For Immediate Release: August 5, 2005
DBEDT Release News 05-20

HONOLULU--The process for choosing an outstanding album for the 2006 Grammy Awards has begun. This year, the historic first Grammy for Best Hawaiian Music Album was awarded to "Slack Key Guitar, Volume II", Charles Michael Brotman, producer.

Over the next month, current members of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (Recording Academy) and eligible record companies will be able to submit albums for consideration in the 48th Annual Grammy Awards to be held on Feb. 8, 2006.

"It's important that our local music industry is aware of some important deadlines and understand the process leading up to the Grammy awards program," said Judy Drosd, the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism's Chief Officer for Arts, Film and Entertainment.

"The amount of national and international media coverage on Hawaii's Grammy Award has been enormous and will have a positive effect on everyone in Hawaii's music industry," said Brotman. "The more artists that become involved in the process by submitting nominations and voting, the more exposure the music of Hawaii will get."

Deadlines to Submit Albums for Grammy Consideration:

Effective now through September 2, an online entry process is open for current members of the Recording Academy to submit albums for Grammy consideration.

August 23 through September 7 is the final round for eligible record labels (that are currently pre-registered with the Recording Academy) to submit albums for consideration.

Entries that meet all eligibility requirements will be voted on by Recording Academy members, resulting in the nominations that will be announced on December 7.

It's important to note that an artist does not have to be a member of the Recording Academy to be submitted for Grammy consideration, but that only members are eligible to vote for the Grammy winner.

Deadline to Become a Voting Member in the Recording Academy:

October 1 is the last day for eligible music professionals to join the Recording Academy as a voting member and vote on both the selection of the nominees and the Grammy winner. To become a voting member, an individual will need to have a creative or technical credit on a minimum of six tracks (or their equivalent) in at least one voting discipline and the album must have been commercially released in the US. Qualifying tracks can be on one album or a combination of albums.

Currently, there are less than 100 registered voting members of the Recording Academy living in Hawaii. There are a total of about 17,000 voting members throughout the nation.

"If more local artists join, it will have a substantial impact on the selection of nominees and the winner", said Ben London, Executive Director of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Recording Academy. "Since Hawaiian music is in the folk category - a category that traditionally does not get a lot of votes - Grammy members in Hawaii can have a major impact on which artist wins."

Music professionals interested in joining NARAS can do so by contacting the Pacific Northwest Chapter Office at 206-834-1000 or at pacificnw@grammy.com. More information is also available on their website at www.grammy.com.

Basic Eligibility Requirements for the Best Hawaiian Music Album Category:

• Recordings must be released between October 1, 2004 and September 30, 2005
• Albums must be newly recorded (material that has been recorded within five years of the release date and not previously released), commercially released during the eligibility period, and must be in general distribution in the US
• Vocals must be predominantly in the Hawaiian language. While the category is for recordings of a more traditional nature, it also allows for contemporary recordings containing substantial traditional elements, as well as instrumental recordings.

"As of the end of July, there are approximately 40 albums released that would be eligible for consideration in the Best Hawaiian Music Album category," said Alan Yamamoto, president of the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts (HARA) and board member of the Pacific Northwest chapter of the Recording Academy. "However, an album still must be submitted through the nomination process in order to be considered," said Yamamoto.

For more information, contact:
Dave Young
Communications
Phone: (808) 587-1212
Email: dyoung@dbedt.hawaii.gov