Recording Academy Bolsters Membership With 2,710 Music Professionals
In an effort to grow and diversify its membership body, the Recording Academy recently invited 2,710 music creators and professionals to be members.
According to the press release, the invitations were extended to members of “wide-ranging backgrounds, genres and disciplines.” The 2021 class of invitees is 48 percent female, 32 percent Black or African American+, 13 percent Hispanic or Latino/a/x+, and four percent Asian or Pacific Islander+.
The Academy’s existing membership represents 26 percent female and 27 percent from traditionally underrepresented groups. Since setting the goal of adding 2,500 women voting members by 2025, 831 women have joined the Academy’s voting membership, putting the organization 33 percent closer to reaching that milestone.
“Membership is the Academy’s change agent — our members drive everything we do,” says Ruby Marchand, Chief Industry Officer at the Recording Academy. “I’m inspired by the potential for each invited music creator and business professional to lend their creativity and passion to our organization. We are immensely proud of our accomplishments and the strides we’ve made toward equitable representation. We look forward to welcoming our new invitees as they help us shape the future of the Academy and the music industry.”
