By Angel Men Chan
Instagram @angelmenchan
The Grammy Museum is featuring DJ superstar Alok and Indigenous groups from Brazil in their project, "The Future is Ancestral". Together, they have created an album and documentary highlighting the vital role of indigenous communities in preserving Earth's natural resources. Despite being a small percentage of the population, Indigenous communities worldwide safeguard 80% of the planet's biodiversity. The event will take place at the GRAMMY Museum, L.A. Live, 800 Chick Hearn Court, Los Angeles.
The Grammy Awards are one of the four major annual American entertainment awards, alongside the Academy Awards, the Emmy Awards, and the Tony Awards affectionately known as the acronym - "EGOT". The first Grammy Awards ceremony was held on May 4, 1959, to honor musical accomplishments from the year 1958. After the 2011 ceremony, the Recording Academy revamped many award categories for the 2012 ceremony, which featured a total of 94 categories. The 66th Annual Grammy Awards took place on February 4, 2024.
The Grammys originated from the Hollywood Walk of Fame project in the 1950s. Recording executives realized that many significant figures in the music industry would not receive stars on Hollywood Boulevard, leading them to create awards similar to the Oscars and Emmys. The name "Grammy" was chosen through a mail-in contest, with the earliest postmark from Jay Danna of New Orleans, Louisiana. The first Grammy Awards were presented in 1958. The inaugural award ceremony was held in two locations on May 4, 1959, with 28 Grammys awarded. Over the years, the number of awards fluctuated, reaching over 100 at one point, with categories being added and removed. The second Grammy Awards ceremony in 1959 was the first to be televised, but it was not broadcast live until the 13th Annual Grammy Awards in 1971.
During the Grammy Awards process, more than 12,000 Recording Academy voting members participate in voting. Roughly 80 categories are announced during the Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony, with the remaining categories revealed during the telecast on networks peaking at 18.3 million viewers in 2024 on CBS.
Harvey Mason, Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, expressed pride in the organization's ongoing evolution towards a more diverse membership that reflects the varied talents and backgrounds of the music community.
The Recording Academy reported that the latest member class comprises 50% people of color, with a breakdown showing 28% Black or African American, 10% Hispanic or Latin, 5% Asian or Pacific Islander, 2% South Asian, 1% Middle Eastern or North African, and less than 1% Indigenous or Alaskan native. Furthermore, 4% of members prefer to self-describe their racial or ethnic identity. In terms of gender diversity, the class includes 54% male, 37% female, 8% unknown, and 1% non-binary, with less than 1% choosing to self-describe their gender identity.
This exclusive invite only Grammy event highlights the significance that music is "the one true universal language" appreciated by all people, cultures, and countries.
Website grammymuseum.org
Instagram @grammymuseum & @recordingacademy