Grammys on the Hill

Sheryl Crow and Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) will be honored on April 30 when the Recording Academy hosts its annual Grammys on the Hill Awards. Hosted by singer/actress Candiace Dillard Bassett, the awards dinner will be held at the Hamilton Live in Washington, D.C., and feature live performances and special guests.
The event brings together congressional leaders and music makers to recognize those who have led the fight for creators’ rights.

“Protecting the rights of creators lies at the core of the Recording Academy’s mission,” Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, said in a statement. “Grammys on the Hill is an opportunity to celebrate the artists and our nation’s leaders who champion this cause, and to acknowledge music’s unifying power.”

Trending on Billboard

“Receiving this award from Recording Academy is a tremendous honor for me, because protecting the rights of creators is more important now than ever before,” said Crow. “In this age where technology is changing the world faster than we can adapt, we need clear eyes to see both the opportunities and the challenges ahead, so that artists are not disadvantaged any more than they already are. Music nourishes our humanity, and I am proud to be recognized as an advocate for the protection of the people who make it.”

Crow has dedicated much of her life to activism. In 2000, she co-founded the Recording Artists’ Coalition with previous Grammys on the Hill honoree Don Henley to protect creators’ rights and change unfair industry practices. In 2009, the Recording Artists’ Coalition formed an alliance with the Recording Academy to continue its mission as a program within the Academy’s Advocacy office.

Recently, Crow has been vocal about the threat that AI presents to music creators, including on her new song “Evolution,” which grapples with the future impact of artificial intelligence on humanity and the planet.

[embedded content]

As a philanthropist, Crow is known for her support of multiple charities, including MusiCares, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, The World Food Program, Feeding America, Adopt a Classroom, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Pelotonia and the Delta Children’s Home. A nine-time Grammy winner, Crow was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023.

Sens. Cornyn and Klobuchar are being recognized for their support of creators and their collaborative efforts championing policies in support of the music community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the senators provided a lifeline for music through the Save Our Stages Act, which provided $16 billion in federal assistance to shuttered venues. That represents the largest federal investment in the arts in U.S. history.

In this Congress, they are working to reform live event ticketing through the Fans First Act. Introduced in December 2023, the legislation would address flaws in the ticketing marketplace.

The following day, May 1, the Recording Academy will host the annual Grammys on the Hill Advocacy Day, which brings current and past Grammy winners and nominees, along with industry leaders, to meet with lawmakers to discuss issues facing today’s music creators. This year, music creators will convene with members of Congress to advance key issues that the Academy and its members continue to advocate for, including:

•    Protecting the image, likeness and voice of individual creators from AI fakes through legislative measures such as the No AI FRAUD Act and the No FAKES Act discussion draft.

•    Reforming the live event ticketing marketplace to better protect artists and fans through legislation including the Fans First Act and the TICKET Act.

For the first time, Grammys on the Hill is expanding beyond its long-time status as a two-day event. On May 3, the Grammys on the Hill Future Forum will be held in partnership with the Human Artistry Campaign and will explore the impact of artificial intelligence on the music community.

Pharrell Williams was the honoree at the 2023 Grammys on The Hill Awards. Last year’s event also honored U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.).