We are a little off the topic this week of talking about music that spans borders. But we are talking about the world music award that spans borders, the Grammys and a very healthy move by the Recording Academy, which awards the Grammys.
My ears perked up a few weeks ago when my friend Militia Vox, a black woman, metal band leader (The Judith Priestess) and /producer was elected to the Board of Governors of the New York Chapter of the Recording Academy. She is not the only black woman, or woman, or metal band leader in the leadership of the Academy, but her note alerted me that the Academy’s drive for inclusion and diversity is in full swing under the leadership of Chair Tammy Hurt, President Panos A Panay and Executive Director Harvey Mason, continuing the work of Chair Emeritus Christine Albert.
The very healthy move by the Academy is extending invitations to over 3,900 new members, people who have applied for membership in the Academy. The invitation to be part of the 2024 Class in the Academy went to a smorgasbord of people who look more like the world. than any Grammy class in the past The group that received the invitations was 47% female, 57% people of color, and 47% to people under the age of 40.
What excites me is that the Academy launched a Global Expansion Program to recognize and reward the artists who are making music sin fronteras and to bring them to audiences around the world. Some are featured in the Grammys Global Spin video series. For the past two years, Grammy leaders have been travelling the world to meet with musicians, producers, music executives to spread the word- the Grammys have been established in North Africa and the Middle East, two areas of the world rich in music.
And there are the Latin Grammys, which last year was held in Spain – the first international Grammy Awards. (Given that Mexico is now Spotify’s fourth largest market, I hope they are in Guadalajara next year)
There is still progress to be made, especially with women on the technical side. The Producers and Engineers Wing of the Academy boasts producer/engineer/singer/songwriter Ebonie Smith and Mastering Engineer Anna Frick, but it is still mostly men. I was happy to that the Advisory Board contains women like Susan Rogers ( Engineer of Prince’s Purple Rain album and producer of many others, now an associate professor at the Berklee College of Music). Hopefully among the over 3900 new members will be a slew of female engineers and producers.
But kudos to the Academy to listening to its critics and reaching out across gender, sexual orientation, racial and national boundaries. Music will be better for it.
Patrick O’Heffernan
