National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences

What National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences does

The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (the Recording Academy / NARAS) is a U.S. 501(c)(6) nonprofit membership organization founded in 1957 and headquartered in Santa Monica, California. It administers the Grammy Awards, music's highest peer-voted honor, through an annual televised ceremony (the 68th held in February 2026, 69th planned for 2027) and a constellation of ancillary events including the Special Merit Awards Ceremony, Grammy Hall of Fame Gala, and Pre-GRAMMY Gala. Approximately 30,000 active music professionals serve as voting members, distributing across 12 U.S. regional chapters and two affiliated professional wings (Producers & Engineers; Songwriters & Composers), with Grammy U as the student arm.

The Academy operates four wholly-owned affiliates that extend its mission: MusiCares (charitable health, financial, addiction, and disaster-relief services for music professionals), the Latin Recording Academy (Miami-based international body for Latin music), the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation (scholarships and education), and the Grammy Museum (Los Angeles-based exhibits and programming). A policy function led by a Chief Advocacy & Public Policy Officer runs the annual Grammys on the Hill in Washington, D.C. and has helped secure federal legislation including the Music Modernization Act and PEACE Through Music Diplomacy Act.

Revenue is generated through an event-driven go-to-market model anchored by the Grammy Awards telecast and related ceremonies. Material streams include broadcast rights and advertising from the ABC/Disney simulcast deal, corporate sponsorships (Mastercard, IBM, Sony, Budweiser, Hilton, United Airlines, City National Bank, Sirius XM, Haagen-Dazs, Patron, Redken, Dove, Vaseline, Sharpie, People, Frontera Wines, Sweetwater), membership dues from voting/professional/Grammy U tiers, and licensing of archival footage and event photography (via Getty Images). Distribution spans broadcast, streaming (Disney+, Hulu), owned digital (Grammy.com, YouTube), social platforms, and in-person events. The organization reports 101–250 employees and maintains offices in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York City, and Washington, D.C.

Name

National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences

Legal name

National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc.

Website

https://grammy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit membership organization that administers the Grammy Awards through an annual global telecast, governed by ~30,000 music-industry voting members and four affiliates (MusiCares, Latin Recording Academy, Grammy Museum, Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation), with revenue from broadcast rights, sponsorships, and membership dues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Monica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Awards and Event Production: The Grammy Awards telecast is a major television event that generates revenue through broadcast rights, sponsorships, and advertising. The organization also produces the Grammy ceremony, Pre-GRAMMY Gala, Special Merit Awards Ceremony, and other events during Grammy Week.
2. Membership Dues: The Recording Academy operates as a membership organization with voting, professional, and Grammy U membership options. Members include songwriters, performers, producers, engineers, and industry professionals who pay membership dues.
3. Corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships: Official partners including Mastercard, IBM, Sony, Budweiser, Haagen-Dazs, Patron, Redken, Hilton, United Airlines, City National Bank, Dove, Vaseline, Sharpie, People, Frontera, and Sirius XM provide sponsorship revenue through the Grammy brand and events.
4. Licensing and Archival Footage: The Recording Academy licenses Grammy Awards archival footage for broadcast and manages event photography licensing through Getty Images.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Recording Academy produces and presents the Grammy Awards and ancillary ceremonies as peer-voted recognition of excellence in recorded music, while operating a 30,000-member professional association (Voting, Professional, and Grammy U tiers). It complements these activities with advocacy for music creator rights (Grammys on the Hill, District Advocate), direct charitable support through MusiCares (emergency financial assistance, mental health, addiction recovery, disaster relief), and education via Grammy U and the Grammy Museum.

