U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, alongside the Recording Academy® and other music industry leaders, organizations, and artists, launched the Global Music Diplomacy Initiative, a worldwide effort to elevate the role of music as a diplomatic tool to promote global peace and democracy. The Global Music Diplomacy initiative was developed pursuant to the PEACE Through Music Diplomacy Act, which was passed in December 2022 after it was championed by the Recording Academy in 2022 at GRAMMYs on the Hill and during the annual grassroots District Advocate Day. Tonight’s launch event featured live music performances from GAYLE, Dave Grohl, Mickey Guyton, Herbie Hancock, LADAMA, and more.
Alongside Secretary Blinken, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. awarded Quincy Jones the first-ever Peace through Music Award, a collaboration between the U.S. Department of State and the Recording Academy that recognizes and honors an American music industry professional, artist, or group, that has played an invaluable role in cross-cultural exchanges and whose music work advances peace and mutual understanding globally. Also announced as part of the Global Music Diplomacy Initiative was the American Music Mentorship Program (AMMP), created in partnership between the U.S. Department of State and the Recording Academy, which will bring international mid-career artists and music industry professionals to the U.S. for mentorship and networking opportunities, and is set to be first held in the fall of 2024.
“From advocating for the PEACE Through Music Diplomacy Act in 2022, to partnering with the U.S. State Department on the Global Music Diplomacy Initiative, the Academy firmly believes that music’s transformative power can be a global force for good. We’re honored to begin our work with the State Department to promote peace and cross-cultural understanding through music while continuing our mission to lift up music people around the globe.”
– Harvey Mason jr., CEO, Recording Academy
