Skip Marley is among a host of music professionals invited to join the 2021 class of the Recording Academy.
On Monday, the Recording Academy announced it had invited over 2,700 musicians and music industry figures to join the 2021 voter pool to expand diversity.
Among those invited to join the organization this year, 48 percent are female, 32 percent Black, 13 percent Hispanic or Latino, and 4 percent Asian or Pacific Islander.
In a voice tweet that accompanied the Recording Academy’s announcement, Skip, a two time Grammy nominee, said he is hoping to bring “an international sound” to the Academy.
The Academy’s announcement comes after continued criticism directed at the Grammys, especially following the ousting of former CEO Deborah Dugan. Other recent controversies surrounding the Academy include how The Weeknd’s After Hours, arguably one of the most successful pop records in recent memory, was completely shut out of the awards.
For invitees to participate in the next Grammy Awards, new members will need to accept their invitations by September 15, 2021. The voting ballot for the 2022 Grammy Awards, set to take place on Jan. 31, 2022, will open on October 22 and close on November 5 this year.
The 64th Grammy Awards are set for January 31, 2022, at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.
