By Molly Given
Every year, the Grammy Awards shine a global spotlight on musical excellence — but the work that leads to those moments happens long before the red carpet is rolled out.
Behind the scenes, the Recording Academy’s Philadelphia Chapter plays a vital role in shaping how the city’s artists, producers, and industry professionals are seen and supported on music’s biggest night. As Philadelphia talent earns Grammy recognition, the chapter’s year-round work—rooted in advocacy, education, and community—connects the glamour of the Grammys to the local networks that help make those achievements possible.
“We are more than just music’s biggest night, although that is our zenith and we’re so proud of that,” says Ramón Jones, Executive Director of the Recording Academy Philadelphia. “We’re doing work year-round to provide resources and development opportunities and networking opportunities for our members.”
The Philadelphia Recording Academy encompasses the city, and also all of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and South Jersey. Established in 1994, it’s one of 12 similar chapters housed across the country. In the City of Brotherly Love, the group operates at the intersection of local culture and global recognition, bridging Philly’s deep musical legacy with the bombastic awards ceremony.
And it all starts with its members. Take Jones for example — the Executive Director moved to Philly in the early 2000s (”when Philly was really dominating the neo soul era”) and had immediate access to artists like Jill Scott, The Roots and Bilal, as well as being a background vocalist and tour manager for Vivian Green.
“Although I was never officially part of the Recording Academy at that time, so many of my friends in the industry were already part of the Academy. So I was becoming acquainted with the Academy and its mission, and I even got a chance to attend quite a few events before fully stepping into this role,” he notes.
What exactly does one have to do to become a member? Locals can learn through the Philadelphia Chapter’s Meet Your Membership event — an introductory meeting that breaks down what Academy membership looks like and who qualifies.
“We have voting members, those who are involved on the creative side of creating the music — so you have songwriters, producers, engineers, composers, all the folks in front of the mic and behind the boards who are bringing music to life,” Jones explains. “And then you also have the professional membership, aka those who work at record labels, management companies, PR companies, all the folks publishing [and] who help the business aspects of the music industry.”
The Philadelphia Academy also has Grammy U, a program where they partner with universities and colleges with music industry programs within the region to help foster future creatives.
It all culminates with the Grammy Awards. Members have the right to submit works for consideration and to vote in the nomination and final voting processes. While the national Academy handles the formal process, the Philadelphia Chapter helps inform members about how that process works, plus hosts events that recognize and honor artists with local ties who are nominated.
“There are so many exciting events that the Recording Academy produces officially during Grammy week,” says Jones. “There’s a week of programming. Our Songwriter and Composer Wing has a big event honoring people in the industry, as does our Producer and Engineer wing. We have the Black Music Collective, which presents Recording Academy Honors, and we also have Music Cares, which is our philanthropic arm. We have our Special Merit Awards and then we move into the nominee reception, and that’s where you see everyone who has been honored with a nomination. That’s all Saturday night, and then Sunday is Grammy morning—and it begins bright and early.”
In short, the Philadelphia Chapter serves as the local gateway to the Grammy Awards, connecting regional music creators to the national Academy through membership, education, and participation in the awards process. The chapter supports, celebrates, and amplifies Philadelphia-area nominees, helping ensure the city’s talent is represented on music’s biggest stage.
“With my peers, my fellow executive directors, there’s such a love and passion for music and for the industry and for our members,” says Jones. “There’s such a personal connection to these amazing creatives from our region.”
As Jones noted before, The Recording Academy’s Philadelphia Chapter hosts a variety of events throughout the year — including some that are open to the community — that extend far beyond Grammy season, bringing together music professionals, creators, and students to grow, connect, and celebrate the local scene.
In addition to nominee celebrations and send-offs for Philly Grammy hopefuls, the chapter has organized summer block parties and fireside chats with artists like Tierra Whack, plus different workshops and informational sessions. Some upcoming events in March, for example, will focus on Music Education Month.
Jones notes locals can get more information on the Philadelphia Chapter online or by heading to open events scheduled throughout the year.
“We are very accessible here at the Philadelphia chapter,” he finishes. “We’re a small but mighty team, and people can always reach out to us. And we hope everyone tunes in to the Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1. It’s going to be an amazing time, and even though it’s one night, we are working year-round to produce such an amazing show to really capture the greatness of the music industry and its giants.”
To learn more about the Recording Academy’s Philadelphia Chapter, visit recordingacademy.com. And tune in to the 2026 Grammy Awards on CBS on Sunday, Feb. 1, at 8 p.m.