Music and politics united at The Recording Academy®‘s 2015 GRAMMYs on the Hill® Awards where GRAMMY®-winning artist, songwriter and producer Alicia Keys was presented with the Recording Artists’ Coalition® Award (named for the artists’ rights program founded by Don Henley and Sheryl Crow), while House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va.; and ranking member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., were also honored for their support and understanding of music creators’ unique role in American life.
Known as “Washington’s most interesting mix of music and politics,” the event on Wednesday, April 15, was held at the Hamilton Live in Washington D.C., and included one-of-a-kind live performances.
The GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards was sponsored by SESAC, and proceeds from the event will benefit the GRAMMY Foundation®‘s GRAMMY Signature Schools program, which provides support for underserved music programs throughout the country.
“We are proud to honor Alicia Keys for her artistry, philanthropy and her passion for creators’ rights as a founding member of The Academy’s brand-new GRAMMY Creators Alliance,” said Recording Academy president and CEO Neil Portnow. ”We know that she will bring the same dedication to creators’ rights as she does to her global philanthropic efforts.”
Portnow added, “The Academy is also pleased to honor House leaders Goodlatte and Nadler for their unflagging support of intellectual property, and we look forward to another incredible evening in our nation’s capital.”
The high-profile celebration was emceed by five-time GRAMMY nominee Hunter Hayes. Among other members of the recording and entertainment industries invited were GRAMMY-winning R&B and pop producer Rodney Jerkins; Texas based singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen; GRAMMY-nominated rock singer/songwriter Eddie Money; GRAMMY-winning singer-songwriter Ray Parker Jr.; and GRAMMY-winning jazz and gospel saxophonist Kirk Whalum, in addition to numerous Washington luminaries and policymakers. The celebration began with a cocktail reception and dinner, followed by the awards presentation.
GRAMMYs on the Hill Advocacy Day — April 16
The day after the awards ceremony, The Recording Academy is hosting GRAMMYs on the Hill Advocacy Day, which hundreds of music professionals from across the country will visit with lawmakers to advance policies that improve the environment for American music. Celebrating its 11th anniversary, the program is the music community’s largest annual advocacy day in Washington, D.C.
For updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy’s Advocacy social networks on Twitter (@GRAMMYAdvocacy) and Facebook.
