Recording Academy Waiving Dues to Members Experiencing Financial Hardship

Variety Staff Follow Us on TwitterDigital talent management firm TalentX Entertainment has forged a partnership with Warner Records to create TalentX Records, which it claims is the first social media creative partner firm to enter into a joint venture with a record label.

Grunge rock label Burger Records shared plans earlier this week to re-brand and restructure itself in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations, including the resignation of its president and co-founder Lee Rickard. Now, it seems the label will be shutting down entirely, according to Pitchfork.

Chris Atlas has been promoted to executive vp, urban music & marketing for Warner Records, following a three-year tenure as the label’s senior vp, head of urban marketing. Based at the company’s Downtown Los Angeles headquarters, Atlas reports to Warner’s co-chairman/COO Tom Corson.“With 25 years in this business, Chris’s breadth of experience and knowledge is extraordinary, and he has forged deep relationships throughout the industry,” said Corson in a statement.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorFor years many observers have said that the Recording Academy president/CEO role was too big for a single person, and the organization on Friday announced the creation of two key senior leadership positions — chief operating officer and chief industry officer — amid a larger staff reorganization.According to the announcement, key features of the reorganization are the streamlining of most of the Academy’s staff into three divisions:  the Entertainment / Consumer

Branden Chapman, the academy’s new COO. Trade/industry will be led by Ruby Marchand, who joins the academy as its new chief industry officer.

Lil Nas X,GunnaandVictoria Monetare among 2,321 people who have been invited to join the Recording Academy. That is nearly 1,000 more invitations than the academy issued last year, when it invited 1,340 new members.

David Robb Labor EditorThe International Cinematographers Guild, IATSE Local 600, has made “significant budget cuts,” including the furloughing of 14 staffers, in order to remain financially viable while still providing services to its members during the pandemic shutdown of film and television production.“Local 600 knows many members are experiencing severe financial stress,” guild leaders said in a message to their members Tuesday night, saying that they’re allowing members to opt out of

The Supreme Court issued a mixed verdict Thursday on demands for President Donald Trump's financial records that will keep his tax returns, banking and other documents out of the public eye for the time being. The court rejected broad arguments by Trump's lawyers and the Justice Department that the president is immune from investigation while he holds office or that a prosecutor must show a greater need than normal to obtain the tax records.

Eric Wong is leaving Universal Music to join rival Warner Music in the newly created role of president and chief marketing officer of Warner Recorded Music. Wong begins the NYC-based job Aug.

Lil Nas X, Gunna and Victoria Monet are among 2,321 people who have been invited to join the Recording Academy. That is nearly 1,000 more invitations than the academy issued last year, when it invited 1,340 new members.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe Recording Academy announced that it has extended membership invitations to more than 2,300 established music professionals. As part of the organization’s stated drive toward greater diversity, it notes that the 2020 class of invitees is 48% female, 21% African-American or African descent, 8% Hispanic and 3% Asian-American and Pacific Islander.

The Hargreeves siblings are back at it, but the real question is where are they? The new trailer for Netflix’s “The Umbrella Academy” season two might give us a hint. When audiences last saw the family of superheroes, they’d accidentally triggered the apocalypse.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe Recording Academy and Color of Change, the largest online racial justice organization in the U.S., have announced a partnership to “promote positive social change within the music industry.” The Academy announced to members last month that it has made a $1 million donation to Color of Change.According to the announcement, the organizations will “work together to identify key opportunities to drive and influence change in the music industry, and will be dedicated

The Recording Academy has partnered with Color of Change, the nation's largest online racial justice organization, to promote social change within the music industry. To kick off the partnership, the Recording Academy has made a $1 million donation to the non-profit. The organizations will work together to identify key opportunities to drive change in the music i

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is embracing and championing diversity in a bigger way than ever before.

Shonda Grant has been promoted to chief people & culture officer at the Recording Academy. She fills the position after Gaetano Frizzi left the company nine months ago. Grant, a nine-year academy veteran, was most recently managing director, people and culture. Grant will report directly to Harvey Mason, Jr., chair and interim pres

Awkwafina – “The Farewell,” “Crazy Rich Asians” Zazie Beetz – “Joker,” “High Flying Bird” Alia Bhatt – “Gully Boy,” “Raazi” Bobby Cannavale – “The Irishman,” “The Station Agent” Choi Woo-Shik – “Parasite,” “The Divine Fury” Zendaya Coleman – “Spider-Man: Far from Home,” “The Greatest Showman” Tyne Daly – “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming” Mackenzie Davis – “Terminator: Dark Fate,” “Tully” Ana de Armas – “Knives Out,” “Blade Runner 2049” Kaitlyn Dever – “Booksmart,”

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences invited 819 new members from 68 countries as the ranks of Hollywood’s top club swell to close to well over 9,300. The good news? According to AMPAS, 45% of the 2020 class are women, 36% underrepresented ethnic/racial communities and 49% international from 68 countries.

invited 819 new members, including a 2020 class that’s 45% women, 36% underrepresented ethnic/racial communities and 49% international from 68 countries.The diversity is always welcome, and the Academy has done loads in recent years to attempt to diversify its ranks. In fact, we count 10 different actors and below-the-line crew members involved with the Best Picture winner “Parasite” joining the Academy this year.