The Recording Academy is committed to better reflecting and serving all of today’s broad, bold, diverse, global music community. Whether it’s traditionally underrepresented people in our music community, or music genres that have been overlooked, or emerging sounds and ecosystems from any corner of the world, the Academy exists to serve music in its entirety. The following programs and initiatives highlight the Academy’s 2024 DEI year at a glance, designed to drive meaningful progress and lasting impact across the music community.
DEI’s DREAM (Diversity Reimagined by Engaging All Musicmakers) Network: Spotlights cultural contributions of creators and implements member resource groups around eight priority groups.
Women in the Mix – To build a community for all women and increase representation with the Recording Academy and in the music industry.
Black Music Collective – Dedicated to the inclusion, recognition, and advancement of Black music and its creators and professionals.
GRAMMYs Next Gen – Supports and empowers the next generation of music creators and professionals.
Academy Proud – Positions the GRAMMY Organization as the LGBTQIA+ inclusion leader for our members and the music community at-large.
Gold Music Alliance – Fosters meaningful connections and elevates the impact of Pan-Asian members and allies within the GRAMMY Organization and the music industry.
Crear Musica (Latino/x) – Celebrates the Latino culture, develops members and positively impacts the music community.
Indigenous Peoples Network – Develops a global community contributing to the preservation and honoring of Indigenous people and their traditions in music.
RAA+D (Recording Academy Accessibility and Disability) – A commitment beyond compliance by achieving true accessibility for everyone in our music community.
In 2024 we have officially launched seven out of eight of our focus groups under the DREAM Network, including:
RAA+D (Recording Academy Accessibility and Disability)
Women in the Mix
GRAMMYs Next Gen
Scholarship Programs:
Currently in year four of the Black Music Collective X Amazon Music “Your Future is Now” scholarship that awards five currently enrolled HBCU students $10,000 as well as music equipment grants to two HBCUs.
- This year, the Recording Academy presented a check to Fayetteville State University and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University as a donation to fund music equipment for the schools.
Currently in year three of the Quinn Coleman Scholarship program which gives five students from across the country a scholarship as well as a Recording Academy internship.
DEI Listening Sessions:
- Throughout the year DEI has held Listening Sessions for underrepresented music communities such as Creators of Dance + Electronic Music, Creators of Opera Music, Creators of K-Pop and Music from Asia, and a conversation on Women's Safety in Music. These sessions provide a space for the Academy to listen to and learn from these communities, fostering dialogue that helps identify needs, challenges, and opportunities. Through this process, we aim to develop meaningful strategies that address their concerns, strengthen collaboration, and promote inclusive growth for all involved.
2024 GRAMMY WEEK:
The Launch of Gold Music Alliance
- Hosted the “Inaugural Gold Music Alliance Reception” during GRAMMY Week and officially launched Gold Music Alliance at the celebration.
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- Hosted the “Women in the Mix Brunch” and talkback during GRAMMY Week to recognize the impact of women in the music industry and openly address present-day gender disparities.
2024 Recording Academy Honors Presented by the Black Music Collective
- The evening honored music icons Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz, bringing together legendary Black artists as performers, presenters, and more. The event introduced a new segment, “Black Music Is,” dedicated to educating attendees on the history and span of Black Music across all genres. JAY-Z was awarded the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award on the 66th GRAMMYs stage.
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- Hosted the inaugural Academy Proud day party celebration, and officially launched Academy Proud, the Recording Academy’s focus group to increase representation, support LGBTQIA+ Academy members, and foster a sense of belonging.
Additional Programming:
The Lion King x BMC | Honoring Black Excellence in the Arts and Masterclass with Rickey Minor
- Held a masterclass with award-winning music director, producer, composer, and conductor Rickey Minor, and an event honoring The Lion King in partnership with Disney Theatrical Group. The masterclass aimed to reach the next generation of music, and educated attendees on the history of the Lion King in black music in celebration of Black History Month.
Women’s History Month Producers Workshop with Girls Make Beats
- The Recording Academy’s Women in the Mix hosted a workshop for Girls Make Beats where students had the unique opportunity to hear from and produce with leading producers Trinity, Ali Stone, Hit Girl, and We Are King.
