Recording Academy® to Honor Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association at 23rd Annual Entertainment Law Initiative® Event

Virtual GRAMMY^® Week Event Also to Celebrate Winner of National Legal Writing Contest With Scholarship

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Recording Academy:

WHO:	The 23rd Annual Entertainment Law Initiative® Event & Scholarship Presentation will take place during GRAMMY® Week in a new virtual format, gathering the nation’s most prominent entertainment attorneys to promote discussion and debate about the most compelling legal issues facing the music industry today. The event will honor the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association (BESLA) — a nationally recognized leader in legal education and professional development within the United States for lawyers and professionals in the entertainment, sports and related industries—with the 2021 Entertainment Law Initiative Service Award. This honor is awarded to an attorney or organization that has demonstrated a commitment to advancing and supporting the music community through service. The winner of this year's Entertainment Law Initiative Writing Competition (to be announced in January) will also be recognized during the virtual event. Other program participants include Recording Academy® Chair and interim President/CEO Harvey Mason jr., Recording Academy Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Valeisha Butterfield-Jones, Entertainment Law Initiative Executive Committee Chair Laurie Soriano, and Entertainment Law Initiative Program Chair Ken Abdo (Fox Rothschild LLP). Additional details will be announced in January.
WHAT:	The Recording Academy, in concert with some of the nation’s most prominent entertainment attorneys, established the Entertainment Law Initiative to promote discussion and debate about the most compelling legal issues facing the music industry today. The initiative also endeavors to support future careers in entertainment law by seeking out the nation’s top law students and giving them invaluable networking and educational opportunities.
	One of the primary educational initiatives of the Entertainment Law Initiative is the national legal writing contest and scholarship program, which is co-sponsored by the American Bar Association. This year’s writing contest scholarships are sponsored by Fox Rothschild LLP. Law students from across the country have been invited to research, analyze and submit essays regarding important issues facing the music industry. The contest is open to juris doctor or master of laws candidates currently enrolled at any U.S. law school. A $10,000 scholarship will be awarded to the author of the winning paper, and a $2,500 scholarship will be awarded to the runners-up. The winning student and two runners-up will be recognized during the 23rd Annual Entertainment Law Initiative Event & Scholarship Presentation to provide a forum for interaction with successful attorneys in the field. Earlier this month, of the Entertainment Law Initiative hosted an Info Session for students interested in submitting for this year’s Writing Competition to learn from previous student winners, in addition to gaining career advice from top entertainment lawyers. Watch it here.
	The Recording Academy will present the GRAMMY Awards on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021, on the CBS Television Network from 8:00–11:30 p.m. ET/5:00–8:30 p.m. PT with Emmy Award-winning "The Daily Show" host and comedian Trevor Noah serving as host.
	For complete Entertainment Law Initiative writing contest rules, visit www.grammy.com/entertainment-law-initiative. For further questions, email [e-mail].
	This year’s Platinum Presenting Partners are Fox Rothschild LLP and Universal Music Group and Platinum Partners are First Horizon/IBERIABANK, Greenberg Traurig LLP and Spotify. Sponsorship packages for the Entertainment Law Initiative Event are available. Please contact Neil Crilly at [e-mail] for information. This year’s event is invite only.
WHEN:	Friday, Jan. 29, 2021 at 1 p.m. PT
WHERE:	Available to view online @ TBA

MEDIA RSVP MANDATORY: [e-mail]

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: If you are interested in covering this event, please reach out to the above address no later than 6 p.m. PT on Friday, Jan. 15. Additional event details and media opportunities will be announced in the coming weeks.

ABOUT THE RECORDING ACADEMY

The Recording Academy represents the voices of performers, songwriters, producers, engineers, and all music professionals. Dedicated to ensuring the recording arts remain a thriving part of our shared cultural heritage, the Academy honors music's history while investing in its future through the GRAMMY Museum^®, advocates on behalf of music creators, supports music people in times of need through MusiCares^®, and celebrates artistic excellence through the GRAMMY Awards—music's only peer-recognized accolade and highest achievement. As the world's leading society of music professionals, we work year-round to foster a more inspiring world for creators.

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