Join GRAMMY U for the 2025 GRAMMY U Conference in New York on April 25-26 – featuring keynote speakers, GRAMMY-winning artist Laufey, and GRAMMY-winning artist and actress Coco Jones!
This two-day program at Racket NYC will include a series of panels and industry-focused networking and career development opportunities for GRAMMY U members, closing with an exclusive Showcase featuring performances and mingling at The Bowery Electric.
Space is limited and completion of the RSVP form does not guarantee entry to the event(s). No guests/+1s permitted. You will receive an RSVP confirmation email from a member of the GRAMMY U team that will confirm entry into the Conference and/or Showcase, pending space availability. This invitation is non-transferable and you must be a GRAMMY U member to attend. Valid photo ID is required for entry, and rideshare is recommended for all events. RSVP is required to attend in-person in New York, NY. You must be in New York for the event and travel will not be provided. For any questions, please email grammyu.events@grammy.com.
2 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. ET
Racket NYC
431 W 16th St
New York, NY 10011
1:30-9:15 p.m.
Registration Available
2-4:30 p.m.
Career Center
3-4:30 p.m.
Networking Mixer
4:30-5:30 p.m.
Intermission
5:30 p.m.
Doors Reopen for Panels
6-7:15 p.m.
Keynote: Crafting a Multifaceted Career with Coco Jones
7:30-9 p.m.
GRAMMY U Live!
Sync, Sound & Strategy
9:15-10:30 p.m.
Influencing the Industry :
How Content Creators are Redefining Media
9 a.m. - 1 p.m. ET
Racket NYC
431 W 16th St
New York, NY 10011
9 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Registration Available
9-10:15 a.m.
Breakfast & Network
10:15-11:30 a.m.
GRAMMY U Unwrapped:
"Family Business" by Lawrence
11:45 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Keynote: Reimagining Contemporary Music with Laufey
2-5 p.m.
GRAMMY U x Sony Audio [*Invite only - at an offsite location.*]
8-10:30 p.m. ET
The Bowery Electric
327 Bowery
New York, NY 10003
In collaboration with the Recording Academy NY Chapter, the GRAMMY U & DEI Showcase will feature a lineup of GRAMMY U members, ending with a closing performance from headliner, Samara Joy. Members are invited to attend, mix and mingle and enjoy the performances.
LINEUP:
Headliner:
Samara Joy
GRAMMY U Openers:
Isea
The Jax Experience
The Millers
APRIL 25 | 6 P.M. ET
Livestreamed on the GRAMMYs YouTube & Twitch
Keynote Conversation
Coco Jones has always been a storyteller — whether she’s bringing characters to life on screen or making waves as a GRAMMY-winning R&B artist. More than ever, artists are embracing the freedom to explore multiple creative avenues, redefining what it means to be truly multifaceted. Join Coco as we discuss how she’s flipped the script by confidently pursuing her artistic passions across various forms of creativity. This conversation will explore how embracing diverse paths in the industry empowers artists to shape their own careers, proving that when it comes to creativity, why not more?
APRIL 25 | 7:30 P.M. ET
Take an inside look at the mechanics of the modern music business, straight from the people shaping it. Bob Bruderman, Chief Digital Officer at Kobalt Music Group, will break down sync licensing digital strategies and how to get music placed in film, TV, video games and more. Learn all about the evolving role of artist development and how to cultivate identities that leave a lasting impact on audiences from Riggs Morales, A&R Executive. Closing out the panel, Blu DeTiger, a genre-defying bassist and Fender collaborator, will share how brand partnerships can amplify creative opportunities and expand an artist’s reach.
APRIL 25 | 9:15 P.M. ET
Join Anthony Gargiula and Jonathan Tilkin, co-founders of The Kitchen singing series and Counter-Melodies Podcast, Julian Shapiro-Barnum, host of Recess Therapy, and Davis Burleson, Host of SiriusXM TikTok Radio & What’s Poppin’? with Davis, for an inspiring conversation on what it truly means to be a content creator today. Moderated by Tiff Baira, host of Street Hearts, this conversation will dive into their own journeys of developing their media presence in the industry—sharing insights on branding, storytelling, and carving out their unique space as music's tastemakers.
APRIL 26 | 10:15 A.M. ET
Clyde Lawrence and Jordan Cohen are members of the band Lawrence, a NY-based eight-piece soul-pop band. Clyde is the band’s musical director, keyboardist and co-leader while also handling the band’s business management, and Jordan is the band’s tenor sax player and tour manager.
