo Bernal, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports of the Regional Government of Andalucía. Additionally, important local figures such as Esmeralda Rancapino, Claudia la Chispa, Hamza, Maria Espejo, Lucia Serrano, among others attended the celebration.

During the event an exclusive project was launched by the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation in collaboration with the Paco de Lucía Foundation and Berklee College of Music: featuring the recording and video of de Lucías’s "Cositas buenas." The performance included arrangements and instrumentation by artists from the Alalá Foundation and was produced by Salomé Limón, a member of the Latin Academy’s Circle of Producers and Engineers, with the participation of four Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation scholarship recipients.

Proceeds from event ticket sales support the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation and the Paco de Lucía Scholarship. The event was produced by Macarena Moreno and The Latin Recording Academy’s team headed by Ayleen Figueras. Carlos Narea led musical production, under the musical direction of Fernando Illán and Víctor Martínez, who also were part of the band. 

The event was co-financed by the Programa FEDER Andalucía 2021-2027 and the Regional Government of Andalucía, and sponsored by the City of Cádiz and the Enrique Tomás brand of jamón ibérico. 

This was the first live event that The Latin Recording Academy has hosted in the Community of Andalucía in 2024 to continue elevating its culture around the world. On May 16, they will host a new Latin GRAMMY Session at Plaza de Toros (La Malagueta) in Málaga.

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In a dynamic fusion of culture and music, the Latin Recording Academy has teamed up with the Regional Government of Andalucía to unveil an exciting calendar of events for 2024, all taking place in the Community of Andalucía.

The cities of Cádiz and Málaga are poised to become the epicenters of musical celebration this year, hosting two headline concerts. These events, supported by the Programa FEDER Andalucía 2021-2027 and the Regional Government, promise to offer unparalleled musical experiences, further cementing Andalucía's influence on the global cultural stage.

The festivities will kick off in Cádiz with "Latin GRAMMY Celebra: Paco de Lucía," a heartfelt tribute to the legendary artist slated for Saturday, April 13, at the Gran Teatro Falla. Paying homage to one of the most influential guitarists in the history of flamenco and music in general, the event will feature Latin GRAMMY winners Antonio Carmona, Juan Habichuela Nieto, Oscar D’León, Pepe de Lucía, Eliades Ochoa, and Berta Rojas, as well as Latin GRAMMY nominees Diego Amador, Rubem Dantas, María José Llergo, Niño Josele, India Martínez, Israel Suárez "Piraña," Maria Toledo, and Rosario La Tremendita.

Additionally, the program will feature special guests including Cañizares, Ané Carrasco, Tino di Geraldo, José Carlos Gómez, Chonchi Heredia, José Heredia "El Gato", David de Jacoba, Jaime Calabuch "Jumitus," Noemí Humanes, Juan Parrilla, José María Bandera, and 2022 Trustees Award winner Abraham Laboriel, who will pay tribute to Lucía’s music and mastery. Latin GRAMMY nominee Miguel Poveda will serve as host for the evening, and will also perform alongside Carlos Grilo, Jesús Guerrero, Makarines and Carlos Merino. The event will be produced by Macarena Moreno and The Latin Recording Academy team led by Ayleen Figueras. The musical production is spearheaded by Latin GRAMMY nominee Carlos Narea, under the musical direction of Latin GRAMMY winner Fernando Illán and Victor Martínez who will also be part of the band.

"Latin GRAMMY Celebra: Paco de Lucía" will benefit the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation and the Paco de Lucía Scholarship. Tickets for “Latin GRAMMY Celebra: Paco de Lucía” are on sale now through the Gran Teatro Falla

Málaga will follow suit on May 16 with an electrifying Latin GRAMMY Session at La Plaza de Toros, La Malagueta, showcasing the Academy's commitment to promoting Latin music's diverse genres.

This year's events build on the momentum of previous celebrations in Andalucía, including flamenco and urban music sessions in Granada and Málaga, and the historic 24th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards in Sevilla. The partnership between the Latin Recording Academy and the Regional Government of Andalucía continues to flourish, promising to bring even more unforgettable moments to fans of Latin music worldwide.

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