The Recording Academy’s annual event returns to the Nation’s Capital April 8-10
Hosted by the Recording Academy, music’s biggest week in Washington, D.C. returns April 8-10, uniting congressional leaders and music makers to champion creators’ rights and honor those who have helped shape a better future for music. The annual Grammys on the Hill Awards will kick off the week, honoring seven-time Grammy winner Randy Travis and United States Representatives Linda Sánchez (D-CA) and Ron Estes (R-KS) for their commitment to advancing pro-music policy. On April 9th, the Academy’s annual Grammys on the Hill Advocacy Day will bring together Grammy winners and nominees, along with other esteemed industry leaders, for meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to discuss critical music policy issues. The week of music advocacy culminates with the Academy’s second annual Grammys on the Hill Future Forum, a conference exploring critical issues impacting the music community.
The Grammys on the Hill Awards on Tuesday, April 8th will celebrate Travis and United States Representatives Sánchez and Estes for their contributions to strengthening the music ecosystem and championing creators’ rights. Grammy-nominated and Grammy-winning artists, songwriters, and producers will join music industry leaders and lawmakers in Washington, D.C., for an evening dedicated to celebrating music advocacy.
“At this point in my life, I am fully focused on living and giving back,” Travis says. “I’ve been part of the music community my whole life, professionally for 40 years. I am passionate about advocating to keep music an honest pursuit of art and human expression. While I remain excited about new, cutting-edge technologies, we must protect, and fairly compensate, the creative minds that give us the music—and art—that feeds our souls.”
Dozens of Grammy-nominated and Grammy-winning artists, songwriters and producers will join the Recording Academy on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, April 9th for a grassroots day of advocacy. Music makers in attendance will meet with members of Congress to advocate for the key legislative priorities impacting music creators, including Promoting new music through essential tax relief to independent artists and songwriters, enabling them to deduct 100% of production costs—up to $150,000—upfront, rather than over multiple years, through the bipartisan Help Independent Tracks Succeed (HITS) Act; Protecting creators’ image, likeness and voice from unauthorized creation and use of digital replicas through the NO FAKES Act; and Preserving continued federal support for the arts and cultural institutions that enrich and strengthen the cultural fabric of America.
Grammys on the Hill Future Forum on Thursday, April 10th will explore how we can help build up music communities both locally and globally. Compelling conversations will focus on the work state and local stakeholders are doing to develop and sustain music economies as well as the challenges and opportunities facing new emerging music markets around the world.
Since its inception, Grammys on the Hill has honored dozens of award-winning artists, including 16-time Grammy winner Alicia Keys, seven-time Grammy winner John Mayer, 13-time Grammy winner Pharrell Williams, nine-time Grammy winner Sheryl Crow, and more. The annual event has also recognized influential congressional leaders, including Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and former Speakers of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and many others. Grammys on the Hill has led to several major legislative victories for the music industry, including the landmark Music Modernization Act in 2018 and more recently the PEACE Through Music Diplomacy Act in 2022.
Travis, a seven-time Grammy winner, Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, and multi-platinum country artist, is being recognized for his work championing fair compensation and protections for artists in the evolving digital age. In 2024, he testified on Capitol Hill in support of the American Music Fairness Act, which aims to ensure artists are fairly compensated when their songs air on AM/FM radio. He is also committed to promoting the ethical use of AI, ensuring it serves as a tool to empower and protect the creative integrity of artists.
Representatives Sánchez and Estes are being honored for their leadership in championing policies that empower and protect musicians. Together, they re-introduced the HITS Act in Congress in January 2025 to advance crucial tax reforms to ensure independent music creators can thrive.
Year-round, the Recording Academy’s Washington, D.C.-based Advocacy team mobilizes Academy members and music professionals from across the country to present a powerful lobbying force that fights for music creators’ rights at the local, state and federal levels. In 2024, the Academy helped pass five pro-music laws, supported 20 state and federal bills, and rallied more than 3,500 members to engage in music advocacy efforts across the country.
