by Billy Zero
The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences is the Organization that produces the Grammy Awards each year. As a member of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS), The Grammy Awards are a part of my world throughout the year. I'm currently on the Board of Governors for the DC chapter of NARAS. For information on Grammy membership, click here.
The idea to create a Recording Academy began in early 1957 when the Hollywood Beautification Committee summoned five top Los Angeles record executives and asked them to suggest performers that deserved stars on the sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard. Since then the academy has grown to symbolize the ultimate in peer-approval within the music industry.
The Grammy Awards are just one aspect of this amazing organization. Musicares is one of the efforts that touches my heart. It is the mission of MusiCares to ensure that music people have a place to turn in times of financial, medical or personal crisis. You probably don't realize the numbers of musicians that grow old without ever having health insurance, or access to things many of us take for granted like buying a home. Musicares is a lead partner with Musicrising.org. Since its launch in November 2005, Music Rising has replaced the instruments of more than 2,100 professional musicians who were affected by the hurricanes with a total donation of over $2.1 million dollars assistance for Phase I.
There's The Grammy Foundation. The Grammy Foundation was established in 1989 to cultivate an awareness, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music American culture – from the artistic and technical legends of the past to the still unimagined musical breakthroughs of the future generations of the music professionals. There's Grammy In The Schools which is helping future generations understand and appreciate music on all levels with amazing events like Grammy Camp, Sound Checks, and Pro Sessions.
OK, enough on the back story, but I wanted you to understand that this organization is more than just recognizing our peers with awards and the almighty statue once per year. it's more than that, and I’m proud to be a member.
This year maybe the best year ever for the Grammy Awards: visit the Nominee List.
Here are some of my favorite Nominations in the world of XMU.
Imogen Heap is nominated for Best New Artist. She's the underdog with artists like Carrie Underwood and James Blunt. But her latest record is well worth the listen, and she deserves this nod from her peers.
Death Cab For Cutie Nominated for Best Long Form Video for Directions. They've been touring non-stop for years now. Every video on Directions was directed by a different director and includes 2 bonus videos of unreleased songs. Don't just go to Youtube and watch, you have to get the DVD. Hold it in your hands. Check it out here.
OK Go Nominated for Best Short Form Music Video. This album was a sleeper at radio until this amazing video changed everything. Enough said.
Dixie Chicks nominated for Record of the Year. I really don't care about my indie-cred at all. Music is Music and I’ve been a musician for over half of my life. This is a good Record. But then there's Gnarls Barkley. WOW, when I heard that for the first time from the Subsoniq boys (airs on Raw - XM 66) now and used to be on XMU) I knew immediately that this was Record-of-the-year potential.
Another cool category that I love is engineering and I’m a bit biased here. The Flaming Lips are nominated for their work on "At War With the Mystics" along with Engineer Dave Fridmann. Fridmann also produced 'Some Loud Thunder', the second album by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, which is available for purchase on January 30, 2007. Preorder from our friends at Insound and get the Digital Version NOW.
The hardest decision I had to make during the voting process is Best Alternative Music Album of the Year.
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Arctic Monkeys
[Domino Recording]
At War With The Mystics
The Flaming Lips
[Warner Bros.]
St. Elsewhere
Gnarls Barkley
[Downtown/Atlantic]
Show Your Bones
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
[Interscope Records]
The Eraser
Thom Yorke
[XL Recordings]
That's a tough decision. So much good music and so little time.
That's it from me. Have a good Show.
Billy Zero
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment