Valeisha Butterfield Jones: Last News

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle EditorKanye West made a surprise appearance at a preview of the Netflix docuseries “Jeen-Yuhs” at Citizen News in Hollywood on Friday night.Celebs in the 300-strong audience at the Super Bowl Weekend event included Taraji P. Henson, Offset, Usher and Roddy Rich and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. and co-president Valeisha Butterfield Jones.West arrived at about 8:15.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorIn a major overhaul of its Awards department that began in May with the elimination of the controversial “secret committees” that determined final Grammy nominations and continued with the departure of longtime awards chief Bill Freimuth last month, the Recording Academy has appointed Ruby Marchand to the position of chief awards & industry officer, with Joanna Chu elevated to vice president of awards. The moves are effective immediately.According to the announcement, in her new role, Marchand will continue to oversee both awards and membership and industry relations, reporting to Academy co-president Valeisha Butterfield Jones.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorMusic and technology conference Mondo.NYC have announced that the keynote speakers for its Music & Tech Law Symposium will be the newly-appointed Recording Academy Co-Presidents Valeisha Butterfield Jones and Panos A. Panay, interviewed by attorney Adrian Perry, Partner and Co-Chair of Music Industry Practice at Covington & Burling LLP.In one of their first public appearances together in their new roles, attendees will hear the two discussing the Recording Academy’s plans to drive innovation and accountability in the organization at 1 p.m.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe Recording Academy has announced the launch of its Black Music Collective, which it describes as a group of prominent Black music creators and professionals who share the common goal of amplifying Black voices within the Academy and the music community.The move is part of a wider diversity initiative by the Academy announced earlier this year, which includes the hiring of Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer Valeisha Butterfield Jones and a partnership with and $1 million donation to the racial-justice organization Color of Change. While it has been in the works for months, the announcement comes the day after #TheShowMustBePaused announced a list of demands for the greater music industry.

Branden Chapman, the academy’s new COO. Trade/industry will be led by Ruby Marchand, who joins the academy as its new chief industry officer.

The Recording Academy has named former Google executive Valeisha Butterfield Jones as its first chief diversity & inclusion officer effective May 11. Butterfield Jones will join the executive leadership team and report directly to Harvey Mason, Jr., academy chair and interim president/CEO. She is charged with applying inclusionary practices across all areas of the Recording Academy, including organizational and staff culture, membership and aw