Product overview

The Grammy Organization is a unified platform serving music creators through four integrated service pillars: Recognize (awards and honors), Advance (education and mentorship), Protect (advocacy and rights), and Support (direct assistance). The core offering is the Grammy Award, music's highest peer-voted honor, delivered through the Annual Grammy Awards telecast and related ceremonies including the Special Merit Awards, Grammy Hall of Fame Gala, and Pre-GRAMMY Gala. The organization's support infrastructure includes MusiCares (health services, emergency financial assistance, addiction recovery) and advocacy programs like Grammys on the Hill. Affiliates include the Latin Recording Academy, Grammy Museum, and Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation. Membership programs encompass Grammy U (students), Producers & Engineers Wing, Songwriters & Composers Wing, and DEI initiatives. Digital offerings include video streaming of performances and award content. The organization maintains 12 regional chapters nationwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Grammy Awards Telecast Annual televised ceremony honoring excellence in recorded music, broadcast on ABC (and from 2027 simulcast on Disney+ and Hulu), featuring performances, award presentations, and acceptance speeches. The 68th Annual Grammy Awards were held in February 2026.
• Special Merit Awards Ceremony Annual ceremony during Grammy Week honoring living legends and contributors to music with Lifetime Achievement and Trustees/Merit Awards. 2026 honorees included Carlos Santana, Chaka Khan, Cher, Fela Kuti, Paul Simon, and Whitney Houston.
• GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons (Pre-GRAMMY Gala) Annual pre-Grammy gala recognizing influential music industry figures. The 2026 honorees were Avery Lipman and Monte Lipman, founders of Republic Records, recognized for industry influence and philanthropic efforts.
• Grammy Hall of Fame Gala Annual gala inducting historically significant recordings into the Grammy Hall of Fame. The 2026 gala included Janet Jackson and honored Rhythm Nation 1814, with Norah Jones receiving the Ray Charles Architect of Sound Award.
• MusiCares Health, Wellness and Emergency Assistance Programs Charitable services providing emergency financial assistance, mental health and addiction recovery programs, social and preventive health care services, and disaster relief efforts specifically for music professionals in need.
• Recording Academy Membership (Voting, Professional, Grammy U) Tiered professional membership program offering peer-voting rights, advocacy representation, networking, and member benefits for songwriters, performers, producers, engineers, music educators, and other industry professionals. Includes Voting, Professional, and Grammy U tiers.
• Grammys on the Hill Advocacy Program Annual advocacy event in Washington, D.C. bringing together music creators and policymakers to advance pro-music legislation and protect the rights of music professionals. Celebrating 25 years of impact in 2026.
• Music Educator Award Education award recognizing outstanding music educators. The 2027 Music Educator Award received 202 quarterfinalist announcements.
• Grammy.com Video Streaming Library Digital video platform showcasing Grammy performances, interviews, acceptance speeches, and exclusive Grammy moments with content spanning decades, including an extensive library from the 52nd Grammy Awards onward.
• Award Categories, Hall of Fame and Lifetime Achievement Recognition Annual awards recognition program honoring peer-voted excellence in recorded music across genres, including annual awards, Grammy Hall of Fame inductions, Lifetime Achievement Awards, and Trustees Awards.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30,000 active members served globally
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MastercardcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner of the Grammy organization. Mastercard logo appears on official partners section of Grammy.com, indicating sponsorship and marketing partnership.
• IBMcoreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial partner of the Grammy organization. IBM logo appears on official partners section of Grammy.com.
• SonycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner of the Grammy organization. Sony logo appears on official partners section of Grammy.com.
• BudweisercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner of the Grammy organization. Budweiser logo appears on official partners section of Grammy.com.
• Haagen-DazsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner of the Grammy organization. Haagen-Dazs logo appears on official partners section of Grammy.com.
• PatronminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner of the Grammy organization. Patron logo appears on official partners section of Grammy.com.
• RedkenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner of the Grammy organization. Redken logo appears on official partners section of Grammy.com.
• HiltoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner of the Grammy organization. Hilton logo appears on official partners section of Grammy.com.
• United AirlinescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner of the Grammy organization. United Airlines logo appears on official partners section of Grammy.com.
• DoveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner of the Grammy organization. Dove logo appears on official partners section of Grammy.com.
• VaselineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner of the Grammy organization. Vaseline logo appears on official partners section of Grammy.com.
• SharpieminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner of the Grammy organization. Sharpie logo appears on official partners section of Grammy.com.
• People MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner of the Grammy organization. People logo appears on official partners section of Grammy.com.
• Frontera WinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner of the Grammy organization. Frontera Wines logo appears on official partners section of Grammy.com.
• Sirius XMcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner of the Grammy organization. Sirius XM logo appears on official partners section of Grammy.com.
• Arizona State University (ASU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASU partnered with the Recording Academy and Berklee College of Music to conduct the Women In The Mix Study examining experiences of women and gender-expansive individuals in the American music industry.
• Berklee College of Music Institute for Creative Entrepreneurship (BerkleeICE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerkleeICE partnered with the Recording Academy and Arizona State University to conduct the Women In The Mix Study examining experiences of women and gender-expansive individuals in the American music industry.
• SweetwaterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Sweetwater for MusiCares Mindful May 2026 event in New Orleans supporting holistic wellness for music professionals.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• ASCAP: ASCAP is one of the major U.S. performing rights organizations that collects and distributes royalties on behalf of songwriters and publishers. While focused on rights administration rather than recognition, it shares the Recording Academy's mission of advocating for music creators' economic and professional interests.
• RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America): The RIAA is the trade organization representing major record labels in the U.S., with overlapping advocacy interests in music creator rights, anti-piracy, and industry policy. While broader in scope (labels vs. individual creators), it shares the Recording Academy's mission of protecting and advancing the music industry's interests.

Direct peers

• Country Music Association: The CMA produces the CMA Awards and is a trade organization for the country music industry, comparable to the Recording Academy's genre-specific scope. Both organizations operate awards shows, membership programs, and advocacy for music creators within defined music communities.
• Songwriters Hall of Fame: The Songwriters Hall of Fame honors songwriters and composers through annual induction ceremonies, directly parallel to the Recording Academy's recognition of music creators. Both organizations focus on celebrating the craft of music creation and maintaining the legacy of songwriting as a profession.
• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences operates the Oscars, the most direct analogue to the Recording Academy's Grammys. Both are private professional membership organizations that recognize excellence in their respective creative fields through peer-voted awards, produce major annual televised ceremonies, and operate museums and charitable foundations.
• National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences: Operates the Emmy Awards as a professional membership organization for the television industry, directly parallel to the Recording Academy's structure. Both organizations serve creators through peer recognition, advocacy, and educational programming, with overlapping broadcast and sponsorship partners.
• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation recognizes musical excellence through annual inductions and operates a museum in Cleveland. It shares the Recording Academy's mission of celebrating music creators and maintaining cultural heritage, though it focuses specifically on rock history rather than contemporary excellence across all genres.
• American Music Awards: Produced by Dick Clark Productions, the American Music Awards is a major annual music awards show that competes directly with the Grammy Awards for broadcast audience, artist participation, and sponsor mindshare in recognizing popular music excellence.
• Latin Recording Academy: The Latin Recording Academy is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Recording Academy that operates the Latin Grammy Awards. It serves as both an internal affiliate and an external peer organization, operating the equivalent awards infrastructure for the Latin music community.

Emerging players

• MusiCares Canada (Canadian equivalent): A music industry charitable organization that provides health and financial assistance to music professionals in Canada. It mirrors MusiCares in mission and structure, serving as a regional peer to the Recording Academy's charitable subsidiary within North America.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thegrammys
• YouTubeyoutube.com/recordingacademy?sub_confirmation=1
• Facebookfacebook.com/thegrammys
• Instagraminstagram.com/grammys
• TikToktiktok.com/@grammys

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles25 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences