Gearing up for Grammys

At a press event held at STAPLES Center yesterday, The Recording Academy® announced its plans for a year-long celebration of its milestone 50th Annual GRAMMY® Awards, which will air live on CBS from Los Angeles' STAPLES Center on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008. Neil Portnow, President of The Recording Academy, was joined by 27-time GRAMMY winner and 50th Celebration Ambassador Mr. Quincy Jones, as well as multi-platinum recording artist and GRAMMY winner Joss Stone. Jones, who was one of the founding members of The Recording Academy, and Stone helped unveil the official artwork and announce a slate of activities for music fans and the music industry including the GRAMMY Museum, a retrospective illustrated coffee table book, and the GRAMMY Brand fashion line. The Celebration starts today and will continue through 2008. Also in attendance were Recording Academy Vice Chairman Jimmy Jam and Los Angeles Chapter Governor Dave Koz, as well as other music industry executives and VIPs.
"For some it's a milestone — but we're just getting started," said Portnow. "Over the past 50 years, the GRAMMY Awards has become the world's most famous music telecast and the highest honor bestowed upon music makers. The GRAMMY Awards continue to push the envelope for never-before-seen live musical performances from new and established artists across all genres while The Recording 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."
As part of its 50th Celebration activities, The Recording Academy has named Jones its official ambassador. A member of The Academy for more than 40 years and a member of the GRAMMY Foundation's Board of Directors since 1992, Jones will participate in various hallmark cultural and educational events spotlighting music and the arts over the next year and a half as The Academy celebrates its remarkable 50-year history with an eye toward the future.
"I am so proud to be one of the founding members of this organization that now represents 18,000 music makers," said Jones. "I am honored to be an ambassador as The Recording Academy celebrates its influential 50-year history with a celebration of events and activities for music fans and music makers, all while keeping the importance of music education and preservation at the forefront of its efforts."
About The Recording Academy's celebratory programs and initiatives: Illustrated Coffee Table Book To commemorate the past 50 years, an illustrated book, featuring photos from past GRAMMY shows and of memorable GRAMMY moments, will be sold exclusively through Borders Books beginning in October. The book will have commentary penned by noted Rolling Stone scribe and GRAMMY Awards show writer David Wild, and will include a foreword by Jones.
GRAMMY Brand GRAMMY Brand, a high-end fashion collection for men and woman that celebrates the intersection between music and fashion, will be available at select boutique retailers this fall. From leather jackets and high-end tees to beaded handbags, jewelry and accessories, everyone will be able to celebrate their connection to music all year long by purchasing a piece of music history. A portion of the proceeds from sales of these products will benefit the GRAMMY Foundation® and MusiCares®.
50th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominations Announcement The announcement of nominations for the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards, which showcases who The Recording Academy's membership of music professionals believe are the best of the best during the eligibility period (Oct. 1, 2006 – Sept. 30, 2007), will take place in Los Angeles on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2007.
Starry Night and the 2008 Person of the Year The GRAMMY Foundation Leadership Award will be presented to Quincy Jones at Starry Night — an intimate benefit concert and dinner — on Saturday, July 28, 2007. The honor is in recognition of Jones' lifetime commitment and dedication to social, cultural, economic and educational issues spanning the globe.
On Friday, Feb. 8, 2008, MusiCares will honor the incomparable "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin as its 2008 Person of the Year. The tribute dinner and all-star concert honors legends in the music business who have made significant contributions to the world of music and have demonstrated extraordinary humanitarian and philanthropic efforts.
50th Annual GRAMMY Awards Telecast The 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be broadcast on the CBS Television Network at 8 p.m. (ET/PT) on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008, marking the 35th consecutive year the show will air on CBS. Additionally, the GRAMMY Awards was the first awards show to air in high-definition TV/5.1 surround sound, and will continue utilizing the latest technology to provide a more immersive viewing and listening experience for the show's global audience.
GRAMMY Museum Paying homage to music's rich cultural history, The Recording Academy will build a GRAMMY Museum. The 30,000 square-foot facility will explore and celebrate the enduring legacies of all forms of music, the creative process, the art and technology of the recording process, and the history of the premier recognition of excellence in recorded music. The Museum will be housed in AEG's L.A. Live entertainment complex (across the street from STAPLES Center) and is scheduled to open in September 2008.
Established in 1957, the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc., also known as 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 Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs — including the creation of the national public education campaign What's The Download® (WhatsTheDownload.com®). For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com.