The Recording Academy & Its Foundations Extend Programs to Assist New York Recovery Efforts; More Than $360,000 Invested in Healing Power of Music for Those Affected by 9/11 Tragedy.

Entertainment Editors & Music Writers

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Dec. 4, 2001

The Recording Academy:

-- Services include Financial Assistance, Music Therapy and Counseling,
Mentoring, and Educational Initiatives

-- Academy, MusiCares(R)and GRAMMY Foundation(R) Partner with American Music
Therapy Association, New York Mentoring Partnership, New York Board of
Education and Other Community and Social Service Agencies in New York

In the wake of September 11, the Recording Academy(R), its New York Chapter, its MusiCares(R) Foundation and its GRAMMY Foundation(R) have worked continuously to provide a program of financial, educational and therapeutic outreach to the New York music community and beyond.

To date, more than $360,000 has been committed to establishing programs that provide a variety of services including increased financial assistance to New York musicians in need; music therapy interventions for relief case workers, students, seniors and victims' families; and mentoring and educational initiatives. All services will extend well into 2002.

Academy efforts began just three days after the attack. On September 14, the Recording Academy responded to the tragedy with Concierto Para Los Heroes, an impromptu benefit concert at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., featuring Latin GRAMMY(R) nominees and others, including actor Kevin Spacey and singer/songwriter Joan Osborne. More than $50,000 in donations and contributions was raised by the Recording Academy, its New York Chapter, and Merv Griffin, owner of the Beverly Hilton. Proceeds were promptly forwarded to the American Red Cross/New York Relief Efforts. Also, funds generated from this year's New York Chapter Heroes Awards gala dinner on December 4 will be donated to charities supporting the families of the World Trade Center rescue workers who sacrificed their lives in order to save others.

"Music has a unique power to heal, to teach and to unite people," said Michael Greene, President/CEO of the Recording Academy. "As an organization, we are committed to help provide financial assistance, counseling and other wellness services to those who have been most directly impacted by these unimaginable events. It is the year-round mission of the Recording Academy and its foundations to provide an arc of arts-based education, health and human service initiatives for people of all ages, from infants to seniors."

In addition to fund-raising events to benefit New York recovery efforts, the Recording Academy set an ambitious agenda to provide a wide range of tactical resources to aid New York's citizens.

"In the wake of the unspeakable tragedy of September 11, music has been an oasis of comfort, community and calm," said Dr. Andrea Farbman, Executive Director of the American Music Therapy Association. "AMTA applauds the leadership of the Recording Academy in its groundbreaking and humanitarian efforts."

Increased Financial Assistance

Always ensuring that music people have a place to turn in times of financial, medical or personal crisis, MusiCares' primary purpose is to focus the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of musicians and industry members. Since September 11, MusiCares has responded to the increased stress and financial hardship suffered by members of the New York music community and has increased funding for its financial assistance program to $100,000. Requests for assistance have doubled during October and November, as many struggling musicians have lost subsistent jobs. Eligible clients may be granted financial assistance and/or referrals to help with a wide variety of basic needs, such as housing, utilities, health care and medical treatment, HIV services, substance abuse treatment and legal assistance, among other needs.

Music Therapy Interventions

In association with the American Music Therapy Association, the Recording Academy and MusiCares have established a program to provide counseling through music therapy to those struggling to cope with the aftermath of the attacks. The Academy has committed more than $200,000 to the program. Targeted groups include professional relief caseworkers and therapists (who themselves are now in need of therapy), students, seniors and the families of victims. Music therapy sessions include one-on-one and group therapy sessions, music improvisation, receptive music listening, songwriting, lyric discussion, music and imagery, music performance and music-assisted relaxation. Efforts are being coordinated through the New York Board of Education, the New York Council of Senior Centers and LifeNet, among other agencies. The initial plan is designed to last for at least four months and calls for placing music therapists on site at schools and senior centers, as well as various other locations.

Mentoring

As a result of the September 11 tragedy, at least 200 mentors have been lost or displaced. The Academy and the GRAMMY Foundation have expanded their existing initiatives with the New York Mentoring Partnership and the New York Board of Education to help recruit new music mentors and implement new mentoring programs. Activities include on-site workplace mentoring and on-site mentoring at schools; mentor training; career workshops; job shadowing and more. Mentoring partner Arista Records has launched its pilot program providing two-dozen staff members as mentors to participating high school students. Other record labels and music organizations are expected to sign on, as well. In addition, January is National Mentoring Month, which recognizes the participation of and need for mentors nationwide.

Educational Initiatives

The GRAMMY Foundation is working on educational initiatives to aid New York students. Its Leonard Bernstein Center for Learning (LBC) utilizes Artful Learning(R), a school reform model that prepares teachers to use the arts and the artistic process to reinforce teaching and learning in all subjects. Artful Learning was developed to strengthen education and form a lifelong love of learning in all students. Using this groundbreaking curriculum, a multi-disciplinary lesson for LBC Schools nationwide has been created, centering discussion and activities on the tragedy. K-12 students from LBC schools around the country will be paired with New York students to be pen pals and share experiences and reflections in writings, drawings, lyrics, etc., via mail and/or e-mail, with a comparable teacher-to-teacher component. Relationships and lesson plans will be developed throughout the full school year. States with LBC schools include Oregon, Georgia, Pennsylvania, California, New York and Florida. Additionally, the New York Chapter, in partnership with Stuyvesant High School, is developing a program to expand the school's songwriting course into a continuing GRAMMY In The Schools(R) program. Chapter members from varying disciplines within the recording community will regularly visit the class to provide information and insight about their areas of expertise within the music business. Stuyvesant High School is located close to the World Trade Center site and was directly impacted by the attack.

Established in 1957, the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc., also known as the Recording Academy, is dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for music and its makers. An organization of more than 20,000 musicians, producers and other recording professionals, the Recording Academy is internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards, and is responsible for numerous groundbreaking outreach, professional development, cultural enrichment, education and human services programs.

"Where there is music, there can be no evil." -- Cervantes