The Recording Academy announced today results from its semiannual Board of Trustees meeting, which included electing National Officers, adding an additional category in the Gospel Field, and committing to enhancing outreach to members and music fans. The new National Officers are: music television producer Terry Lickona, Chairman of the Board of Trustees; multi-GRAMMY-winning producer Jimmy Jam, Vice Chairman; and music publisher Richard Perna, Secretary/Treasurer. Previous Academy Chairman Daniel Carlin was elected Chairman Emeritus.
Lickona, elected Chairman of the Board of Trustees, has been the producer of "Austin City Limits," the longest-running popular music series on American television today, for almost 30 years. A m ember of The Academy since 1993, he served as President and was a founding Governor of the Texas Chapter. He's a longtime Trustee, and is a co-chair of the Television Committee overseeing production of the annual GRAMMY Awards.
Jam, elected Vice Chairman, is a three-time GRAMMY winner, Los Angeles Chapter Trustee, and comprises half of one of the most successful writing/producing teams in modern music history. In the past 20 years, along with his partner Terry Lewis, Jam has written and/or produced more than 50 Billboard No. 1 songs on the pop, R&B and dance charts for diverse artists including Mary J. Blige, Boyz II Men, Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, Robert Palmer, Rod Stewart, Sting, and Usher.
Newly elected Secretary/Treasurer Perna is Co-CEO of Evergreen Copyright Acquisitions and served as a Trustee for the Texas Chapter from 2000-2004. Perna, who has been a member of The Academy's Finance Committee, was president and chief operating officer of Hammerstein Music Group Inc., a company that evolved into one of the most successful independent music publishing companies in North America.
Carlin, an Emmy-winning music editor and Emmy-nominated music director, as well as former Chairman of the Board of Trustees, will serve as Chairman Emeritus.
In addition to the announcement of new National Officers, a new category was added in the existing Gospel Field for Best Gospel Song. A song with melody and lyrics is eligible in this new category if it was first released in the current eligibility year and is either a new song or a song that first achieved prominence during the current eligibility year. The GRAMMY will be awarded to the songwriter . This brings the total number of GRAMMY categories for the 48th Annual GRAMMY Awards in February 2006 to 108.
The Trustees approved Chapter Enhancement funding for greater outreach to and interaction with members and potential members through grassroots, regional and national events and programming, as well as local public relations initiatives.
Advocacy has been one focus of Portnow's platform since becoming President two years ago, and he's been committed to making a greater impact with artists' rights initiatives. Supporting this, the Trustees approved a budget creating a separate Advocacy and Government Relations Department based in Washington, D.C. Formerly part of the Washington, D.C. Chapter, the new department will administer the GRAMMY Cultural Policy Initiative which includes lobbying, educational events, and grassroots initiatives for Academy members.
The Academy's digital music public education campaign, "What's The Download," continues to educate and empower music fans about responsible downloading and digital music issues. After a successful search in Phase II for 12 young adults to serve as WTD Interactive Advisory Board members, the Trustees approved Phase III program activities, which will include local market and college outreach, interactive lesson plans, Web site enhancements, a thought-leadership campaign, online marketing, announcement of additional Honorary Members (joining current members Earth, Wind & Fire, Mark McGrath, JD Natasha, and Kanye West) and the creation of a Digital Issues & Solutions Year-End Report to the Industry.
The Trustees of The Recording Academy, along with Academy senior staff, Chapter Regional Directors, Executive Directors, and Chapter Presidents, met May 23-27 at the semiannual series of meetings with agendas designed to strategically chart the course of The Academy and its affiliate corporations.
