The Grammy Awards are presented annually by the Recording Academy. (Photo: MJ Photos/REX/Shutterstock)

In an effort to further diversify its membership body, the Recording Academy has implemented a new community-driven and peer-reviewed admissions model. As the lead governing body of the professional music industry, the Recording Academy has of late been evaluating policies across the board, implementing changes to get in step with today’s business and social leanings.

Effective immediately, the new member submission process will shift to an annual cycle and entail two key elements, both of which center on community: industry recommendations and peer review. Moving forward, in addition to meeting the Recording Academy’s basic requirements, each new member submission must include two professional recommendations in order to be considered for membership. With an aim to monitor the Recording Academy’s progress toward building a more vibrant membership base, a Peer Review Panel of music creators will convene each spring to evaluate all new member submissions and will consider a range of criteria—including craft, genre, and overall diversity—in determining whom to invite into the Recording Academy. The move to an annual review cycle will enable the Recording Academy to look at both its existing membership base and prospective submissions, and be thoughtful about how each individual new member decision stands to shape the collective body.

“The Grammy Awards are already renowned for being a peer-awarded honor, and our new membership model further reinforces that peer-driven commitment to excellence,” Recording Academy vice president membership & industry relations Laura Segura Mueller said. “Membership is the lifeblood of the Recording Academy and a privilege we strive to uphold. Our new membership model puts the power in the hands of the music community and is designed to build an active, representative membership base that reflects our broader culture. By changing the process to Recording Academy membership, we remain committed to setting a positive example for the music industry as a whole.”

Ensuring that the Recording Academy’s membership is fully representative of the music community, both in terms of diversity and activity, has been a longstanding goal of Recording Academy Trustees, who have considered various approaches to maintaining the voting body’s long-term health and vitality. Earlier this year, the Recording Academy worked with its recently assembled Task Force On Diversity & Inclusion to invite 900 music creators to become voting members in an effort to effect immediate change in advance of the upcoming 61st Annual Grammy Awards. The new community-driven membership model marks the most significant change the Recording Academy has made to its membership in the organization’s more than 60-year history. Learn more about the new membership model and submission process here.

The Recording Academy represents the voices of performers, songwriters, producers, engineers, and all music professionals. Dedicated to ensuring the recording arts remain a thriving part of our shared cultural heritage, the Academy honors music’s history while investing in its future through the Grammy Museum, advocates on behalf of music creators, supports music people in times of need through MusiCares, and celebrates artistic excellence through the Grammy Awards—music’s only peer-recognized accolade and highest achievement. As the world’s leading society of music professionals, we work year-round to foster a more inspiring world for creators.

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