Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Recording Academy Producers & Engineers Wing has successfully shifted its endeavors online to an engaging roster of webinars and streaming conference events — continuing in its goals of offering priceless resources for industry professionals and serving as the unified voice for the creative and technical recording community.
Highlights over the past few months include the following:
"Sonic Spotlight: Hip-Hop and R&B Hitmakers" on Sept. 24
This exclusive webinar featured top producers and engineers who are creating today's hip-hop and R&B hits. Panelists shared their origin stories and experiences producing contemporary hip-hop and R&B hits, along with career advice. Panelists included Marcella Araica (Beyoncé, Madonna, Usher), Chris Dennis (Roddy Ricch), producer DJ K.i.D (DaBaby, Quavo, Stunna), GRAMMY-winning producer and rapper Hit-Boy (Jay-Z, Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar) and GRAMMY-winning engineer MixedByAli (Kendrick Lamar, Nipsey Hussle, SZA). Award-winning producer, engineer and singer/songwriter Ebonie Smith (Cardi B, Hamilton cast recording, Sturgill Simpson) served as moderator. Archived at https://www.facebook.com/
This exclusive webinar featured top producers and engineers who are creating today's hip-hop and R&B hits. Panelists shared their origin stories and experiences producing contemporary hip-hop and R&B hits, along with career advice. Panelists included Marcella Araica (Beyoncé, Madonna, Usher), Chris Dennis (Roddy Ricch), producer DJ K.i.D (DaBaby, Quavo, Stunna), GRAMMY-winning producer and rapper Hit-Boy (Jay-Z, Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar) and GRAMMY-winning engineer MixedByAli (Kendrick Lamar, Nipsey Hussle, SZA). Award-winning producer, engineer and singer/songwriter Ebonie Smith (Cardi B, Hamilton cast recording, Sturgill Simpson) served as moderator. Archived at https://www.facebook.com/
MEIEA Summit panel: "Industries Pivot, Job Skills Adapt" on Oct. 2
At this session, part of the Music and Entertainment Industries (MEIEA) summit, panelists Maureen Droney (Sr. Managing Director, Recording Academy P&E Wing), Kim Rosen (GRAMMY-nominated mastering engineer), and Kokayi Walker (GRAMMY-nominated artist, producer, educator, and CEO/creative director of Less Talk More Walk LLC) discussed the ongoing changes in the recording industry, and how creatives have had to adapt their skills. MEIEA's Scott LeGere served as moderator.
At this session, part of the Music and Entertainment Industries (MEIEA) summit, panelists Maureen Droney (Sr. Managing Director, Recording Academy P&E Wing), Kim Rosen (GRAMMY-nominated mastering engineer), and Kokayi Walker (GRAMMY-nominated artist, producer, educator, and CEO/creative director of Less Talk More Walk LLC) discussed the ongoing changes in the recording industry, and how creatives have had to adapt their skills. MEIEA's Scott LeGere served as moderator.
MixCon panel: "Producer and Mixer Managers: Guiding Audio Careers" on Oct. 14
In this session, panelists Trina Bowman (founder and CEO of LVE-Enterprises), Joe D’Ambrosio (founder of Joe D'Ambrosio Management, Inc.), Jerimaya Grabher (co-founder, GPS Management), and Jr. Regisford (manager, New Heat/New Heights Entertainment, and co-founder/head of music, World Of Dance Records) discussed their careers and their relationships with the clients they represent. Droney served as moderator. Archived here: https://youtu.be/dZgpKFTFTDE.
In this session, panelists Trina Bowman (founder and CEO of LVE-Enterprises), Joe D’Ambrosio (founder of Joe D'Ambrosio Management, Inc.), Jerimaya Grabher (co-founder, GPS Management), and Jr. Regisford (manager, New Heat/New Heights Entertainment, and co-founder/head of music, World Of Dance Records) discussed their careers and their relationships with the clients they represent. Droney served as moderator. Archived here: https://youtu.be/dZgpKFTFTDE.
Mondo.NYC panel: "Immersive Audio and Its Potential in Art and Commerce" on Oct. 14
Panelists Droney, Thom Salisbury (business development manager, Pro Audio, Sennheiser), and Ceri Thomas (content and studio enablement, Dolby Music/Dolby Laboratories) discussed immersive audio and its future in the industry. Gavin Lurssen (president, Lurssen Mastering, Inc.) and Michael Romanowski (owner/chief engineer, Coast Mastering) moderated.
