State Champ Radio

by DJ Frosty

Current track

Title

Artist

Current show
blank

State Champ Radio Mix

1:00 pm 7:00 pm

Current show
blank

State Champ Radio Mix

1:00 pm 7:00 pm


Grammy Week

Just hours after the Recording Academy announced that it plans to go ahead with the 67th annual Grammy Awards telecast on Feb. 2 as scheduled despite the wildfires that have devastated parts of Los Angeles in the past week, Universal Music Group (UMG) announced it is canceling all of the company’s Grammy-related events, including its artist showcase and after-Grammy party, and will instead “redirect the resources that would have been used for those events to assist those affected by the wildfires.”
“Our deepest gratitude goes to the first responders and emergency personnel, who continue to perform heroically,” said the company in a statement. “L.A. is home to so many of us. We are committed to helping and supporting the music community, our artists, our teams and the people of Los Angeles get through this horrific episode.”

Trending on Billboard

The Recording Academy made a similar statement of concern even as it came to a different conclusion.

“Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles,” Recording Academy and MusiCares CEO Harvey Mason jr. and Tammy Hurt, chair of the board of trustees, said in a statement released earlier today. “This city is our home, and we mourn the loss of life and destruction that have come to it in recent days.

“In close coordination with local authorities to ensure public safety and responsible use of area resources, the 67th Grammy Awards telecast on CBS on Feb. 2 will proceed as planned,” they continued. “This year’s show, however, will carry a renewed sense of purpose: raising additional funds to support wildfire relief efforts and honoring the bravery and dedication of first responders who risk their lives to protect ours.”

Those local authorities reportedly include the office of Mayor Karen Bass, public safety agencies and fire marshals.

The Recording Academy’s plan is to go ahead with the telecast. It has made no decision about other Grammy Week events, such as the MusiCares Person of the Year event (which this year is set to honor the Grateful Dead) and the Recording Academy’s Special Merit Awards.

A major ancillary Grammy event, the Milk & Honey party, was canceled on Sunday (Jan. 12) with a pointed message on founder Lucas Keller‘s Instagram Story. “I regret that we will be canceling our annual award season pre-Grammy event in partnership with Reservoir and others. … It would be tone deaf to celebrate and I hope all other companies will follow suit,” he wrote. “Don’t come to town for the Grammy’s and take up hotels that people need desperately. Release your hotel blocks or donate them. In the meantime, if you can, please give money to MusiCares at this link to support wildlife relief. Everything counts.”The Recording Academy and MusiCares launched the Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort last week with an initial $1 million donation to support music creatives and professionals. “Thanks to additional contributions, we have already distributed over $2 million in emergency aid to those most in need — and we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing ongoing assistance,” Mason and Hurt said in their statement.

On Thursday, Jan. 30, artist, songwriter and producer Kirk Franklin will be celebrated at the fourth annual Recording Academy Honors Presented by the Black Music Collective at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles. Franklin will receive the Black Music Icon Award, which celebrates Black music creators whose “commitment to their craft has profoundly shaped […]

Paul Robinson, Warner Music Group’s executive vp/general counsel, will be recognized on Friday, Jan. 31, when the Recording Academy Entertainment Law Initiative (ELI) hosts its annual Grammy Week luncheon at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. Robinson will receive the 2025 ELI Service Award.
“As a part of its mission, the Recording Academy works to advocate for creators, and the Entertainment Law Initiative advances this through legal representation, celebrating the achievements of entertainment law practitioners, and providing year-round educational opportunities to cultivate future leaders in the field,” Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, said in a statement. “Paul exemplifies these values, and we are proud to honor him … for his three decades at Warner Music Group, where he has championed fair practices and guided the industry through transformative changes.”

Robinson joined Warner Music Group’s legal department in January 1995 as associate general counsel. In December 2006, he was appointed to his current role, in which he is responsible for WMG’s worldwide legal, business affairs, public policy, compliance and corporate governance functions. Before joining WMG, Robinson was a partner at the New York City law firm of Mayer, Katz, Baker, Leibowitz & Roberts.

