AMPLIFIER CENTER STAGE: A GRAMMY U® INITIATIVE LAUNCHES

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Nov. 5, 2013) — The Recording Academy® and Hyundai today announced the launch of Amplifier Center Stage: A GRAMMY U® Initiative — a catalyst for music innovation and artist development in the digital era. The program, which unites emerging and aspiring artists with established artists to mentor their careers, will run through the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards® season with the winners announced at an official GRAMMY® Week event on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014. GRAMMY® Week culminates with the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, airing live on the CBS Television Network, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. For updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy's social networks on Twitter and Facebook.

The 2014 program will include curators from an array of musical genres; GRAMMY-winning jazz pianist Robert Glasper, pop singer Ariana Grande, GRAMMY-nominated country artist Hunter Hayes, and hip-hop artist Kendrick Lamar are on board as curators for Amplifier Center Stage. This diverse and celebrated group of musicians builds off the highly-successful 2013 program, as curated by Mike Shinoda, member of two-time GRAMMY-winning band Linkin Park.  The 2014 ambassador for Amplifier Center Stage will be announced at the beginning of December.

The Amplifier Center Stage online platform allows emerging musicians to share their songs via SoundCloud for a chance to have their music vetted by a panel of music icons. Membership in GRAMMY U is not required to participate.

"We are excited for The Recording Academy and GRAMMY U to partner with Hyundai for this initiative. With more than 5,000 students in 400 universities across the nation, GRAMMY U is becoming the fastest-growing level of membership within our organization," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. "We are grateful to be able to help educate and encourage those students who aspire to be part of the music community, and we are looking forward to receiving and reviewing a vast collection of hopeful, talented participants with this year's Amplifier Center Stage."


Amplifier Center Stage is part of Hyundai's multiyear partnership as the "Official Vehicle Partner" of the GRAMMY Awards. Hyundai teamed with The Recording Academy and GRAMMY U to create an innovative online platform designed to provide professional mentoring and exposure for artists discovered and amplified through Amplifier Center Stage.

"Hyundai’s partnership with The Recording Academy ties music’s biggest brand with Hyundai’s passion for creativity and innovation," said Steve Shannon, Vice President of Marketing, Hyundai Motor America. "We look forward to continuing our successful relationship with the Amplifier Center Stage program, which celebrates the next generation of musical talent and connects with an audience with a shared love of musical innovation."

Amplifier Center Stage curators select talent based on criteria including quality as well as an emerging artists' "amplification"— the amount of shares/likes they achieve. The four curators narrow the entrants down to the top 8, with two artists selected per curator. An Amplifier Center Stage ambassador then selects the final three winners and chooses which prize package each winner is awarded. The winning packages include a recording session and professionally produced track with a leading GRAMMY-winning producer, production of a music video with a noted producer and/or director, or a key live performance slot on a major tour and/or festival. For additional information about the program and how to participate, please visit www.grammy.com/amplifier.