SANTA MONICA, Calif. (July 20, 2011) The Recording Academy® (www.grammy.com) has amended two GRAMMY Award® categories — Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical and Best Engineered Album, Classical — to include mastering engineers as award recipients, in addition to recording and mixing engineers. Beginning with the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards, the award will go to all three engineers in each respective category. The award in these categories is given in recognition of the technical and artistic skills required by the engineers involved in a recorded work determined by voting members as the best sounding album. The 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards will air live on CBS Television Network on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012 from 8 – 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).
"As we do every year, The Academy reviews proposals on how our Awards process may be amended or enhanced," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. "Ours is a fluid and continually evolving process, and this adjustment will now recognize all engineers for their important contributions to recorded music."
Each year at its spring Board of Trustees meeting, proposals for Awards changes are received, reviewed and voted on by the Board — comprised of music makers from across the country — representing a diversified voice for The Recording Academy. The Trustees, along with Academy senior staff, Chapter Regional Directors, Executive Directors, and Chapter Presidents — fiduciaries of the not-for-profit organization — met May 24 – 27 in Los Angeles to discuss goals, set priorities, and implement policies designed to strategically chart the course of The Academy and its affiliate corporations.
Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, join the organization's social networks as a Twitter follower at www.twitter.com/thegrammys, a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/thegrammys, and a YouTube channel subscriber at www.youtube.com/thegrammys.
Currently more than 6,000 professionals comprise The Recording Academy Producers & Engineers Wing, which was established for producers, engineers, remixers, manufacturers, technologists, and other related creative and technical professionals in the recording field. This organized voice for the recording community addresses issues that affect the craft of recorded music, including the development and implementation of new technologies, technical guidelines and recommendations, and archiving and preservation initiatives. For more information, please visit www.producersandengineers.com.
Media Contact:
Jennifer Keppel
310.581.8769/jenniferk@grammy.com