Trending on Billboard

The Entertainment Law Initiative was established by the Recording Academy to foster discussion on legal issues shaping the music industry. Each year, the recipient of the Service Award is selected by the ELI’s executive committee.

The ELI Grammy Week Luncheon also recognizes the winner and runners-up of the Entertainment Law Initiative writing competition.

Individual tickets, along with a limited number of discounted student tickets, will be available for purchase on Wednesday, Dec. 11. For more information, visit https://www.recordingacademy.com/entertainment-law-initiative.

Grammy Week culminates with the 67th Annual Grammy Awards at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, Feb. 2, broadcasting live on CBS and streaming live and on-demand on Paramount+ from 8-11:30 p.m. ET/5-8:30 p.m. PT. Prior to the telecast, the Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony will be held at the Peacock Theater at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET and be streamed live on live.Grammy.com and the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel.

On Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, four days before the 67th annual Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy Producers & Engineers (P&E) Wing will honor producer, engineer and mixer Jimmy Douglass at its annual Grammy Week Celebration. The event will take place at The Preserve LA in East Hollywood.
“Our P&E Wing proudly celebrates Grammy Week each year with a special evening that unites producers, engineers and artistic professionals to honor a truly deserving creator,” Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, said in a statement. “This year, we’re thrilled to pay tribute to the extraordinary Jimmy Douglass, who has led groundbreaking creative and technical efforts in the recording industry, encouraging artists to transcend genre boundaries and contributing to iconic musical projects that will resonate for generations.”

“Throughout his illustrious career spanning more than four decades, Jimmy’s visionary approach to producing, engineering and mixing has shaped some of music’s most iconic recordings,” said Maureen Droney, vp of the P&E Wing. “Jimmy consistently pushes the boundaries of sound by bringing unconventional techniques into the studio while inspiring countless artists along the way.”

Trending on Billboard

Douglass (also known as The Senator) is a five-time Grammy winner for his work on Justin Timberlake’s “SexyBack” (best dance recording, 2007); Timberlake’s “Love Stoned/I Think She Knows” (best dance recording, 2008); John Legend & The Roots’ Wake Up! (best R&B album, 2011), CeCe Winans’ Let Them Fall in Love (best gospel album, 2018) and Andra Day’s The United States vs. Billie Holiday (best compilation soundtrack for visual media, 2022).

Douglass has also received five album of the year nominations for his work on Missy Elliott’s Under Construction, Timberlake’s Justified and FutureSex/LoveSounds, Pharrell Williams’ Girl, and Jay-Z’s 4:44. He has additionally notched two record of the year nods for Timberlake’s “What Goes Around…Comes Around” and Jay-Z’s “The Story of O.J.”

In addition to paying tribute to Douglass, the event will celebrate the year-round work of the Producers & Engineers Wing and its members.

Grammy Week culminates with the 67th Annual Grammy Awards at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, broadcasting live on CBS and streaming live and on-demand on Paramount+ from 8-11:30 p.m. ET/5-8:30 p.m. PT. Prior to the telecast, the Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony will be held at the Peacock Theater at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET and be streamed live on live.Grammy.com and the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel.

