Recording Academy Membership Model Shift Leads to Diversity in Voting Body
In 2019, the Recording Academy introduced a new membership model aimed at diversifying its voting body. Currently, 66 percent of the electorate consists of members who have joined within the last five years.
Impact on Grammy Nominations
This shift has significant implications for the organization, potentially leading to artists who were previously overlooked, such as Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar, winning in top categories. This change was evident at the 2024 Grammys, where all televised winners were female acts, including Taylor Swift, SZA, Billie Eilish, and Miley Cyrus.
2024 Membership Report
The academy’s 2024 Membership Report, released recently, highlights the impact of restructuring the membership submission process in 2019. The new requirements aim to ensure voting members are actively engaged in the music industry, with specific criteria for joining and renewing memberships.
Diversity and Representation
Since 2019, the academy has seen a significant increase in voting members who are people of color, with a 65 percent growth overall. This includes a 90 percent growth in Black voting members, a 43 percent growth in Latino members, and a 100 percent growth in Asian members.
Gender Representation
The academy has exceeded its goal of adding 2,500 women voting members by 2025, already surpassing 3,000. Women voting members have increased by 27 percent since 2019, reflecting a more inclusive and diverse membership.
Grammy Voting Body Composition
The academy’s voting body spans 13 creative disciplines, with songwriters and composers making up the largest percentage at 46 percent. Producers, instrumentalists, vocalists, engineers, and arrangers also contribute to the diverse voting body.
Genre Representation
Members from various genres contribute to the voting body, with pop, jazz, R&B, rock, American Roots, alternative, classical, rap, Latin music, global music, country, and dance all represented in the voting process.
Upcoming Grammy Awards
The first-round Grammy voting begins soon, with nominations and final voting scheduled for later in the year. The live show is set to air from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles in February.
Expected Nominees
Anticipation is high for nominees like Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, and others who are likely to receive multiple nods at the upcoming Grammy Awards.
FAQs
Q: How has the Recording Academy’s membership model changed in recent years?
A: The academy introduced a new membership model in 2019 to diversify its voting body, resulting in a more inclusive and representative electorate.
Q: What impact has the new membership model had on Grammy nominations?
A: The new membership model has led to a shift in Grammy nominations, with a more diverse range of artists being recognized and awarded in top categories.
Q: How has gender representation changed within the Recording Academy?
A: The academy has seen a significant increase in women voting members since 2019, exceeding its goal of adding 2,500 women members by 2025.
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