The Recording Academy (Assigned School Work)

Located in Santa Monica, CA, The Recording Academy is an organization that supports music industry professionals by promoting and honoring the achievements of excellence in the industry of recording arts and sciences. It should also be noted that The Recording Academy is also known as the National Association of Recording Arts & Sciences, or NARAS.

Founded in 1957, many believe the organization to be a product of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce in their Hollywood Walk of Fame pursuit by establishing four committees to assist with the selection process of the sidewalk honorees. It is said that the Walk of Fame induction requirements for recording artists (of that time) meant that an individual must have sold at least 1,000,000 records or 250,000 albums. Members of the audio recording selection committee realized that many of the talented individuals from their own industry would be overlooked from consideration due to this stipulation. The members of the committee felt they needed to create a separate award system for their industry of the entertainment world. This is believed to be the reason why the organization was formed. In 1959, The Recording Company introduced the GRAMMY Awards.

About 30 years later, NARAS introduced a foundation called, MusiCares, as a place where struggling artists suffering from personal, financial, or medical crisis could turn to in time of need. Some of the foundation's programs include emergency financial assistance, addiction recovery, outreach and leadership programs, and assisted living. MusiCares has locations in Nashville, Los Angeles, and New York City.

In 1997, NARAS decided to branch outward by creating the Latin Association of Recording Arts & Sciences. Headquartered in Miami, the LARAS represents multinational and multicultural Spanish and Portuguese-speaking music industry professionals from around the world.

Recently, NARAS has created the GRAMMY University Network, or GRAMMY U, as an organization to help college students who plan to work in the recording industry. I was made a member of GRAMMY U when I was first enrolled at Madison Media Institute in Madison, WI back in 2009. I even received an official invite to attend the 2010 GRAMMY Awards in the mail near December of '09. I respectfully declined as I had imagined that I would be a member the following year as well. Unfortunately, Madison Media Institute rescinded its partnership and agreement by severing our membership within the first 5 months. I plan to reenlist with the Chicago chapter on my own time very soon.

Lastly, NARAS developed a website called GRAMMY365.com that would serve as its own blend of social media, featuring member forums, audio and video content, and job opportunities that are made exclusively for its member base of over 20,000 strong. I no longer have access to this website, as I am no longer a member of GRAMMY U, but I remember interacting with a large number of students like me, through friendship requests and forums. I wonder if my profile still exists... 

In summation, The Recording Academy, also known as NARAS, has played an extremely positive role in the recording industry for over 50 years. They support their own and honor the achievements of their own. 

Thank you for your time, 

QW