Primary Wave’s annual pre-Grammy party went down Saturday night at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, and this year, for the first time, it celebrated Billboard No. 1s.So it makes sense that a crowd of hitmakers was in the building to celebrate Grammy Weekend, including Jon Bon Jovi, who had just been honored the night prior as MusiCares Person of the Year and is the voice of four Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits with his namesake band. Melissa Etheridge was also there, alongside wife Linda Wallem, and she’s a Billboard chart-topper too, including the Adult Contemporary No. 1 smash “I’m the Only One.”
Then there was Bell Biv DeVoe — the trio of Ricky Bell, Michael Bivens and Ronnie DeVoe — who scored three No. 1s on Billboard‘s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in their early ’90s heyday. They were the perfect people for Billboard‘s Rania Aniftos to ask “what is the key to making a hit song?” on the red carpet Saturday night.
“Be yourself, have fun, make sure you’re enjoying it,” Bell offered. “Make sure it’s what you would really listen to when you go to the clubs or jump in your car. Just keep it true in that aspect.”
Bivens chimed in next: “I would say get a hot beat. Don’t nothing happen without the beat. Then go straight to the chorus and get something that they want to remember. And then just tell a story that you think connects to men and women.”
Finally, DeVoe said, “It’s about that moment in time too, like being real as far as what you’re feeling in your life at that time. The biggest albums were about a moment in time in any given artist’s career. Whether it’s Prince, Purple Rain or Mary J. Blige, What’s the 411? There’s so many classics based on people’s pain and their victory at any time. A song should speak to that.”
CeeLo was in charge of the night’s music, spinning everything from Usher’s “Yeah!” and Too $hort’s “Blow the Whistle” to his own “F**k You! (Forget You),” a No. 1 hit on Billboard‘s Pop Airplay chart in 2011.
Also at the Waldorf Astoria for the party: Lauren Spencer-Smith, Fifth Harmony alumni Ally Brooke & Dinah Jane, Grandmaster Flash, Gavin Rossdale, “Lovin On Me” co-writer & co-producer Sean Momberger, Johnny Gill, Bonnie McKee, Israeli & Palestinian boy band as1one, Eric Benét, charlieonafriday, Pat Houston, Donna Houston, Damien “DDOT” Washington, Domani Harris, Armani White, James Charles, Crystal Kung MinkoffDom Fenison & Chanel West Coast, Terry Washington and, last but not least, The Hamburglar, who surprised the party with Happy Meal boxes filled with McDonald’s cheeseburgers and french fries.
Find photos from the party below:

Lauren Spencer-Smith

Image Credit: Elyse Jankowski for Billboard

Lauren Spencer-Smith at the Primary Wave x Billboard Grammy Party held at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills on Feb. 3, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

Melissa Etheridge & Linda Wallem

Image Credit: Elyse Jankowski for Billboard

Melissa Etheridge and Linda Wallem at the Primary Wave x Billboard Grammy Party held at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills on Feb. 3, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

as1one

Image Credit: Elyse Jankowski for Billboard

Sadik Dogosh, Neta Rozenblat, Ohad Attia, Aseel Farah, Nadav Philips and Niv Lin of as1one at the Primary Wave x Billboard Grammy Party held at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills on Feb. 3, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

Ghostwriter

Image Credit: Elyse Jankowski for Billboard

Ghostwriter at the Primary Wave x Billboard Grammy Party held at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills on Feb. 3, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

Grandmaster Flash

Image Credit: Elyse Jankowski for Billboard

Grandmaster Flash at the Primary Wave x Billboard Grammy Party held at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills on Feb. 3, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

Gavin Rossdale

Image Credit: Elyse Jankowski for Billboard

Gavin Rossdale at the Primary Wave x Billboard Grammy Party held at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills on Feb. 3, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

charlieonafriday

Image Credit: Elyse Jankowski for Billboard

charlieonafriday at the Primary Wave x Billboard Grammy Party held at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills on Feb. 3, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

Bell Biv DeVoe

Image Credit: Elyse Jankowski for Billboard

Ricky Bell, Ronnie DeVoe and Michael Bivins of Bell Biv DeVoe at the Primary Wave x Billboard Grammy Party held at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills on Feb. 3, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

Pat Houston

Image Credit: Elyse Jankowski for Billboard

Pat Houston at the Primary Wave x Billboard Grammy Party held at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills on Feb. 3, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

Donna Houston

Image Credit: Elyse Jankowski for Billboard

Donna Houston at the Primary Wave x Billboard Grammy Party held at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills on Feb. 3, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

