Multiple award-winning dancehall maestro, Stonebwoy has been named among the recording academy members of the Grammy Awards.
Stonebwoy took to his social media page to announce it and noted that he is ready to give back to music and its creators as he celebrates and represents them.
“As part of the new @recordingacademy member class, I’m honored to have an opportunity to celebrate, represent, and give back to the music and its creators. #WeAreMusic”
Several people including Stonebwoy’s colleagues in the entertainment industry have congratulated him for making it to the class. Some also averred that he should continue putting Ghana on the map through his music and that this is a step in the right direction to get him the Grammys. Some reaction to his post read:
According to the Recording Academy: “Membership is the lifeblood of the Recording Academy. Having an active, representative membership is fundamental to everything we do. Recording Academy members are a collective voice that together creates a better world for music and its makers, and has the ability to move our industry forward. Recording Academy membership is a privilege reserved for those whose excellent professional accomplishments are matched by their passion for the music community”.
It can be recalled that the Recording Academy this week welcomed more than 2 700 new invitees to its class of 2021.
The organization says the new members will form part of its vision of recognizing the contributions of music professionals in advancing progressive changes in the music industry. Additionally, it stresses the academy’s commitment to excellence and growing the membership body.
It is worth noting that the class of 2021 comprises 48% female, 32% black or African American, 13% Hispanic or Latino, and 4% Asian or Pacific Islander minorities. The academy stated that the figures mean that it is 33% closer to reaching its goal of adding 2500 women voting members by 2025. Existing membership represents 26% female and 27% from traditionally underrepresented groups.
More so, the membership of the recording academy is open to current music industry singers, composers, producers, engineers, instrumentalists, and other innovators.
That notwithstanding, there are three categories of memberships available at the Recording Academy: GRAMMY U, Voting Membership, and Professional Membership.
Grammy U members are for Students currently enrolled full-time in a college, university, or trade school with a desire to work in the recording industry upon graduation.
Also, Voting Membership is for performers, songwriters, producers, engineers, instrumentalists, and other creators currently working in the recording industry. Voting Members determine GRAMMY winners each year.
Nonetheless, Professional membership is for music businesspeople whose full-time, primary business activity directly supports music creators such as music executives (e.g., labels and label distributors, publishers, promoters, performing rights organizations), creator representatives (e.g., agents, managers, lawyers, publicists), industry writers (e.g., authors, journalists), and music educators (e.g. college/university educators, music/trade school educators).
Well per this information, it is speculated that Stonebwoy is part of the Professional Membership since in his statement, he hinted at “giving back to music and its creators” and that is what professional membership is all about.
Read also: DAVIDO CONGRATULATES NIGERIAN GRAMMY WINNERS
