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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Recording Academy® Producers & Engineers Wing® takes a look back with a view toward the future
Ongoing events and initiatives invite industry collaboration and outreach
Santa Monica, Calif. (May 22, 2025) — Building on a legacy of advocacy, collaboration and innovation, the Recording Academy® Producers & Engineers Wing® continues to shape the future of audio by honoring the past and empowering the next generation of music professionals. Through a range of events, initiatives and networking opportunities featuring some of the most respected voices in the industry, the P&E Wing remains a driving force in uniting and advancing the professional audio community.
As a hub for those working across music production, mastering, immersive audio, archiving, preservation, and emerging technologies, the P&E Wing offers members and the broader audio world a platform for education, connection and progress.
Guiding this mission into the future, the 2024–2025 P&E Wing Steering Committee has been led by co-chairs Ebonie Smith (Cardi B, Charlie Puth, Hamilton Original Cast Recording, Janelle Monáe) and Marcella Araica (Beyoncé, Madonna, Missy Elliott, Usher). Also serving on the Steering Committee have been engineer/producers Anna Frick, Chuck Ainlay, Jimmy “The Senator” Douglass, Leslie Ann Jones, Lynne Earls, Matt Hennessy, Michael Romanowski, and Steve Genewick. Under their leadership, the P&E Wing continues to champion critical issues such as metadata and crediting, the evolving role of AI in audio production, and the shifting landscape of music distribution, reinforcing its commitment to supporting creators today while paving the way for tomorrow.
Marking a major achievement for the professional audio community, the P&E Wing officially released its 2025 Delivery Recommendations for Recorded Music Projects at the 157th AES Show in New York City. The Recommendations are a definitive, industry-shaping document developed by some of the most respected engineers and producers in the field. Representing the collective expertise of today’s leading audio professionals, this comprehensive guide provides critical updates and best practices for managing media deliverables, documenting metadata, organizing file workflows, and ensuring the final delivery of master recordings. As the demands of modern music production continue to evolve, this milestone document sets a new standard for consistency, clarity, and accountability and offers invaluable guidance to engineers, producers and studios navigating the complexities of today’s production environment.
Another highlight has been the launch of The Forum, the Wing’s ongoing online educational series fueled by topics proposed from the Wing’s membership, including episodes on advances in immersive mixing, hearing health, and business advice from top music industry managers.
“This past year has been both dynamic and rewarding for the P&E Wing, marked by new events, collaborations and continued growth, all made possible by the invaluable support of our steering committee and advisory council,” says Maureen Droney, Vice President of the Producers & Engineers Wing. “As a vital bridge between music and technology, our ongoing initiatives aim to engage top-tier producers, engineers, artists, and industry leaders in meaningful dialogue that clarifies emerging trends, advances professional standards, and reinforces the connections that unify our industry.”
A sampling of events from the past year include:
The Forum: Mixing For Atmos® – What We've Learned
The P&E Wing launched the first episode of its new online series, dubbed “The Forum,” taking an innovative look into the specifics of mixing for Atmos projects, with the immersive mix team of Matt Wallace and Will Kennedy. Discussion ranged from their transition from earlier mixing formats to Atmos and the lessons learned along the way, to current immersive trends along with specific insights into their Atmos mixes for artists including Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Jason Mraz, Nina Simone, Selena Gomez, and many more, plus their historic work on the immersive remix of the B-52’s hit “Love Shack.”Los Angeles Chapter P&E Wing Summit
Held at Volume Studios, this summit featured a Black Music Collective keynote by James Fauntleroy and Rance Dopson, who shared insights on their career journey, the evolution of their studio, and the vision behind 1500 Sound Academy.Florida: In The Mix – Listening Session
Hosted at Dream Asylum, the private studio of Danja and Marcella Araica, this intimate session featured Latin GRAMMY®-winning engineers Adrian Morales-Demori and Quaz Deville, with members sharing tracks in both stereo and Atmos, including playback in an Atmos-equipped car.Nashville: Conversations – Credit Capture for Modern Music
This hybrid panel explored crediting workflows and challenges with panelists from Muso.AI, VEVA Sound, Warner Music Nashville, and the P&E Wing, co-moderated by Jon Blass and Jordan Hamlin. A MusiCares® earplug fitting clinic was also featured.Texas: Up Close & Personal with Trina Shoemaker
March of course brought SXSW, at which the Academy's Texas Chapter P&E Wing members showcased a lively Up Close & Personal interview with engineer/producer Trina Shoemaker, a four-time GRAMMY Award winner, who in 1998 was also the first woman to win a Best Engineered Album GRAMMY Award for her work on Sheryl Crow’s Tuesday Night Music Club. Fellow GRAMMY winner Jacob Sciba served as moderator.Chicago: Listening Session at Rax Trax Recording
The Chicago Chapter’s first in-person P&E session since 2019 brought together attendees and presenters from diverse backgrounds, creating a vibrant, collaborative exchange of production techniques and perspectives.Visit the Recording Academy® website for the latest news, upcoming events, and more.
Photo file: TrinaShoemaker_UpClose.JPG
Photo caption: Four-time GRAMMY Award-winning engineer/producer Trina Shoemaker, shown at a recent Up Close & Personal interview held by the Recording Academy's Texas Chapter P&E Wing members at SXSW in Austin. Photo courtesy of the Recording Academy. © 2025ABOUT THE RECORDING ACADEMY
The Recording Academy represents the voices of performers, songwriters, producers, engineers, and all music professionals. Dedicated to ensuring the recording arts remain a thriving part of our shared cultural heritage, the Academy honors music's history while investing in its future through the GRAMMY Museum®, advocates on behalf of music creators, supports music people in times of need through MusiCares, and celebrates artistic excellence through the GRAMMY Awards® — music's only peer-recognized accolade and highest achievement. As the world's leading society of music professionals, we work year-round to foster a more inspiring world for creators.For more information about the GRAMMY Awards and the Recording Academy, please visit GRAMMY.com and RecordingAcademy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @RecordingAcad on X, "like" Recording Academy on Facebook, and join the Recording Academy's social communities on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn. For media assets, please visit the Recording Academy's Press Room.
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CONTACTS
Britta Purcell
Recording Academy
britta.purcell@recordingacademy.comRobert Clyne
Clyne Media, Inc.
T. 615.662.1616
robert@clynemedia.com
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