ACADEMY CREATES BLACK LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

More than 20 executives and artists have been named to a leadership council for the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective.

The leadership committee is charged with advancing the Academy’s mission to achieve equitable representation across its membership and the music industry at large. The council has begun to create programming designed to attract more black members to the Academy.

Members of the Black Music Collective’s Distinguished Leadership Committee are artists Yolanda Adams, Aloe Blacc, Terri Lyne Carrington, D-Nice and H.E.R.; producers Boi-1da, Om’Mas Keith and Dion “No-I.D.” Wilson; engineer Derek “MixedByAli” Ali; songwriters Rico Love and Tayla Parx; and executives Brianna Agyemang, Tunde Balogun, Tuma Basa, Catherine Brewton, Phylicia Fant, Heather Lowery, Riggs Morales, Steve Pamon, Ryan Press, Rashid Shabazz and Jamila Thomas.

“This is a new era of change for the Recording Academy and we are honored to have these leading artists, executives, producers and engineers, all at the top of their fields, join us for such an important moment in our world, our nation and our industry,” said Harvey Mason Jr., interim President/CEO of the Recording Academy.

Valeisha Butterfield Jones, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer of the Recording Academy, said, “We’ve doubled down on our partnership with these leaders and are committed to the work ahead.”