January 27th 2024.
The Recording Academy, known for hosting the highly-anticipated Grammy Awards each year, is making strides towards progress and inclusivity with their new DREAM Initiative. Created by the Academy's DEI team, DREAM stands for Diversity Reimagined by Engaging All MusicMakers and aims to support and empower music creators who identify as Black Americans, women, LGBTQIA+, Pan-Asian, Latinx, Indigenous, disabled, and/or Gen Z. In addition to highlighting their contributions to the music industry, the Recording Academy has established member resource groups to uplift music professionals in these specific communities.
According to Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason, Jr., this initiative is something they are incredibly proud of. In an exclusive interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE, Mason stated that the goal of DREAM is to listen, learn, and interact with different groups, especially those whose voices may not have been heard in the past. He also emphasized the Academy's commitment to addressing past injustices and creating safe spaces for underrepresented music creators.
To better understand and represent these groups, the Recording Academy hosts interactive listening sessions to engage with diverse music creators. Mason explained that they invite each group to sit with members of the leadership team and staff at the Academy to share their experiences, both positive and negative. This allows the Academy to gain a better understanding of the needs and concerns of these communities and make necessary changes.
Since becoming CEO, Mason has focused on ensuring that all genres and communities are represented and honored. He stated that the Academy wants to avoid anyone feeling left out or struggling to be heard. This is especially important in the music industry, where diversity and inclusion should be celebrated and embraced.
Mason was appointed as interim CEO of the Academy after the previous CEO, Deborah Duggan, was suspended in January 2020. In a legal complaint, Duggan alleged unethical voting practices and a biased "boys club" environment dominated by white men. She was terminated for misconduct in March 2020 and reached a settlement with the Academy in 2021. Mason was then appointed as permanent CEO, and the Recording Academy eliminated secret voting committees that had been in place for nearly 30 years.
Under Mason's leadership, the Academy has made significant efforts to address criticism of a lack of diversity and inclusivity. They have seen a record number of women, people of color, and individuals from other underrepresented communities join their membership. The percentage of people of color has risen from 24% to 38%, and women membership has increased from 26% to 30% since 2019. The Academy is also on track to reach 2,500 women voting members by 2025, and over half of their 2023-2024 Board of Trustees will be people of color and women.
In addition to these changes, the Academy has launched several new initiatives and partnerships, such as the Black Music Collective, Women in the Mix Study, GLAAD Partnership, and HBCU Love Tour, to name a few.
Aside from his role as CEO of the Recording Academy, Mason is a renowned record producer who has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry, such as Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey. He has also produced major films, including the Lebron James movie "More Than a Game" and the 2021 biopic "Respect" about Aretha Franklin, starring Jennifer Hudson. Mason expressed gratitude for the opportunity to continue working on significant projects while also running the prestigious music institution.
Overall, the Recording Academy's DREAM Initiative is a significant step towards progress and inclusivity in the music industry. With the leadership of Harvey Mason, Jr. and their various initiatives and partnerships, the Academy is dedicated to promoting diversity and empowering underrepresented music creators.
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