Grammys to Honor Pharrell, Senators Chuck Schumer and Bill Cassidy

U.S. Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Invoice Cassidy (R-La.) and 13-Time Grammy winner Pharrell Williams will likely be honored by the Recording Academy at its annual Grammys on the Hill Awards, going down on April 26.

The occasion is meant to carry collectively congressional leaders and music makers to acknowledge those that have led the battle for creators’ rights, and the three will likely be honored for his or her contributions to assist music creators. Particular friends and attendees will likely be introduced within the coming weeks. 

“Grammys on the Hill is a celebration like no different, spotlighting music’s unifying energy as we carry collectively our nation’s leaders with a few of the most famous artists on the planet,” mentioned Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. “It’s a privilege to honor Pharrell alongside Senate Majority Chief Schumer and Senator Cassidy, all of whom have fought tirelessly for pro-music coverage that protects the creatives that make up our neighborhood.”

“It’s an honor to be acknowledged at this yr’s Grammys on the Hill for Congress’s work to assist the recording and efficiency trade in the course of the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic,” mentioned U.S. Senate Majority Chief Schumer. “I used to be proud to steer the battle in Congress alongside musicians, venue house owners, operators, and workers to move the Save Our Levels Act bringing essential reduction to 1000’s of staff within the music trade.”

Dr. Cassidy acknowledged, “Music carried the spirits of the scholars on the Afghanistan Nationwide Institute of Music by to freedom. Irrespective of the place you’re on the planet — Kabul or New Orleans — music communicates resilience, ardour and tradition.”

Williams mentioned, “I’m very grateful to be honored at this yr’s Grammys on the Hill amongst some unbelievable different honorees who’ve completed super advocacy work for others. It’s necessary that we present up for one another and assist each other to make sure that we are able to maintain creating.”

Schumer and Cassidy are the congressional honorees being acknowledged for his or her assist of creators. Collectively, they’ve championed key insurance policies in assist of music folks, together with co-sponsoring the Save Our Levels Act, which was included within the bipartisan COVID reduction bundle handed in December 2020. As Senate Majority Chief, Schumer ensured important pandemic reduction was out there to help gig staff and small music companies. Schumer additionally sponsored the decision designating Aug. 11, 2021 as “Hip Hop Celebration Day” and the month of November 2021 as “Hip Hop Historical past Month,” whereas Cassidy served as an unique co-sponsor of the measure, which handed unanimously within the Senate. In 2018, Schumer and Cassidy had been each co-sponsors of the historic Music Modernization Act. Cassidy, together with Schumer, additionally performed a key function in efforts to assist 272 younger musicians, school and workers from the Afghanistan Nationwide Institute of Music escape Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and safely attain Qatar in 2021. At the moment, most of the institute’s actions have been re-established in Portugal, such because the Zohra Orchestra, Afghanistan’s first all-female orchestra.

Williams has demonstrated a robust dedication to defending creators’ rights and to philanthropy, founding organizations corresponding to Black Ambition and YELLOW, and dealing with former Virginia Governor Northam to make Juneteenth a paid state vacation. Along with his 13 Grammy Awards and two Academy Award nominations, he obtained an Emmy nomination for his unique tune “Letter to My Godfather,” for Netflix’s “The Black Godfather” about legendary music govt Clarence Avant. In 2020, he was inducted into the Songwriters Corridor of Fame.

The awards dinner and presentation will happen on the Hamilton Reside in Washington, D.C., that includes stay performances and particular friends. The next day, April 27, the Recording Academy will host the annual Grammys on the Hill Advocacy Day, which brings musicians and music trade representatives to satisfy with lawmakers to debate points going through at the moment’s music creators. This yr, music creators will meet with Members of Congress to advance a number of key points that the Academy and its members proceed to advocate for, together with:

•    The HITS Act, which might enable an artist or songwriter to totally expense the price of new studio recordings on their taxes, as much as $150,000.

•    The Restoring Creative Safety Act, which might restrict using lyrics and artistic expression as proof in courtroom — a typical follow that disproportionately impacts the rap neighborhood.

•    Reform of the stay occasion ticketing market to higher defend artists and followers.

•    The American Music Equity Act, which establishes a efficiency proper for artists on AM/FM radio.