The Recording Academy® to Present GRAMMYs on the Hill® Awards Honoring Rep. Howard Berman and Seven-Time Grammy® Winner John Mayer in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, March 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Recording Academy® (www.grammy.com), the organization internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards®, will present its 2012 GRAMMYs on the Hill® Awards in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, April 25 at the Liaison Capitol Hill hotel. Often referred to as Washington's most interesting mix of music and politics, the event will honor U.S. Representative Howard Berman (D-Calif.) and seven-time GRAMMY®-winning singer/songwriter/producer John Mayer for their commitment to improving the working environment for the nation's music community.

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The GRAMMYs on the Hill events include an awards ceremony on April 25 and the music community's only annual advocacy day on Capitol Hill on Thursday, April 26, at which hundreds of music professionals from across the country will visit with legislators to advance pro-music policies that improve the environment for music and its makers. For updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy's social networks on Twitter and Facebook: www.twitter.com/thegrammys, www.facebook.com/thegrammys. For updates on Advocacy, please follow @TRAinDC on Twitter.

"Advocating for the protection of music makers' rights is an essential part of the work we do at The Academy, and GRAMMYs on the Hill is an excellent opportunity to recognize leaders and influencers who work on this mission, while inviting our members to utilize their voice," said Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow. "This year we are proud to honor Rep. Berman, who has a long history of working to support music creators, and John Mayer, who beyond being an enormous talent is also an active philanthropist in arts and education."

GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards: April 25, 6:30 – 10 p.m.
Taking place at the Liaison Capitol Hill hotel, the GRAMMYs on The Hill Awards will include a cocktail reception preceding the awards ceremony with special guest presenters and performers to help recognize the achievements of Berman and Mayer as well as a GRAMMY Foundation Signature School that has demonstrated excellence in music education.

GRAMMYs on the Hill Advocacy Day: April 26, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
This advocacy day for music makers features a morning briefing with keynote speeches by leading legislators and lobbying members of Congress on Capitol Hill with special guests.

About Rep. Howard Berman
Congressman Howard Berman has represented California's 28th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives for 15 terms. He serves as ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee as well as on the House Judiciary Committee and has participated in a number of Recording Academy programs.  A champion of intellectual property rights, Berman has led efforts to protect the rights of artists and songwriters throughout his career. Most recently, he played a leadership role in ensuring artist-broadcaster negotiations would lead to a performance right for artists, and has championed numerous antipiracy bills. His deep understanding of the role intellectual property plays in creating jobs, promoting trade, and elevating the nation's cultural life has made him a leader in Congress.

About John Mayer
The consistency with which John Mayer combines word craft and melody has earned him rarefied status as a respected songwriter and musician. As one of few musicians to achieve both critical acclaim and popular appeal, the seven-time GRAMMY winner has earned accolades for each album release while selling in excess of 17 million albums worldwide. Known as a musician who defies genre boundaries, Mayer is well known for collaborations with a range of artists. From rock to blues, hip-hop, jazz, and country, Mayer has performed and/or recorded with T Bone Burnett, Eric Clapton, David Crosby, Dixie Chicks, Buddy Guy, Herbie Hancock, Jay-Z, Graham Nash, B.B. King, and Alicia Keys. His philanthropic work extends from music education with the GRAMMY Foundation to collaborating with the Northern California Institute for Research and Education to create the Veterans Health and Integration Program — a civilian/military partnership providing support to military personnel transitioning from combat duty to civilian life.

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter, like "The GRAMMYs" on Facebook, and join The GRAMMYs' social communities on YouTube, Tumblr, Foursquare, GetGlue, and Instagram.

SOURCE The Recording Academy