FRom

THE

PRESIDEnT
gram titled "Music Makes The Difference" to focus attention on the current status and general decline of music education curricula in U.S. schools. The Commission is composed ofleaders in music and recording as well as business and government executives. It is the first time that people from all these diverse organizations and areas have cooperated on a project of such importance. Continuing education and information for professionals and students alike is another year- round responsibility for NARAS. As funding for music in elementary, high schools and colleges continues to erode, the Recording Academy is determined to keep music education at the top of our list of priorities. The Recording Academy started a very important initiative called MUSICARES, a charitable foundation which focuses the attention of the music industry on the human services issues which affect music people. The MUSICARES outreach program was started last year and delivered a powerful message to the public from the music industry about the dangers of substance abuse. Over 30,000 drug and alcohol abuse referrals were generated through this national outdoor billboard campaign, and again this year the Federal Office of Substance Abuse Prevention is committed to continue this initial effort in cooperation with ARAS. Only a few nights ago we launched the inreach program of MUSICARES. This will address problems such as the lack of health care, pension plans and substance abuse treatment and recovery programs for our people in music. David Crosby was honored as MUSICARES Person of the Year at this gala which was generously sponsored by American Express and coordinated by the New York Grammy Host Committee. NARAS has helped take the lead in many other important issues: the NARAS National Archival and Preservation Committee continues its efforts to help ensure the protection of our recorded musical legacy; moving ahead with the internationalization of the Recording Academy; the technological displacement of live music and musicians in this country; front and back announcing and the difficulty of finding radio outlets for new forms of music; sexism and racial prejudice in music; and, more importantly, our primary preoccupation, the protection of the creator and artist in our society. Those we honor tonight, our artists and technical people, are the one key component which we must collectively nourish, especially as we continue to grow as a more multinational, divergent industry. A tree cannot grow so large and support all its branches and fruit without making secure its root system. The artist defies the odds. He or she is an almost invisible person to government funding statisticians, a disposable person to business, a convenient source of headlines to fundamentalist politicians .... and yet the artist survives. Proof positive is on our stage tonight. Tonight we celebrate the achievements of our 768 Grammy Awards nominees. They are all winners! And tomorrow we must continue our vigilance for our music people and our industry. Ours is a world where art, business and technology must exist and thrive as one. It's a unique and fragile mix but one which makes our industry the most dynamic, rewarding and interesting group of people in the world.

warm welcome to tonight's 33rd Annual Grammy Awards, the music industry's most exciting evening when the best and the brightest in music are honored by their peers. The Grammy Awards telecast is now seen in over 60 countries and this year is available to over one billion people. It is also a pleasure to note that for the first time ever the Grammy Awards will be seen in India, Austria, Greece, Thailand, Nicaragua, and, ironically, Saudi Arabia. Grammy Night is no "one night stand" for the Recording Academy. In fact, our year-round activities and commitment to music and music people have never been stronger. The Recording Academy continues its vibrant growth and now numbers over 8000 members. We stand on the frontlines of issues that affect the professional endeavors of all who create, perform, market or just love music. These forces that affect our industry have profound impact on our community. Censorship, record labeling, the protection of intellectual properties, archiving and preservation, parallel imports and human services are all critical issues which demand our best united efforts to prevail on behalf of the creative and technical professional. The Recording Academy has been more involved that ever during the past year in the areas of education, establishing our "Gramrny In The Schools" program nationwide and introducing our NARAS Student Music Awards, together with various scholarship and grant agendas. The Recording Academy has also joined with the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) and the Music Educators National Conference (MENC) in establishing a National Music Education Commission and a pro-

-I

WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND HOPE YOU HA VE A GREAT GRAMMY NIGH']!

~A'dtf:~
, ~ Michael Greene,

National President.