The Recording Academy convened music creators, industry leaders and lawmakers in Washington, D.C., this week for its 25th Grammys on the Hill initiative. The three-day event ran from April 21-23.
“Grammys on the Hill represents the core of the Recording Academy’s year-round work to advocate for music people and ensure their rights are safeguarded in our culture,” Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, said in a statement. “As we mark 25 years of Grammys on the Hill, we are reminded that music creators must remain at the center of every conversation shaping the future of the industry, especially as AI and other emerging technologies continue to transform it.”
On Tuesday (April 21), more than 200 Recording Academy members, industry leaders and members of Congress gathered at The Hamilton Live in downtown Washington, D.C., for the Grammys on the Hill Awards, which honored Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) and Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) for their bipartisan work to protect musicians as artificial intelligence continues to reshape the music industry. They are champions of the NO FAKES Act, legislation that would establish federal protections against unauthorized AI-generated replicas of a person’s voice and likeness.
“Today, too many artists have had their intellectual property, likenesses and livelihoods stolen by online pirates and AI artists,” said Sen. Coons. “I’m proud to be spearheading efforts in Congress to safeguard your ideas and creativity because what you do cannot be replaced. As a Senator, I’ve had the opportunity to travel all over the world and have seen how American music helps people see us, understand us, and believe in our American dream.”
“I’m truly honored to be recognized by the Recording Academy, a distinction that underscores the vital role music creators play in shaping our culture and economy,” said Rep. Salazar. “At a time of rapid technological change, protecting the voices, rights and livelihoods of artists is more important than ever. I remain committed to advancing policies like No Fakes Act to ensure creators are respected, their work is protected, and their likeness is never exploited.”
Grammys on the Hill Advocacy Day, held on Wednesday (April 22), brought artists, songwriters, producers and other music advocates to Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers to discuss one of the most pressing issues facing creators today: the impact of AI on the music community. As AI reshapes the music landscape, the Recording Academy is advocating for policies that ensure human creators are protected, credited and fairly compensated. Artists including Durand Bernarr, Grace Potter, Israel Houghton, Maggie Rose and Molly Tuttle met with lawmakers including Sens. Alex Padilla (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), and Reps. Darrell Issa (R-CA), Erin Houchin (R-IN), Jason Smith (R-MO), Maxwell Frost (D-FL), Nathaniel Moran (R-TX), and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) to discuss the importance of the NO FAKES Act, as well as the TRAIN Act and the CLEAR Act.
Grammys on the Hill Advocacy Day also included a roundtable briefing focused on AI and the future of music with Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Peter Welch (D-VT). The day concluded with a reception on Capitol Hill hosted by the Academy’s Black Music Collective, in cooperation with the Congressional Black Caucus, to honor the enduring influence of Black music. The reception featured a performance by Bernarr, who won his first Grammy in February: best progressive R&B album for BLOOM. It also featured a presentation of a $10,000 donation from Amazon Music and the co-chairs of the Black Music Collective to Howard University as recipients of the 2026 “Your Future Is Now” music equipment grant.
Grammys on the Hill concluded on Thursday (April 23) with the third annual Future Forum, a conference convening music creators, industry leaders and policymakers for discussions on the most pressing issues shaping the music industry. Future Forum featured a keynote conversation with Mason and Lyor Cohen, YouTube’s global head of music, exploring how the creative community and industry leaders can work together to face the challenges presented by AI.
Dr. Chelsey Green, chair of the Recording Academy board of trustees, led a panel on the role of music education in preparing the next generation for the future. Other programming included a panel presented with the Academy’s Producers & Engineers Wing on how artists are using AI in the recording studio.
Since its inception, Grammys on the Hill has led to several major legislative victories, including the landmark Music Modernization Act in 2018 and the PEACE Through Music Diplomacy Act in 2022.
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