Following its annual spring Board of Trustees meeting, The Recording Academy has announced that producer/engineer/songwriter John Poppo has been re-elected Chair of its Board of Trustees. A&R executive Ruby Marchand has been re-elected Vice Chair. Veteran music executive Terry Hemmings was elected Secretary/Treasurer and recording artist and founder/CEO of Swan Songs Christine Albert was elected Chair Emeritus.
These elected officers will lead the Board of Trustees, in partnership with Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow and Academy senior staff, to strategically guide and shape the mission and policies of The Academy and its affiliates.
New York native Poppo is a multiplatinum-selling producer, engineer, songwriter, and musician who has worked with artists such as Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Chaka Khan, Diana Ross, Seal, and Luther Vandross. He is currently focused on the development of new artists for his production/management company, Pop Productions Inc. Poppo has served on The Academy's Board of Trustees for the past 14 years.
A global A&R professional, Marchand has discovered, developed and nurtured artists across a multitude of genres. She now oversees the International Repertoire Initiative for Warner Music. Previously, Marchand was head of A&R for Ryko, a wholly owned label of Warner Music Group, where she signed artists including Keb' Mo', Will Hoge, Fran Healy, Allison Moorer, and the Posies, among others.
A 30-year music industry veteran, Hemmings is president/CEO of Provident Music Group, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. His roster includes Kirk Franklin, Third Day, Steven Curtis Chapman, Israel Houghton, and Marvin Sapp. He also oversees Provident Films, Provident Distribution, Essential Music Publishing, Essential Artist Services, and New York-based Descendant Records.
Albert is an independent recording artist and founder/CEO of Swan Songs, an Austin, Texas-based nonprofit that fulfills musical last wishes. Albert has released 12 independent albums as a solo artist and as part of the folk/Americana duo Albert And Gage. She served as Academy Chair from 2013–2015.
"I look forward to working closely with such a diverse group of music professionals," said Portnow. "The Academy, our membership and the entire music community will benefit from their many years of experience."
