Radio Edit | 8.21.23

Fresh off a big announcement last week, GRAMMY U Sr. Director Jessie Allen sits down with us to to talk about the the evolution of the program and how it looks to support the next generation of music industry professionals.

GRAMMY U is one of our favorite music programs out there for young professionals but for those unfamiliar, do you mind briefly explaining what GRAMMY U is?

GRAMMY U is where the emerging music community connects with the brightest minds in the music industry. We provide aspiring professionals with the tools and opportunities needed to launch their careers in music. Our events and programs cover all aspects of the industry, from business and networking to technology and the creative process. As a vital part of the Recording Academy’s mission, GRAMMY U is dedicated to fostering the next generation of music talent and ensuring a thriving cultural heritage for the recorded arts. GRAMMY U is the future of music!

You announced some big news recently. While previously only open to students actively enrolled in college, The Recording Academy has now expanded GRAMMY U eligibility to anyone ages 18-29. What were the driving forces for this change and what kind of impact do you hope it will have?

A huge part of the Recording Academy's mission is to empower rising music leaders and through this expansion, the Academy is recognizing the different pathways that lead to a career in music and is committing to embracing and supporting the entire next generation of music creators and professionals, including those who are exploring non-traditional routes.

I'm always hearing artists and their teams talk about how much they enjoy doing the SoundChecks you put on. Why do you think those are such a hit?

Throughout the year, GRAMMY U members can participate in our SoundChecks program in their Chapter cities, where they get to see the behind-the-scenes workings of a tour and ask the artists and crew questions. It's always a special experience to see a member walk into an iconic venue in the middle of the day before it transforms into the concert experience they are used to. This program shows just how many people are involved in a successful tour and opens our members' eyes to many career paths available to them. Artists and crews also love talking to the members about advanced industry topics, which differentiates it from a VIP fan experience. SoundChecks from the 2022-2023 program year included artists such as Steve Lacy, Lizzy McAlpine, Stephen Sanchez, Gracie Abrams, Carly Rae Jepsen, MUNA, Sabrina Carpenter, Death Cab for Cutie, and more!

From Jacob Collier to Jessie Reyez, you've had some really great artist involvement in recent years. How do you generally go about choosing those artist partners for each event or program?

Our GRAMMY U Reps are an important part of curating our events, as they are the voice of their generation. We start our potential ask list early on in the brainstorming process for each event, which the Reps mostly populate. They also work on questions for the artists and help to create the program itself so that the topics are relatable to their peers.

Looking at programs like the GRAMMY U Conference, I think it's really cool that you have members actively involved in planning and executing events. Are you seeing examples of alumni taking skills or experience they picked up in GRAMMY U and transferring them into a career afterwards?

Several alumni have made positive remarks about the impact GRAMMY U has had on their careers:

Erin Hanson - Director of Content Partnershpis at Audible: “GRAMMY U was truly the foundation of my career. Industry professionals tend to let their guards down and be more willing to share learnings and advice they wouldn’t otherwise share when they’re surrounded by students. My two years working as the student Representative of the LA Chapter while finishing my degree fostered the confidence, leadership skills, and network I needed to kickstart my career. I spent my first decade out of college as an artist manager and often found myself running into people I had met through GRAMMY U; whether high up executives or my own contemporaries now with successful career paths of their own, those relationships last.”

Christine Busanelli, Esq., MBA - Entertainment Lawyer: “GRAMMY U’s mentorship program helped me make valuable connections which led to job opportunities after graduation, and professional membership. GRAMMY U opens doors and brings music career dreams to life.”

Naledi Nyahuma Seck - VP, Diversity Equity & Inclusion at The Orchard: “GRAMMY U is the ultimate launchpad for a career in the music industry. I had the opportunity to shadow industry professionals at their jobs, volunteer at unique, unforgettable events, and build my network exponentially. Through the access and exposure the program provided, I was able to apply and work for the Recording Academy, as the GRAMMY U Rep for the LA Chapter and later work in the Awards department. My first job after graduation came from a GRAMMY U recommendation.”

In your dream scenario, what does GRAMMY U look like 10 years from now?

Now that we’ve opened the doors to be even more accessible and inclusive to the next generation of music leaders, we can’t wait to see our membership grow and we aim to keep creating even more opportunities for emerging music creators and professionals. With more access to our membership than ever before, I am also looking forward to seeing our community continue to thrive globally.

As our members graduate and become a part of the music industry, we strive to bring them back to participate as industry leaders. With more than 32,000 members over the course of our existence, we are proud to have this opportunity often and would love to see the tradition continue as our members become future GRAMMY winners and executives!

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SIGNINGS

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LABEL | PUBLISHING

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TECH | SOCIAL

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ELSEWHERE

Head of hip-hop and R&B at Amazon Music Tim Hinshaw announces departure to launch own agency Free Lunch; whose principal focus will be to “authentically connect brands with artists and culture through bespoke storytelling and in real-life experiences.”

A federal judge ruled that the U.S. Copyright law does not cover works created by artificial intelligence.

APPOINTMENTS

Various Artists Management has appointed Emily Thorpe-Jones as Head of Brands & Corporate

Skye Landgraf has been tapped as director of partnerships for We Are Moving the Needle, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering and supporting women and non-binary professionals in the recording industry

After 17 years at X-Ray Touring, Josh Javor ahs joined WME as a partner and co-head of the agency’s music department in London

Brooke Nixon has been promoted to director of streaming at Big Machine Label Group

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Dan Alani has been named head of creative at UK marketing and digital consultancy agency Blackstar; Alani comes from Able Media where he worked on campaigns for superstars like Harry Styles and Beyoncé

Jacob Fain bumped up to EVP/ head of A&R at Elektra

DEPARTURES

After running successful campaigns for artists like Maneskin and Beach Weather, Mark Neiter will be departing Arista Records as vp of promotion

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