Bonnie McKee

Image Credit: Elyse Jankowski for Billboard

Bonnie McKee at the Primary Wave x Billboard Grammy Party held at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills on Feb. 3, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

Damien “DDOT” Washington

Image Credit: Elyse Jankowski for Billboard

Damien “DDOT” Washington at the Primary Wave x Billboard Grammy Party held at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills on Feb. 3, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

Sean Momberger

Image Credit: Elyse Jankowski for Billboard

Sean Momberger at the Primary Wave x Billboard Grammy Party held at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills on Feb. 3, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

Domani Harris

Image Credit: Elyse Jankowski for Billboard

Domani Harris at the Primary Wave x Billboard Grammy Party held at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills on Feb. 3, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

Eric Benét

Image Credit: Elyse Jankowski for Billboard

Eric Benét at the Primary Wave x Billboard Grammy Party held at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills on Feb. 3, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

CeeLo Green & Armani White

Image Credit: Christopher Polk for Billboard

CeeLo Green and Armani White at the Primary Wave x Billboard Grammy Party held at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills on Feb. 3, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

Ally Brooke & Dinah Jane

Image Credit: Christopher Polk for Billboard

Ally Brooke and Dinah Jane at the Primary Wave x Billboard Grammy Party held at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills on Feb. 3, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

Johnny Gill & Ricky Bell

Image Credit: Christopher Polk for Billboard

Johnny Gill and Ricky Bell at the Primary Wave x Billboard Grammy Party held at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills on Feb. 3, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

James Charles

Image Credit: Christopher Polk for Billboard

James Charles at the Primary Wave x Billboard Grammy Party held at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills on Feb. 3, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

Crystal Kung Minkoff

Image Credit: Christopher Polk for Billboard

Crystal Kung Minkoff at the Primary Wave x Billboard Grammy Party held at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills on Feb. 3, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

Dom Fenison & Chanel West Coast

Image Credit: Christopher Polk for Billboard

Dom Fenison and Chanel West Coast at the Primary Wave x Billboard Grammy Party held at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills on Feb. 3, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

Terry Washington & Eric Benét

Image Credit: Christopher Polk for Billboard

Terry Washington and Eric Benét at the Primary Wave x Billboard Grammy Party held at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills on Feb. 3, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

Jon Bon Jovi

Image Credit: Christopher Polk for Billboard

Jon Bon Jovi at the Primary Wave x Billboard Grammy Party held at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills on Feb. 3, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

The Hamburglar & CeeLo Green

Image Credit: Christopher Polk for Billboard

The Hamburglar and CeeLo Green at the Primary Wave x Billboard Grammy Party held at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills on Feb. 3, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

As always, NMPA president David Israelite kicked off its annual Grammy week showcase (in partnership with Billboard) with a gentle reminder: The bar will close during performances, and guests are expected to remain silent.It’s all part of the NMPA’s ethos to better support songwriters, and throughout the night, attendees also had the pleasure of watching songwriters support one another. At one table sat Jack Antonoff, Lana Del Rey and Kelsea Ballerini. Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson and hit songwriter Jessie Jo Dillon were seated to their right, with Dan Nigro and Chappell Roan seated just behind and Leon Thomas and his mother nearby.

Throughout the intimate and star-studded evening on Wednesday (Jan. 31), the audience was treated to performances by best new artist nominees Jelly Roll and Noah Kahan, rising pop star Conan Gray and country star Kelsea Ballerini — plus an impassioned speech from Del Rey about Vanguard Award recipient Antonoff, during which she couldn’t help but announce her upcoming country album Lasso, out this September.
Kahan, who was being honored with the Rising Star award, joked before his set that “I’ve been around longer than this [award title] would suggest … Don’t tell the Grammys.” Later, Nigro contested his own award title, saying, “I don’t consider myself a hitmaker” — though his track record on the charts proves otherwise.
Dillon — who is Grammy nominated for songwriter of the year alongside Edgar Barrera, Shane McAnally, Justin Tranter and Theron Thomas — summarized the evening best while accepting her Breakthrough Songwriter award. “There is no music without songs and no songs without songwriters — and we deserve to be compensated fairly.”
As for each performer, they all shared a similar sentiment about the life-changing power of a hit — and how they would never have gotten there where they are today without their incredible and trusted co-writers.
“Our community is really interesting and there’s a lot of anxiety sometimes,” shared Antonoff during the night’s final speech. “I feel very very proud to be here.”