Recording Academy Los Angeles Chapter and New York Chapter in Celebration of AAPI Month
- The DEI team helped to present “A Conversation with the Recording Academy: Building Your Team,” along with the LA Chapter. The panel included Los Angeles Chapter AAPI Board/Committees leaders and select membership in celebration of AAPI Month. The Academy also presented a celebratory AAPI Gold Music Alliance Mixer with the New York Chapter. The event included an electric performance from ARKAI Music, and networking opportunities for attendees.
Jewish American Heritage Concert at The Kennedy Center
- The Recording Academy joined forces with the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History to present a free Jewish American Heritage Month Concert hosted at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
SpringHill and The Recording Academy Present: The State of R&B Mixer
- SpringHill and the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective co-hosted two in-person events—one in Atlanta and another in Los Angeles—to celebrate R&B and the release of SpringHill’s R&B-focused episode on YouTube.
STARZ x The Recording Academy: Transparency Talks, Lyrically Correct: How Black Music Shapes Narratives & Influences American Culture
- In celebration of Black Music Month and Juneteenth, the Academy hosted a panel discussion in Washington D.C. with speakers such as Dr. Chelsey Green, Rico Love, and Michele Ballantyne. The panel explored the rich history and cultural impact of Black music, delving into its influence on the music industry, social movements, and global culture.
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- In collaboration with Live Nation and Queer Capita, the Recording Academy hosted a fireside chat in New York to honor Black Music Month and Pride Month. This conversation focused on celebrating the intersectionality of Black and Queer identities.
The Launch of RAA+D at the Philly Block Party
- Unveiled during the Recording Academy Philadelphia Chapter's inaugural Block Party during Disability Pride Month last month, RAA+D(Recording Academy Accessibility and Disability) is dedicated to achieving true accessibility for everyone in the music community and going beyond mere compliance. Philly Chapter DEI Ambassador Laurin Talese gave remarks announcing RAA+D, and introduced a performance by RAA+D artist Matthew Whitaker.
Draggg Me to the GRAMMYs
- Hosted by the Recording Academy’s Philadelphia Chapter in partnership with Academy Proud, we hosted our first “Draggg Me to the GRAMMYs” event, an interactive Drag show with eclectic performances from famed drag queens.
BMC x GU - “Up Close and Personal with Common & Pete Rock” at Howard University and New York University
- Hosted at Howard University and NYU, the Black Music Collective, DC Chapter, NY Chapter, and GRAMMY U teamed up to host a 60-minute up close and personal discussion with Common and Pete Rock, moderated by Ryan Butler.
BMC x USC - Screening Quincy Jones: "Duke Ellington...We Love You Madly"
- Black Music Collective and USC collaborated on a series of events this Fall. One of which being a screening of Quincy Jones: “Duke Ellington… We Love You Madly,” the kick-off event of the USC Thornton School of Music’s year-long tribute to Quincy Jones, who, at 91, celebrated seven decades of unprecedented professional creativity and excellence as a trailblazing cultural figure.
The Launch of the Indigenous Peoples Network
- The Recording Academy officially launched the Indigenous Peoples Network, a dynamic global community contributing to the preservation and honoring of Indigenous people and their traditions in music. It was inaugurated after a year of listening sessions, dialogue, and events with Academy members and other Indigenous music creators.
New Member Class 2024 Data:
Since 2019, new members represent 66% of the GRAMMY Voting Electorate.
Since 2019, the Recording Academy has added over 3,000 Women voting members, surpassing our goal of 2,500 by 2025. This milestone, achieved in less than five years, marks a major step forward in our efforts to enhance representation among women in our voting body.
Since 2019, the percentage of women members has grown by 23% in the Academy’s overall membership*, and by 27% among voting members.
The percentage of People of Color has grown by 63% since 2019 within the Academy’s overall membership, and by 65% among voting members.
Since 2019, the percentage of Black or African American+ members has grown by 91% in the Academy’s overall membership, and by 90% among voting members.
Since 2019, the percentage of Hispanic or Latin+ members has grown by 43% in both overall and voting membership.
Since 2019, the percentage of Asian or Pacific Islander+ members has doubled, reflecting a 100% increase in both overall and voting membership.
*Total Number of New Members: 2,800+