Becoming a member of the Recording Academy is no mere title or honorific. Academy members directly impact the global music community for the better. Without our Membership, the Recording Academy wouldn't exist at all.
By getting directly involved with the Academy's various divisions and initiatives, artists, creators and industry professionals can expand their participation in the music world to the next level. Our newest members, who just joined the Recording Academy as part of our 2023 New Member Class, perfectly embody this spirit. This newly inducted, record-breaking class represents a diverse group of 2,400+ music creators. In a demonstration of the Academy's commitment to remaking its overall membership, 50% of the new class are people of color, 46% of this year's class are under the age of 40, and 37% are women. See the full statistics surrounding the demographics of the 2023 New Member Class and a snapshot of the Recording Academy's 2023 DEI initiatives.
To celebrate our 2023 New Member Class, we're spotlighting some of our newest Recording Academy members, including Weyes Blood, Bedouin, Gera MX, and others. Learn more about the many reasons why they joined the world's leading community of music professionals.
Learn more about Recording Academy Membership and join now.
Read More: 50 Percent Of The Recording Academy's 2023 New Member Class Are People Of Color
*Weyes Blood | Photo: Neelam Khan Vela*
Weyes Blood
What inspired you to become a Recording Academy member?
Recorded music is my lifeblood. I wanted to see and be a part of the whole process that acknowledges some of the best recorded music of our times, and the Recording Academy is the best way to recognize the contributions of the wider music community.
Now that you are an active Recording Academy member, what are you most looking forward to? What do you hope to gain from your experience?
As someone who listens to a lot of music from the past, I look forward to exploring newer records on a more regular basis. I also look forward to listening to a wider variety of genres outside of my normal wheelhouse.
With the help and guidance of the Recording Academy, what do you hope to contribute to the music community as a new member?
I hope to contribute my weird perspective. As somebody who started in the DIY experimental music scene and collecting odd records, I feel like my input would come from a passionate and progressive place.
What does being a member of the Recording Academy mean to you? Why is it important to you?
It means getting to shed light on people that pour their hearts and souls into a recording. I feel very privileged to be admitted. All my years of experiencing and transcending through music will be put to good use, and staying connected with music — not only as a songwriter and singer, but as a listener — is very important to me.
*Gera MX | Photo Courtesy of Gera MX*
Gera MX
What inspired you to become a Recording Academy member?
I feel that one of my missions as an artist is to continue contributing to the growth of new talents who may have great opportunities like the ones I have had.
Now that you are an active Recording Academy member, what are you most looking forward to? What do you hope to gain from your experience?
I look forward to continuing to meet new talents as well as experienced colleagues. Also, new professionals who can add to my vision. And, of course, maybe very soon to see a GRAMMY Award in my cabinet.
With the help and guidance of the Recording Academy, what do you hope to contribute to the music community as a new member?
I hope to continue giving you music for many more years, that it can reach new corners of the world and connect with new people.
What does being a member of the Recording Academy mean to you? Why is it important to you?
It is very important to me. It is a milestone in my career and, for me, it means having reached a new level in my career.
It is great for me to become a member of the Academy and contribute to the mission of continuing to grow the name of all Mexican and Latino artists, creatives and professionals who contribute their grain of sand to this industry every day.
*Bedouin | Photo: Ben Price*
Bedouin
What inspired you to become a Recording Academy member?
Becoming a Recording Academy member was fueled by the desire to immerse and align ourselves with this vibrant community of exceptionally talented musicians. The electronic music industry has grown immensely in recent years, and we're honored to be a part of that growth. We're excited that artists in our genre are finally being recognized for their contributions to the history of music.
Now that you are an active Recording Academy member, what are you most looking forward to? What do you hope to gain from your experience?
We are so excited and honored for the opportunity to continue advocating for and shining a spotlight on the electronic music genre as Recording Academy members. Electronic music is a multibillion-dollar industry, yet it still struggles to get mainstream recognition.
As part of the Recording Academy, we look forward to being a representative of our genre and helping to further establish it alongside the other popular, more conventional genres. We hope to use this opportunity to bridge the gaps between genres, collaborating and exchanging ideas with fellow music professionals from various backgrounds.
This vibrant network provides a platform to push boundaries and redefine musical conventions.
With the help and guidance of the Recording Academy, what do you hope to contribute to the music community as a new member?
First and foremost, we hope to further champion diversity within the music industry — with a specific focus on music and musicians of Middle Eastern descent.
As a Recording Academy member, we have the unique opportunity to push for a more inclusive industry that reflects the global richness of musical traditions from all over the world.
Additionally, we're excited to act as a representative for the electronic music space and will work to bring that community more respect, credibility and awareness overall. Electronic music is the moment, right now! And we're excited to be part of the movement that brings the genre into the spotlight.
What does being a member of the Recording Academy mean to you? Why is it important to you?
