The Recording Academy is continuing its efforts to diversify its voting body by inviting 2,710 professionals to become members.
After years of criticism over a lack of female and diverse representation in its membership and the Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy is continuing its efforts to expand its voting body by extending invitations to 2,710 established music professionals “from wide-ranging backgrounds, genres and disciplines,” according to the announcement. It states that the 2021 class of invitees is 48 percent female,32 percent Black or African American+,13 percent Hispanic or Latino/a/x+, and four percent Asian or Pacific Islander+. The Academy’s existing membership represents 26 percent female and 27 percent from traditionally underrepresented groups. Since setting the goal of adding 2,500 women voting members by 2025,831 women have joined the Academy’s voting membership, putting the organization 33 percent closer to reaching that milestone.
