ACADEMY PUTS 2,710 INVITES IN THE MAIL

The Recording Academy has invited 2,710 established music professionals to join the Academy with an eye toward recognizing progressive changes within the music industry.

The 2021 class of invitees is 48% female, 32% Black, 13% Hispanic and 4% Asian/Pacific Islander. Since the goal was set of adding 2,500 women voting members by 2025, 831 women have joined the Academy's voting membership.

"Membership is the Academy's change agent—our members drive everything we do," said 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.”

To participate in the process for the upcoming Grammy Awards, new members must accept their invitations by 9/15.

The Recording Academy is activating across its social channels to celebrate the new class of invitees, giving the music industry and fans a look into what it means to be a member of the Academy. New invitees will be featured across Instagram Reels, Voice Tweets and Instagram Lives.

"This is an incredibly exciting time to join the Academy and play a part in accelerating change, progress and evolution within the music industry," said Kelley Purcell, Vice President of Membership and Industry Relations at the Recording Academy. "Our membership body is the driving force behind our actions, and we value the contributions of our members, who help ensure the Academy's practices authentically represent the current state of music.”