SANTA MONICA, CA. (Recording Academy) - The Recording Academy announced today results from its semiannual Board of Trustees meeting, which included electing
National Officers, adding an additional category in the Gospel Field, and committing to enhancing outreach to members and music fans. The new
National Officers are: music television producer Terry Lickona, Chairman of the Board of Trustees; multi-GRAMMY-winning producer Jimmy Jam, Vice Chairman; and music publisher Richard Perna, Secretary/Treasurer. Previous Academy Chairman
Daniel Carlin was elected Chairman Emeritus.
"Our spring Trustees meeting is a time when elected leaders from each of our 12 Chapters, all music makers and experts in their own fields, come together to discuss the evolution of our Academy and the active role we must play as the voice of 17,000 music makers," said Neil Portnow, President, The Recording Academy. "Not only have we continued to evolve the Awards categories, but we were able to commit to enhancing the services we offer our members and broaden our outreach to consumers beyond the annual GRAMMY telecast. We also are thrilled with the diversity and the depth of music industry experience we were able to tap in electing our new slate of National Officers. I look forward to working closely with this talented group of new officers and our national staff."
National Officers
Terry Lickona, elected Chairman of the Board of Trustees, has been the producer of "Austin City Limits," the longest-running popular music series on American television today, for almost 30 years. A member of The Academy since 1993, he served as President and was a Founding Governor of the Texas Chapter. He's a longtime Trustee, and is a co-chair of the Television Committee overseeing production of the annual GRAMMY Awards.
"I am looking forward to building a new partnership with our President, national staff, Trustees, local Chapters and 17,000 members," said Lickona. "This is the most exciting time in The Recording Academy's history, as we explore new opportunities for showcasing the GRAMMY brand and legacy via television, launch new initiatives to grow our membership and expand our educational, charitable and advocacy missions."
Jimmy Jam, elected Vice Chairman, is a three-time GRAMMY winner, Los Angeles Chapter Trustee and comprises half of one of the most successful writing/producing teams in modern music history. In the past 20 years, along with his partner Terry Lewis, Jimmy has written and/or produced more than 50 Billboard No. 1 songs on the pop, R&B and dance charts for diverse artists, including Mary J. Blige, Robert Palmer, Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men, Rod Stewart, Sting, Usher and Janet Jackson.
Newly elected Secretary/Treasurer Richard Perna is Co-CEO of Evergreen Copyright Acquisitions and served as a Trustee for the Texas Chapter from 2000-2004. Perna, who has been a member of The Academy's Finance Committee, was President and Chief Operating Officer of Hammerstein Music Group, Inc., a company that evolved into one of the most successful independent music publishing companies in North America.
Emmy-winning music editor and Emmy-nominated music director, as well as former Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Daniel Carlin will serve as Chairman Emeritus.
Awards
A new category was added in the existing Gospel Field for Best Gospel Song. A song with melody and lyrics is eligible in this new category if it was first released in the current eligibility year and is either a new song or a song which first achieved prominence during the current eligibility year. The GRAMMY will be awarded to the songwriter. This brings the total number of GRAMMY categories for the 48th Annual GRAMMY Awards in February 2006 to 108.
Member, Music Maker and Consumer Outreach Enhancements
The Trustees approved Chapter Enhancement funding for greater outreach to and interaction with members and potential members through grassroots, regional and national events and programming, as well as local public relations initiatives.
Advocacy has been one focus of Portnow's platform since becoming president two years ago, and he's been committed to making a greater impact with artists' rights initiatives. Supporting this, the Trustees approved a budget creating a separate Advocacy and Government Relations Department based in Washington, D.C. Formerly part of the Washington, D.C. Chapter, the new department will administer the GRAMMY Cultural Policy Initiative, which includes lobbying, educational events and grassroots initiatives for Academy members.
The Academy's digital music public education campaign, "What's The Download," continues to educate and empower music fans about responsible downloading and digital music issues. After a successful search in Phase II for 12 young adults to serve as WTD Interactive Advisory Board members (IAB), the Trustees approved Phase III program activities, which will include local market and college outreach, interactive lesson plans, Web site enhancements, a thought-leadership campaign, online marketing, announcement of additional Honorary Members (joining current members Kanye West, Mark McGrath, Earth, Wind & Fire and JD Natasha) and the creation of a Digital Issues & Solutions Year-End Report to the Industry.
The Trustees of The Recording Academy, along with Academy senior staff, Chapter Regional Directors, Executive Directors and Chapter Presidents, met May 23-27 at the semiannual series of meetings with agendas designed to strategically chart the course of The Academy and its affiliate corporations.
Established in 1957, the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc., also known as The Recording Academy, is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards, The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs - including the creation of the national public education campaign What's The Download (www.WhatsTheDownload.com). For more information about the Academy, please visit www.grammy.com.