Lana Del Rey

Image Credit: Nick Agrò for NMPA

Lana Del Rey speaks onstage at the NMPA + Billboard Grammy Week Showcase at EDEN Sunset in Los Angeles, CA on January 31, 2024.

Jelly Roll

Image Credit: Nick Agrò for NMPA

Jelly Roll performs at the NMPA + Billboard Grammy Week Showcase at EDEN Sunset in Los Angeles, CA on January 31, 2024.

Jack Antonoff

Image Credit: Nick Agrò for NMPA

Jack Antonoff speaks onstage at the NMPA + Billboard Grammy Week Showcase at EDEN Sunset in Los Angeles, CA on January 31, 2024.

Chase Stokes & Kelsea Ballerini

Image Credit: Nick Agrò for NMPA

Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini at the NMPA + Billboard Grammy Week Showcase at EDEN Sunset in Los Angeles, CA on January 31, 2024.

David Israelite

Image Credit: Nick Agrò for NMPA

David Israelite speaks onstage at the NMPA + Billboard Grammy Week Showcase at EDEN Sunset in Los Angeles, CA on January 31, 2024.

Leon Thomas

Image Credit: Nick Agrò for NMPA

Leon Thomas attends the NMPA + Billboard Grammy Week Showcase at EDEN Sunset in Los Angeles, CA on January 31, 2024.

Lainey Wilson & David Israelite

Image Credit: Nick Agrò for NMPA

Lainey Wilson and David Israelite at the NMPA + Billboard Grammy Week Showcase at EDEN Sunset in Los Angeles, CA on January 31, 2024.

Conan Gray

Image Credit: Nick Agrò for NMPA

Conan Gray performs at the NMPA + Billboard Grammy Week Showcase at EDEN Sunset in Los Angeles, CA on January 31, 2024.

Leon Thomas

Image Credit: Nick Agrò for NMPA

Leon Thomas speaks onstage at the NMPA + Billboard Grammy Week Showcase at EDEN Sunset in Los Angeles, CA on January 31, 2024.

Noah Kahan & David Israelite

Image Credit: Nick Agrò for NMPA

Noah Kahan and David Israelite at the NMPA + Billboard Grammy Week Showcase at EDEN Sunset in Los Angeles, CA on January 31, 2024.

Kelsea Ballerini

Image Credit: Nick Agrò for NMPA

Kelsea Ballerini performs at the NMPA + Billboard Grammy Week Showcase at EDEN Sunset in Los Angeles, CA on January 31, 2024.

Lana Del Rey

Image Credit: Nick Agrò for NMPA

Lana Del Rey at the NMPA + Billboard Grammy Week Showcase at EDEN Sunset in Los Angeles, CA on January 31, 2024.

Conan Gray & David Israelite

Image Credit: Nick Agrò for NMPA

Conan Gray and David Israelite at the NMPA + Billboard Grammy Week Showcase at EDEN Sunset in Los Angeles, CA on January 31, 2024.

Kelsea Ballerini

Image Credit: Nick Agrò for NMPA

Kelsea Ballerini speaks onstage at the NMPA + Billboard Grammy Week Showcase at EDEN Sunset in Los Angeles, CA on January 31, 2024.

Jelly Roll

Image Credit: Nick Agrò for NMPA

Jelly Roll at the NMPA + Billboard Grammy Week Showcase at EDEN Sunset in Los Angeles, CA on January 31, 2024.

