I got an e-mail from Karen Rappaport McHugh, who through her Muddy Girl Productions manages the Bummkinn Band, produced the kids stages at Stagecoach, and is otherwise a well-connected person in the kids music biz. She is also, probably thanks to the Bummkinn's 2 CDs, a newly-minted Grammy voter.
I thought the e-mail, which encourages every kids musician to a) become a member of NARAS, and b) vote in the Grammys (particularly the kids fields), was worth distributing to hopefully a wider audience, because she makes the important point that if you're a musician or producer and you don't like the results of the Grammy voting -- or even the category itself -- it's up to you to participate. (Sadly, there's no voting category for blogger/gadfly. I checked.)
The full letter is below.
"As many of you know, the children's music breakfast hosted by Lynn Orman and Beth Blenz-Clucas during the 50th Anniversary GRAMMY AWARDS made one thing perfectly clear. With so many amazing children's music projects being released each year, it is important that every artist submits AND becomes a member of the Academy to vote. This was a point stressed by Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer, long-time Grammy members and previous Award winners!... Now, it may be that a new push should be made to separate compilations from the pile to allow individual artists to triumph over entries such as The Muppets or various Disney soundtracks that have won in previous years. The only way to do that is through a vocal membership comprised of people who care about this category.
If you are not a member, you can join online at www.grammy.com for your appropriate chapter. Artists, producers and other related categories are all eligible to vote. [Karen noted subsequently that artists who join after June 30 can't submit their own albums, but they can still vote.]
I'm sure that most of you are aware that The Recording Academy has recently mailed all information regarding the Online Entry process for the 51st GRAMMY Awards. Access to the Online Entry Process will remain open to members from July 30 through September 3. All entries should be made during this period, including releases planned through September 30. If you have already made entries as a record label representative, there is no need to re-enter them as all duplicate entries will be voided.
As a new member of the Academy, I'm looking forward to my first voting experience after watching my husband deliberate for so many years over the various categories!
If you have any questions, please feel free to send an email my way. If I don't know the answer I may be able to point you in the right direction!"
