The Recording Academy may be recognized globally for the GRAMMY Awards, but the Academy works hard to support artists beyond the GRAMMY stage. Year round, the Recording Academy and its members advocate for the rights of music creators in Washington, D.C. and across the entire country. Many of your favorite artists have made it a priority to be an advocate for the music community. Here are some of this year's GRAMMY nominees who have taken their passion for music and used it to spark change:
*Singer, songwriter Victoria Monét attends Grammys On The Hill: Awards Dinner at The Hamilton on April 26, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)*
Victoria Monét
Victoria Monét has not only been rising in the music industry as an artist, but she has also been rising as a music advocate. Monét attended the most recent GRAMMYs on the Hill in 2023 where she met with Representatives Blake Moore (R-UT), Ron Estes (R-KS), and Jim Clyburn (D-SC) to discuss legislation that would affect creators.
Monét, whose nominations for the 2024 GRAMMYs include Best New Artist, may be new to the music and advocacy scene but she has already become passionate about fighting for the rights of songwriters and music creators. Coming from a background of songwriting, she personally believes that they are an under-appreciated group within the industry and is dedicated to utilizing her platform to carry out change.
Jessie Jo Dillon
Singer and songwriter Jessie Jo Dillon has been nominated for two GRAMMY Awards this year including Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical. In addition to being an accomplished songwriter, Jessie Jo Dillon has used her career to help advocate for creators' rights.
Her journey as an advocate for creators includes serving as Chapter Governor for the Recording Academy's Nashville Chapter, where she also serves on the local Songwriters and Composers Wing Committee. In 2022 Dillon attended GRAMMYs on the Hill in Washington where she met with Representative Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) and Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Alex Padilla (D-CA) to discuss music legislation including the PEACE Through Music Diplomacy Act, which became law in late 2022. Most recently, Jo Dillon continued her advocacy efforts by participating in the Recording Academy's District Advocate Day on October 5, 2023.
*Lupita Infante attends GRAMMYs On The Hill Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill on April 28, 2022 in Washington, DC. Photo: Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for The Recording Academy*
Lupita Infante
Lupita Infante is a two-time GRAMMY nominee, including this year's nomination for Best Música Mexicana Album (Including Tejano), and she has used her platform to advocate for artists across the world. In 2022, Infante joined the Recording Academy in Washington, DC for GRAMMYs on the Hill where she met with Members of Congress such as then-Majority Whip Clyburn to advocate for issues such as fair pay for music creators. Infante also uses her lyrics as a powerful source of advocacy, especially in support of women's rights and empowerment.
*Panos A. Panay, President of the Recording Academy, U.S. Representative Darrell Issa, Juan Winans, and Rico Love attend Grammys On The Hill: Advocacy Day on April 27, 2023 in Washington, DC. Photo: Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for The Recording Academy*
Juan Winans
Juan Winans is a three-time GRAMMY nominee, who is currently nominated for Best Gospel Song/Performance. Winans comes from a long line of Gospel singers, all starting with his grandparents Pop and Mom Winans. The Winans family has been involved in the Gospel music scene for years, and many members of the family have been nominated for and won GRAMMY Awards. Winans started his career singing but has since moved on to mostly writing with a few vocal projects here and there.\
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This past year Winans worked with Lalah Hathaway and released the song "NOW". This song is an advocacy anthem focusing on various issues from civil and human rights to women's rights. The music video also featured the late Congressman John Lewis (D-GA), who was a major advocate for civil rights. In addition, Winans has worked closely with the Recording Academy when it comes to his advocacy efforts. Earlier this year, he participated in the 2023 GRAMMYs on the Hill and advocated for numerous issues facing the music community including freedom of expression. He also frequently participates in the Recording Academy's District Advocate Day where he and other music creators meet with their Members of Congress in their districts.
Pierce Freelon
Pierce Freelon is a two-time GRAMMY nominee who focuses his work on promoting Black Culture in Children's Music. This year, he is nominated for Best Children's Music Album. In April of this year, Freelon participated in the Recording Academy's GRAMMYs on the Hill where he met with lawmakers across the aisle including Rep. Sydney Kamlager Dove (D-CA) and House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH).
Freelon's advocacy goes beyond creating his own music. He is also the founder of the Beat Making Lab, an Emmy Award-winning web series that focuses on activism. Freelon is also an elected Council Member of the City of Durham, putting him in a position to enact change locally.
Nnenna Freelon
Nnenna Freelon is a seven-time GRAMMY nominee and most recently was nominated for Best Children's Album. Freelon is not only a music creator, but a dedicated advocate for creators. She has participated in numerous Recording Academy Advocacy activations including the 2022 GRAMMYs on the Hill where she met with lawmakers including Senators Durbin, Blackburn, and Padilla.
Freelon also uses her platform to promote change and has focused her efforts on education. Freelon was the headliner at the Asia Pacific Economic Summit, a White House Event hosting leaders from around the world and has won awards for her outstanding artistry and her dedication to education.
Tarriona "Tank" Ball
Tarriona "Tank" Ball is the lead vocalist of the group "Tank and the Bangas" who are currently nominated for Best Global Music Performance. Ball has previously been nominated for Best New Artist and Best Progressive R&B Album. Outside of her multiple GRAMMY nominations, Ball has spent time being an advocate for the music community. In April of this year, Ball joined the Academy in DC for GRAMMYs on the Hill. During the GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards Dinner, Ball performed alongside Nile Rodgers in a tribute to Pharrell, the evening's honoree. The following day, she joined other Academy members on Capitol Hill to advocate for music creators everywhere.
She also joined fellow Memphis Chapter Academy members in the Louisiana Music Advocacy Day 2021. Throughout the day, Ball performed the national anthem for the Louisiana House and Senate and spent the rest of the day attending key meetings with legislators to talk about music advocacy.
*Poet J. Ivy attends Grammys On The Hill: Awards Dinner at The Hamilton on April 26, 2023 in Washington, DC. Photo: Paul Morigi/Getty Images for The Recording Academy*
J. Ivy
J. Ivy, a two-time Grammy winner, is nominated this year for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album. Beyond his success as an artist, J. Ivy has a long history of dedicating his time to advocating for music creators. Ivy, who serves on the Recording Academy's Board of Trustees, annually participates in the Recording Academy's District Advocate Day where he and other artists meet locally with their Member of Congress to raise awareness and gain support for issues facing the music community. This year, he also joined the Recording Academy for GRAMMYs on the Hill to advocate for artists issues on Capitol Hill.
Marc Whitmore
Marc Whitmore is a GRAMMY Award-winning producer and sound engineer who is currently nominated for Album of the Year. Whitmore has worked alongside the Recording Academy to spread the word the need for advocacy within the music community. Last fall, Whitmore and Todd Dupler, Chief Advocacy & Public Policy Officer of the Recording Academy, participated in a Twitter Spaces (now X) to highlight those needs. Whitmore has also participated in the Recording Academy's District Advocate Day where he and other artists local to New Mexico spent their day meeting locally with Members of Congress.\
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