It's a distinct privilege to be recognized alongside other professional creatives that share a deep dedication to their craft. After such a monumental year for our own artistic journey, to be accepted into the new member class of the Recording Academy is truly a capstone moment.
Our sonic vision pulls from our diverse personal influences, Middle Eastern heritage and Western upbringing. To now receive this level of recognition from the world's leading society of music professionals — it's an honor to be not only a face for electronic music, but also for all Middle Eastern musicians.
*Rap-Unzel | Photo: Armani Lyons/Lyons Pride Photography*
Rap-Unzel
What inspired you to become a Recording Academy member?
I was inspired to become an Academy member when I learned about the different ways I could get more involved in the industry through various membership opportunities. Being a part of an organization that celebrates artists and creatives is right where I want to be!
Now that you are an active Recording Academy member, what are you most looking forward to? What do you hope to gain from your experience?
I look forward to connecting with my fellow members and industry peers, as that's a way for me to continue my growth as an artist and be part of change. I feel there's always a takeaway and learning opportunity in everything I do, so I look to gain more knowledge from my experience as an Academy member!
With the help and guidance of the Recording Academy, what do you hope to contribute to the music community as a new member?
As a new member, I'm excited to have the opportunity for my voice to be heard in new rooms! I hope to advocate for the many different lanes there are for artists, especially female rappers. There are so many different sounds and styles with space for all of them in the industry. I'm here to show my lane.
What does being a member of the Recording Academy mean to you? Why is it important to you?
As a songwriter and recording artist, my words mean a lot to me, and music is one of my first true loves. So, naturally, being a member of the Recording Academy means so much! It's important to me because I stand by the Recording Academy's mission, and I want to do my part in ensuring that the music community continues to thrive!
*Duncan Daniels | Photo: Yanran Xiong*
Duncan Daniels
Now that you are an active Recording Academy member, what are you most looking forward to? What do you hope to gain from your experience?
I plan to help bring more awareness to the vast community of Afrobeats artists based in the diaspora, most especially here in the U.S. I also look forward to connecting and collaborating with my peers to make some amazing music.
With the help and guidance of the Recording Academy, what do you hope to contribute to the music community as a new member?
I would love to contribute by mentoring younger, budding musicians who intend on growing their music industry knowledge and career.
What does being a member of the Recording Academy mean to you? Why is it important to you?
It means that my peers saw my years of contribution to music as a whole and deemed me worthy to be a part of this prestigious body. It has been a great aspiration of mine ever since I started making music more than 20 years ago.
I never imagined I would get here, so it's still surreal. I also have a chance to submit my works and works of other great artists I know for GRAMMY consideration, and that's huge.
*OG Parker | Photo: Armen Kaleshian*
OG Parker
What inspired you to become a Recording Academy member?
Growing up, watching some of my favorite musicians at the top of their game [and being] appreciated and honored by their peers and music professionals within the Academy inspired me to hopefully be a part of such a coveted institution. For it to be a reality for me now, I'm extremely grateful and honored.
Now that you are an active Recording Academy member, what are you most looking forward to? What do you hope to gain from your experience?
I hope to be a trusted voice of reason and help continue the tradition of greatness the Recording Academy has created by offering my expertise and love for amazing music.
With the help and guidance of the Recording Academy, what do you hope to contribute to the music community as a new member?
Being a new member of the Recording Academy, I hope to contribute my unique talents and experience and learn from and build with the legendary veterans that have helped make the Academy what it is; together, we [can] elevate it to even new heights.
What does being a member of the Recording Academy mean to you? Why is it important to you?
I will never take for granted being a part of the organization that provides the highest honor and award in music. I've given music all I have, and to continue to have the opportunity to push and advocate for musicians as a musician [myself], especially at this level, I am truly blessed and appreciative.
*Trousdale | Photo: Raea Palmieri*
Trousdale
What inspired you to become a Recording Academy member?
The Recording Academy has such a long legacy of honoring music and artists that have inspired us, and we're so excited to become a part of that legacy. To be able to share the positivity that we try to spread with our music and inspire future artists is such an honor.
Now that you are an active Recording Academy member, what are you most looking forward to? What do you hope to gain from your experience?
As active members of the Recording Academy, we're really looking forward to the chance to meet new people and to share our voices within this community that shares our love of music. We are also really looking forward to the opportunity to cast our votes for the GRAMMYs in support of artists we love.
With the help and guidance of the Recording Academy, what do you hope to contribute to the music community as a new member?
The three of us have always been very proud of the fact that we write and produce and record the majority of the music we release. We really hope that as members of the Recording Academy, we can inspire other young women who are thinking about writing their own music and telling their own story.
What does being a member of the Recording Academy mean to you? Why is it important to you?
Art is how we make sense of the world and connect to other people, so it means the world to us to be able to voice the value of that art through the Recording Academy, to make sure it continues to be a pillar of connection in society.
4 Ways To Maximize Your Recording Academy Membership