Here's the response, folks.
Personally, I HATE New Age. Any thoughts how to answer?
Bernie
Begin forwarded message:
> From: "Bill Freimuth" <>
> Date: December 6, 2007 2:14:10 PM PST
> To: "Bernie Krause" <>
> Subject: RE: New naturesound category question
>
> Hi Bernie,
>
>
>
> Interesting notions.
>
>
>
> As far as establishing a category for natural soundscape
> recordings, it=E2=80=99s not so much how many NARAS members are affiliate=
d
> with the field as how many entries we get that would be a better
> fit in that field (are an awkward fit in our current categories).
> Generally, the folks who make such calls (our Awards & Nominations
> Committee) require at least 25 such entries in one year before
> establishing the new category=E2=80=9430-50 would be even better.
>
>
>
> I=E2=80=99m not aware of many of these entries being made in the current =
> year=E2=80=99s process. You may want to think of a strategy like this: =
> encourage everyone you know who releases these recordings to enter
> into the process for the 51st GRAMMY Awards. (The entry period is
> late June-early September. Entries may be made by Recording
> Academy members or registered labels/media companies. Company
> registration is free and open from May-August through a link on our
> website.) As you know, these recordings don=E2=80=99t really have a
> proper genre home right now, though you may want to think about
> categories like Album of the Year, Best Engineered Album, Producer
> of the Year, or maybe even New Age. Then you would have less of an
> uphill battle in your pursuit the following year.
>
>
>
> Of course, you=E2=80=99re welcome to make the proposal this year (due =
> March 15th) by filling out the attached form. Note, however, that
> if a new category is rejected by A&N, then it may not be proposed
> again for two years.
>
>
>
> I hope this helps. Give a call if you=E2=80=99d like to discuss.
>
>
>
> All the best,
>
>
>
> Bill
>
>
>
> Bill Freimuth
>
> Sr. Director, Awards
>
> National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc.
>
> 3402 Pico Boulevard
>
> Santa Monica, CA 90405
>
> 310.581.8621
>
>
>
>
>
> From: Bernie Krause
> Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2007 1:04 PM
> To: Bill Freimuth
> Subject: New naturesound category question
>
>
>
> Greetings Bill,
>
>
>
> For many years, during my life as a professional musician (1963 -
> 1991) I was a member of NARAS. In the early 1980s I got my PhD in
> bioacoustics and began a new audio career recording soundscapes of
> the natural world and have released over 40 titles in that
> category, alone. There are literally hundreds of fine, talented
> field recording artists now in the running who represent a growing
> professional category yet to be recognized by the industry.
>
>
>
> In 1990 and several subsequent years, I submitted three different
> proposals to the powers then at NARAS hoping to interest the
> Academy to include natural soundscape recordings (aka environmental
> sound, nature sound, etc.) as a legit professional category, since
> (1) it is a clearly established area of recording art, (2) it is a
> science [bioacoustics], and (3) it represents a huge =E2=80=93 albeit off=
> the industry radar =E2=80=93 commercial success. At the time, we were =
> turned down for the reasons that there weren't enough
> representative members who knew either the difference between the
> voice of a bird and a fish, or the difference between a well-
> recorded stereo field title and one that was otherwise. Despite my
> sense that the NARAS authorities 17 years ago were selling their
> membership short, the response did not vary over time. Now, things
> have changed and I'd like to give this one more shot.
>
>
>
> If we were able to produce enough members to justify a category,
> what, from your perspective (or that of the Board) would that
> number look like? Once part of the NARAS group what, then, would be
> the next steps in the process?
>
>
>
> All the best,
>
> Bernie Krause, PhD
>
> Wild Sanctuary
>
> POB 536
>
> Glen Ellen, CA 95442
>
> 707-996-6677
>
> http://www.wildsanctuary.com
>
>
>
> Google Earth zooms: Earth.WildSanctuary.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
=EF=BF=BC
Wild Sanctuary
POB 536
Glen Ellen, CA 95442
707-996-6677
http://www.wildsanctuary.com
Google Earth zooms: Earth.WildSanctuary.com
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