Photo credit: Brendan Kownacki
GRAMMYs on The Hill has been dubbed “the most musical week in Washington” but perhaps it should be dubbed “the most bipartisan” for the way that it crushes gridlock and brings republicans and democrats to the same table.
The event, hosted by the Recording Academy each year, is not just a special award ceremony but also an occasion for legislative action across Capitol Hill as creators and advocates talk about the power of music to legislators on both sides of the aisle.
This year, like so many subjects, AI was dominating the conversation and continued to weave its way into the topics being discussed about the future. Can AI replace artists or producers? It was certainly up for discussion as everyone looked at another year of music and the way that technology is being used across the industry.
While this was front and center, the other topic for reflection was looking back at how the pandemic affected live music and the musicians who play it. The Save Our Stages Act was instrumental legislation to help fund recovery for live music venues and making sure that artists could persist through the darkness of the COVID era. Championing this work were congressional honorees Sen. John Cornyn and Sen. Amy Klobuchar.
Senator John Cornyn and Sandy Cornyn
Senator Amy Klobuchar and John D. Bessler
The gathering in DC was a strong picture of unity with members of Congress from both sides joining the honorees and music industry pros for a night of music and celebration.
Both honorees were on hand to look back at the last several years and what it took to help the music industry bounce back from a time where we couldn’t be together and listen to live music.
“The music of our state has a diverse pioneering history” said Christine Albert leading a delegation of very Texan presenters including Josh Abbott, and Max Baca to the stage to toast ‘the music of Texas’ and its senator who “Helped to lift music out of the pandemic.” Sen. Cornyn was gracious and humble as he looked back at the COVID period and the way it threatened live entertainment. “None of us knew what life would be like on the other side of the pandemic but we knew live music needed to be part of it” he said, striking a true note with the music lovers in the room.
Christine Albert
Josh Abbott
To present the award to Sen. Amy Klobuchar, music legend Jimmy Jam brought things full circle. Two years prior, the Senator presented him with the creator’s award and it was only fitting he could be there to do the same for her. Klobuchar brought humor and comradery to her remarks, taking time to recognize her colleagues from the House of Representatives, but also taking time to take digs at the likes of Ted Cruz. “Music challenges us to see the world in different ways,” said Sen. Klobuchar while discussing the importance of working with colleagues in both parties to get the most well-rounded viewpoint. She described music as the kind of bridge that can bring people together and encouraged others to “keep reaching out to people you might not agree with.”
Senator Amy Klobuchar
Performances through the night included Dwan Hill rallying the crowd for a unique musical moment with the whole room singing together, The War and Treaty performing a booming soulful song that left the crowd wanting more, and Lauren Daigle singing “Soak Up the Sun” to toast honoree Sheryl Crow.
The War and The Treaty
From the creative side, Sheryl Crow was being honored for her philanthropy and for her own support for keeping artists front-and-center during a time when the future of the industry was unsure.
“I’m thanking you all for being here. All of you congresspeople for being a part of this dialogue and helping us preserve the very thing that documents who we are, right now, in this moment. And that is art” said Crow. The nine time GRAMMY winner talked about the importance of music clubs as a place where artists “cut their teeth” and giving a nod to the legislators who helped keep venues open during COVID, and reminded the whole audience that “music is a physical thing that changes us” to explain why creators can never be replaced by AI when it comes to music, because it simply cannot replicate the emotional response.
Sheryl Crow
Crow took to the stage with an uplifting message for the crowd about the future of music and a performance of her newer hit “Evolution” along with the popular classic “Everyday Is a Winding Road” — which left everyone with a smile on their face.
Sheryl Crow
