While the Recording Academy is most known for its Grammy Awards, the organization's stated mission is to represent the voices of musical artists, engineers, and professionals throughout the industry. Valeisha Butterfield Jones, academy co-president and its former chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer, joined Cheddar to discuss the continued push to increase diversity in the field of music. "The Recording Academy has been around for 65 years, and while we're most known for the Grammy Awards, that's just one night," she said. "And so it's the other 364 days a year that we do such important work."

Between Bells

Recording Academy Co-President on Keeping Up Push for Diversity in Music Year Round

Welcome back to Between Bells Everyone. Most people familiar with the Recording Academy is through their annual Grammy Awards. However, outside of that star studded event, the organization works year round representing the voices of music professionals. We sat down with Felicia Butterfield jones, co president of the Recording Academy, to discuss the company's recent diversity and inclusion initiatives and how they're using the Grammy stage for positive change. Take a listen. You joined the Recording Academy in 2020 as its first ever chief diversity equity inclusion officer before getting promoted to co president. How do you hope to see the Recording Academy and the Grammys continue to make strides towards diversity and of course inclusion well for those who don't know, the Recording Academy has been around for 65 years. And while we're most known for the Grammy Awards, that's just one night. And so it's the other 364 days a year that we do such important work. We have music cares focused on health and human services, the Grammy Museum focused on the preservation of music And the Latin Grammys. And so when I took the role as chief diversity equity and inclusion officer two years ago, it was mission critical for me to make sure that we truly represented the very diverse music community that we are part of. And so um the work over the last two years has been historic. We've done great things like introduced an inclusion writer for the first time for any major music awards show and what you saw on Grammy night this year was the work of over two years to make sure that again, we were truly representing this rich community that were part of the Recording Academy has numerous diversity equity and inclusion initiatives like you just mentioned. How is the organization now utilizing these initiatives? How did these efforts impact the employees and of course the artists? Well, I think it's so important for us as a music industry to make sure that we understand that music, unlike any other art form, truly has the power to change the world. And I know that may sound big and lofty. But if you even think about the pandemic over the last two years, music truly was the healing balm that brought so many of us together during such a time of strife. It was a unifier. And so for me it's making sure that we're being responsible with the power of music through my role. And so again, creating tools like an inclusion rider was an important step but then also making sure that we have strong women's representation. And so we set a very aggressive goal to double our membership Amongst women by 2025 and we're 60% along the way. And so again, another example of how membership is the lifeblood of the Recording Academy, but we cannot do the work that we do without having strong women's representation. And so women's representation again, is very important. We introduced the black music collective collective, focused on black representation of music and the list goes on. We also established a partnership with Glad to make sure that we were making sure that the music industry is safe, both physically and psychologically for the L G B T Q i A plus community. And so lots of work has been done. But we still have a lot of work left to do. How are you opening other companies? Look at the work the Recording Academy's doing and implement similar initiatives themselves because like you said, this is very much needed today. Well, I think for any industry, if you know, if you're a part of the music industry or not, we hope that you'll be inspired. I think so often the work can feel like maybe it's too late or it's daunting or I don't know where to begin. But I can assure you that it's never too late to start our work over the last two years is truly just an example. We believe of the great work that every company, every industry and every individual can do. And so you don't have to wait for the perfect time to do this work, diversity equity and inclusion, not only is the right thing to do, but it's a business imperative. And so if you want to remain competitive in your industry, if you want your business model to continue to thrive, you have to do the work, but I urge you to start now so well said now in August of 2021, the recording academy promoted you to co president, congratulations. What challenges are there leading the company with the goal to make transformational lasting change? Well, I have to give props and credit to my boss, harvey mason Jr, who is the ceo of the Recording Academy, former chair of the board, who had the vision um, and the audacity even to make a chief diversity and equity and inclusion officer a co president of the organization because he truly understood again the value to the business. And so now to be embedded in the business, um, and one of the most senior roles as a black woman in this space, it is not only an honor but a great responsibility. And so now I have purview into every vertical of the business. I'm able to drive change in a very measurable and tangible and scalable way. And again, I hope that any organization who has already prioritized D I make sure that their D I officer has a direct line of reporting to the ceo of the organization. And certainly they must have a seat at the table if you want to see the outcomes accelerated that you've set out for that part of the business. So, you know, Ukraine's President Vladimir Zelensky made an appearance at this year's ceremony, how is the Grammys the stage for change and of course peace? Well, you know, if you think about the Grammy Awards, you know, we have the power of music and it's so important that we use our platform responsibly and so what you saw on Grammy night this year was a true example I believe of you know bringing people together, taking a stand when it counts and making sure that we're making a difference. You also saw other things take place that night we had a stage ramp on our Grammy stage for the first time in decades as a nod, but more importantly, example of our prioritization of accessibility for creators with disabilities and so there were so many firsts um and as you mentioned, you know, just being able to use our platform for good is something that we do and that we won't stop doing just to amplify voices of the marginalized or the unheard no matter the industry and you know there's so well Felicia, there's always a pressure to act a certain way or have a certain personality, how do you stay true to your authentic self? And what advice would you have for others that are obviously inspired by you? My favorite question, I mean if you want to leave, you have to do it authentically. I remember being a young professional, you know, wearing certain things, wearing my hair a certain way or just saying the things that I felt like would make me fit in or two would make me accepted and it was actually rejected and it wasn't until I truly stepped into my authentic self um I've walked into every room, unapologetically is exactly who I am and started to just use my voice in a way that mattered to me that I start to see growth in my own career. And so every young woman and every young professional watching, I think it's so important that you find your voice and that you honor your voice even when it shakes, because so often you'll feel the pressure to change and to assimilate and it never works out. And thanks to Alicia butterfield jones, co president of the Recording Academy.