Panelists Droney, Thom Salisbury (business development manager, Pro Audio, Sennheiser), and Ceri Thomas (content and studio enablement, Dolby Music/Dolby Laboratories) discussed immersive audio and its future in the industry. Gavin Lurssen (president, Lurssen Mastering, Inc.) and Michael Romanowski (owner/chief engineer, Coast Mastering) moderated.
AES Convention panel: "Organizing Chaos: Top Engineers Discuss File Management" on Oct. 22
In this event, part of the virtual AES Show Fall 2020 Convention, panelists Jeff Balding (producer/mixer), Chris Dennis, (engineer/mixer), Quentin Gilkey (engineer/mixer), and Ebonie Smith discussed best practices and systems for music file management. Droney served as moderator.
In this event, part of the virtual AES Show Fall 2020 Convention, panelists Jeff Balding (producer/mixer), Chris Dennis, (engineer/mixer), Quentin Gilkey (engineer/mixer), and Ebonie Smith discussed best practices and systems for music file management. Droney served as moderator.
WAMCon Virtual breakout session: "Engineering: The Art of the Craft" on Oct. 24
At this event, panelists Carolyn Malachi (GRAMMY-nominated artist and songwriter) and Piper Payne (mastering engineer and P&E Wing 2020–2021 Steering Committee co-chair) discussed the craft of engineering and answered audience questions. Droney served as moderator.
At this event, panelists Carolyn Malachi (GRAMMY-nominated artist and songwriter) and Piper Payne (mastering engineer and P&E Wing 2020–2021 Steering Committee co-chair) discussed the craft of engineering and answered audience questions. Droney served as moderator.
DDEX Creator Credit summit keynote: "Jimmy Jam in conversation with Maureen Droney" on Nov. 17
Acclaimed producer and songwriter Jimmy Jam kicked off the DDEX Creator Credit summit on Tuesday, Nov. 17, in a keynote conversation with Droney. The conversation explored processes a music producer, songwriter and musician go through to ensure their creative work is properly attributed, and what that has meant over Jam's four-plus decades in the music industry. Five-time GRAMMY winner Jam is a world-renowned songwriter, record producer, musician, entrepreneur, and half of one of the most influential and successful songwriting and production duos in modern music history (with Terry Lewis). As the former Chair of the Board of the Recording Academy, he was the first African American to be elected to that position. He currently serves as a Board member of the GRAMMY Museum Foundation. Conversation archived at https://youtu.be/Aqx_UmjF1u0.
Acclaimed producer and songwriter Jimmy Jam kicked off the DDEX Creator Credit summit on Tuesday, Nov. 17, in a keynote conversation with Droney. The conversation explored processes a music producer, songwriter and musician go through to ensure their creative work is properly attributed, and what that has meant over Jam's four-plus decades in the music industry. Five-time GRAMMY winner Jam is a world-renowned songwriter, record producer, musician, entrepreneur, and half of one of the most influential and successful songwriting and production duos in modern music history (with Terry Lewis). As the former Chair of the Board of the Recording Academy, he was the first African American to be elected to that position. He currently serves as a Board member of the GRAMMY Museum Foundation. Conversation archived at https://youtu.be/Aqx_UmjF1u0.
DDEX Creator Credit summit panel: "Whose Job Is It Anyway?" on Nov. 18
This panel included Cameron Craig (producer/mixer/engineer), Sylvia Massy (producer), Jr. Regisford and Craig Rosen (Atlantic Records), discussing the challenges of the entry of creator credit metadata during a recording session. The panelists all gave their points of view on whose job is it to key this initial metadata. Droney served as moderator. Archived at https://youtu.be/C-5SOs0ekEI.
This panel included Cameron Craig (producer/mixer/engineer), Sylvia Massy (producer), Jr. Regisford and Craig Rosen (Atlantic Records), discussing the challenges of the entry of creator credit metadata during a recording session. The panelists all gave their points of view on whose job is it to key this initial metadata. Droney served as moderator. Archived at https://youtu.be/C-5SOs0ekEI.