Jessie Jo Dillon

Image Credit: Nick Agro for NMPA

Jessie Jo Dillon speaks onstage at the NMPA + Billboard Grammy Week Showcase at EDEN Sunset in Los Angeles, CA on January 31, 2024.

Jack Antonoff & David Israelite

Image Credit: Nick Agrò for NMPA

Jack Antonoff and David Israelite at the NMPA + Billboard Grammy Week Showcase at EDEN Sunset in Los Angeles, CA on January 31, 2024.

Dan Nigro

Image Credit: Nick Agrò for NMPA

Dan Nigro speaks onstage at the NMPA + Billboard Grammy Week Showcase at EDEN Sunset in Los Angeles, CA on January 31, 2024.

Kelsea Ballerini & Jessie Jo Dillon

Image Credit: Nick Agro for NMPA

Kelsea Ballerini and Jessie Jo Dillon at the NMPA + Billboard Grammy Week Showcase at EDEN Sunset in Los Angeles, CA on January 31, 2024.

Golnar Khosrowshahi

Image Credit: Nick Agrò for NMPA

Golnar Khosrowshahi and guest at the NMPA + Billboard Grammy Week Showcase at EDEN Sunset in Los Angeles, CA on January 31, 2024.

Dan Nigro & David Israelite

Image Credit: Nick Agrò for NMPA

Dan Nigro and David Israelite at the NMPA + Billboard Grammy Week Showcase at EDEN Sunset in Los Angeles, CA on January 31, 2024.

Mike O’Neill, Elizabeth Matthews & David Israelite

Image Credit: Nick Agrò for NMPA

Mike O’Neill, Elizabeth Matthews and David Israelite at the NMPA + Billboard Grammy Week Showcase at EDEN Sunset in Los Angeles, CA on January 31, 2024.

Chase Stokes & Kelsea Ballerini

Image Credit: Nick Agrò for NMPA

Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini at the NMPA + Billboard Grammy Week Showcase at EDEN Sunset in Los Angeles, CA on January 31, 2024.

Jelly Roll & David Israelite

Image Credit: Nick Agrò for NMPA

Jelly Roll and David Israelite at the NMPA + Billboard Grammy Week Showcase at EDEN Sunset in Los Angeles, CA on January 31, 2024.

Mitch Glazier

Image Credit: Nick Agrò for NMPA

Mitch Glazier and guest at the NMPA + Billboard Grammy Week Showcase at EDEN Sunset in Los Angeles, CA on January 31, 2024.

David Israelite & Kelsea Ballerini

Image Credit: Nick Agrò for NMPA

David Israelite and Kelsea Ballerini at the NMPA + Billboard Grammy Week Showcase at EDEN Sunset in Los Angeles, CA on January 31, 2024.

It’s Music’s Biggest Week, haven’t you heard? As the 66th Grammy Awards draw nearer (Feb. 4), the stars have descended upon Los Angeles for a week jam-packed with events, galas, panels and performances in celebration of Music’s Biggest Night. This year, SZA leads all nominees with nine nods for her 10-week Billboard 200 No. 1 […]

Lenny Kravitz has been announced as the first of three 2024 Recording Academy Global Impact Award honorees. The award will be presented at the third annual Recording Academy Honors presented by the Black Music Collective on Thursday (Feb. 1) at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles.
This is a CEO Merit Award that recognizes Black music creators “whose dedication to the art form has greatly influenced the industry and whose legacy of service inspires countless individuals worldwide, celebrating those who, through leadership and passion, empower others to embrace their authentic selves and contribute to positive change.” Harvey Mason Jr. has been the Academy’s CEO since May 2021, after serving as interim CEO for about a year.

Kravitz won Grammy Awards in four consecutive years (1999-2002) for best male rock vocal performance for “Fly Away,” “American Woman,” “Again” and “Dig In.”

