Recording Academy Reorganizes To Offer Stronger Grassroots Activism For Music Creators

Yesterday morning, The Recording Academy announced it will merge it's Advocacy and Membership divisions in an effort to enhance the grassroots advocacy happening on behalf of music creators at a local level. The merge will allow the music community a direct line to approach Congress with an informed & unified voice at a time where effective communication on behalf of creators is critical. 

With several pro-creator bills in front of Congress and the House Judiciary Committee conducting its review of current music licensing and copyright laws, the need for unified advocacy surrounding creator issues is at an all time high. The Recording Academy's move to align the two divisions creates a broader unit that focuses on empowering the music community to get involved and take an active and informed role in creating their future. 

Daryl P. Friedman, who has championed the Academy’s advocacy work on Capitol Hill for over a decade, has been promoted to the newly created position of Chief Industry, Government & Member Relations Officer. Nancy Shapiro, who previously led the Member Services group, has been appointed to lead high-priority Academy initiatives across all divisions as the Senior Vice President of Special Projects.

“There are inherent synergies between our Member Services and Advocacy groups,” said Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow. “For 30 years, Nancy has grown the Academy’s presence through her work in launching many of its chapters and establishing professional development programs for local music makers. This evolution builds upon Nancy’s work by providing our members a conduit to shape the future of the industry for the collective good of the music community.”

“Daryl is an industry veteran who started at the chapter level, so he not only understands how to serve the needs of our local music communities, but his experience working with other leaders in the industry and lawmakers on the hill enable him to bridge an important gap by elevating the voices of local members to the national level,” continued Portnow.

Having unified a high profile coalition of leading artists, songwriters, and producers to form the GRAMMY Creators Alliance, Friedman is no stranger to cultivating powerhouse activism. The restructured academy's first charge with Friedman at the helm is the second GRAMMYs in My District, a grassroots nationwide advocacy day to be led in the fall. The first year, Billboard reported that Recording Academy members were able to visit about a third of Congress in their local offices, this year, with a streamlined way to activate it's members, the academy hopes to reach all of Congress while home on recess. 

“Our greatest asset is our 24,000-strong membership: When they speak, policymakers listen,” said Friedman. “I look forward to working with the talented Member Services team, led by Laura Segura Mueller, to create an even more effective advocacy and membership operation.”