Alongside Jonny Koh, they created The Diner, a production & songwriting crew. With the help of Executive Producer and frequent collaborator Jon Bellion, they have written and/or produced songs for Jonas Brothers, Shawn Mendes, Tori Kelly, Burna Boy, Alec Benjamin, and others. In 2023, Clyde and Jordan were invited to testify at a U.S. Senate Judiciary hearing in D.C., on the topic of live event ticketing, where they sat alongside industry professionals and antitrust experts to deliver testimony about their experiences as a touring band playing in Live Nation venues across the U.S.
APRIL 26 | 11:45 A.M. ET
Livestreamed on the GRAMMYs YouTube & Twitch
Keynote Conversation
Today's contemporary artists escape definition, continuing to reimagine genre in the modern, ever-changing musical landscape. Explore the evolution of contemporary music with Laufey, a GRAMMY-winning artist known for blending jazz and pop into her own unique style that has captivated global audiences. Moderated by content creator Jack Coyne, this insightful conversation will delve into reinventing traditional sounds and reenvisioning the world of pop through the lens of classical and jazz foundations, offering a fresh perspective on the future of contemporary music.
Laufey (pronounced lāy-vāy) is a 25-year-old Icelandic-Chinese composer, singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who writes songs inspired by jazz greats and classical masters while possessing a point of view that could only be conveyed by a 21st-century twentysomething. “My goal is to bring jazz and classical music to my generation through a more accessible road,” she explains.
Raised between Reykjavík and Washington, D.C. with annual visits to Beijing, Laufey grew up playing cello as well as piano and became hooked on the jazz standards of Ella Fitzgerald after digging through her father’s record collection. In 2020, while still a student at Berklee College of Music, she released her debut single “Street by Street,” which caught the attention of young audiences worldwide and quickly garnered Laufey a dedicated fanbase online. In 2022, she released her debut full-length Everything I Know About Love, which reached #1 on Billboard’s Alternative New Artist Album chart while lead single “Valentine” reached #1 on the Spotify Jazz Chart.
Her 2023 sophomore album Bewitched saw wild success around the world, winning the GRAMMY Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, debuting #2 globally on Spotify and setting the record for the biggest Jazz debut in history on Spotify. The album received widespread critical acclaim with the Los Angeles Times calling her a “musical tour de force.” Off the back of the album’s massive success, Laufey’s tours immediately sold-out worldwide, including dates at the Hollywood Bowl, Radio City Music Hall, Royal Albert Hall and Sydney Opera House. Festival headline sets, editorial features in Vogue, appearances on late night TV and at the 2024 Met Gala cemented her status as a “Gen Z It Girl” (The New York Times). Today, she has over 4 billion streams across all platforms and is the biggest streaming artist from Iceland in the world.
Coco Jones has captivated the world with her timeless artistry, sensual voice and emotive songs to become R&B’s breakout artist. She signed with High Standardz/Def Jam in 2022 and released the EP What I Didn’t Tell You with the lead single “ICU,” which has been certified platinum. She’s been nominated for an impressive seven Grammy Awards—including the coveted Best New Artist accolade— and won in 2024 for Best R&B Performance “ICU.” The song was lauded by fans and critics alike and peaked at #1 on the Billboard R&B Airplay chart, leading to Best New Artist wins at the BET Awards, The Soul Train Awards and NAACP Image Awards.
With the release of 2x GRAMMY nominated song “Here We Go (Uh Oh),” as well as “Most Beautiful Design” Ft. London On Da Track and Future and “Taste,” this next chapter finds the multihyphenate singer/songwriter and actress embarking on her debut album and stepping into an era of empowerment and connection.
Coco Jones was raised in Nashville, TN by a mother who was also a singer, and a father who played in the NFL. Early on, she learned the importance of following her dreams. She began recording at the age of 9 and was called to acting—first as a recurring guest on Disney’s musical sketch comedy, So Random!, and in 2012, as the golden-voiced love interest in the network’s TV movie, Let It Shine. Since then, she’s showcased her formidable acting skills playing Hilary Banks in Peacock’s Fresh Prince reboot, Bel-Air and Netflix’s Vampires vs. the Bronx. Her visibility has made her a role model for Black women.
Health & Safety Guidelines
An inherent risk of exposure to infectious disease exists in any public space where people are present. By attending, you expressly agree to comply with any and all rules and safety guidelines put in place, and voluntarily assume all risks related to infectious disease exposure, waiving all claims and potential claims against the event organizers, venue, and their affiliated companies relating to such risks. Of course, any person who is not feeling well, or who is experiencing any symptom of infectious illness (including but not limited to COVID-19), should not attend any Recording Academy event. The Recording Academy will endeavor to promptly notify all attendees of any policy changes, further protocols or new requirements beyond those set forth herein.
Questions? Reach out to grammyu.events@grammy.com for assistance.