The 2023 Recording Academy Global Impact Award Honorees were Grammy-winning artists Dr. Dre, Missy Elliott and Lil Wayne and leading music executive Sylvia Rhone.

Adam Blackstone will return for the third consecutive year as music supervisor for the Black Music Collective event. MVD Inc will also return for the third consecutive year to produce the event. Music executive and photographer Lenny S will curate the Icons Gallery, an art activation paying tribute to generations of influential Black music icons.  

The third annual Recording Academy Honors, sponsored by Amazon Music and City National Bank, will take place three days before the 66th annual Grammy Awards, set for Feb. 4 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

As previously announced, Kravitz will receive the Music Icon Award at the 2024 People’s Choice Awards on Feb. 18, and will take the stage for a multi-song performance.

Kravitz had both success and disappointment on the awards trail with “Road to Freedom,” which he wrote, performed and produced for the Netflix film Rustin. The soul-stirring anthem brought him a Golden Globe nomination for best original song – motion picture and a Critics Choice Awards nod for best song, but it was passed over on Tuesday Jan. 23 for an Oscar nod for best original song.

Kravitz was selected as a 2023 Hollywood Walk of Fame inductee and will release a new album, Blue Electric Light, on May 24.

The Recording Academy’s Grammy House is returning for a second year with three days of programming targeted to “music makers, culture creators and rising industry leaders.” Grammy House is presented by Mastercard and runs from Thursday, Feb. 1, to Saturday, Feb. 3, in Los Angeles. “I am so excited for this second installment of Grammy […]

On Wednesday, Jan. 31, the Recording Academy’s Producers & Engineers Wing will come together with its Songwriters & Composers Wing at the Grammy Museum in downtown L.A. to host “A Celebration of Craft.” The event will honor Leslie Ann Jones, a seven-time Grammy winner and the first woman chair of the Recording Academy’s board of trustees (1999-2001), who has been a top recording and mixing engineer and record producer for more than four decades.
The celebration — a first joint Grammy Week event for the Academy’s craft wings — will kick off the Academy’s official events in the lead-up to the 66th annual Grammy Awards.

The event will also shine a light on this year’s nominees for songwriter of the year, non-classical.

“I’m so excited for our Producers & Engineers and Songwriters & Composers Wings to come together for A Celebration of Craft later this month,” Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, said in a statement. “I look forward to joining with music people from both of these communities to kick off our Grammy Week celebrations.”

Maureen Droney, vp of the Producers & Engineers Wing, added in a statement: “From her decades-spanning recording career to her work as former chair of the Recording Academy’s board of trustees, a co-chair of the P&E Wing, and much more, Leslie Ann Jones has always been committed to the music community and to excellence in recording.”

In her statement, Susan Stewart, MD of the Songwriters & Composers Wing, said: “A Celebration of Craft will mark the first Grammy Week event for the Songwriters & Composers Wing since our Wing was founded in 2021, and we could not be more enthusiastic to come together with our community for an evening dedicated to celebrating their creativity.”

Jones has held staff positions at ABC Recording Studios in Los Angeles, the Automatt Recording Studios in San Francisco, Capitol Studios in Hollywood, and now Skywalker Sound, where she records and mixes music for records, films, video games and TV and produces records, primarily in the classical genre.

Jones, the daughter of famed comedy recording star Spike Jones, serves on the advisory board of Institute for the Musical Arts and on the board of directors of the Game Audio Network Guild (G.A.N.G.). She is also an artistic advisor to the Technology and Applied Composition degree program at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Jones was inducted into the NAMM TEC Hall of Fame in 2019 and was the recipient of the 2022 G.A.N.G. Lifetime Achievement Award. She is also a member of the Library of Congress’ National Recording Preservation Board.

Grammy Week culminates with the 66th annual Grammy Awards at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, Feb. 4. The ceremony will be broadcast live on CBS and stream live and on-demand on Paramount+ at 8-11:30 p.m. ET/5-8:30 p.m. PT.