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There’s a Movement Underway to Bring Grammy Awards Chapter to Worcester

By Patrick Sargent | November 6, 2020
Last Updated: February 2, 2021

WORCESTER – A New England chapter of the Recording Academy right here in Worcester?

It could happen. And one young Worcester resident is on the relentless pursuit of that goal.

Johnhaynes Honeycutt, 25, owner of Honeycutt One Production, has created a petition to create a New England chapter of the Recording Academy and bring it to Worcester.

Honeycutt says a New England chapter would give local artists a much-needed boost to get recognized in the entertainment industry and maybe even earn an artist a Grammy Award.

“Bringing the New England chapter of the Recording Academy here would essentially create opportunity for local artists to be able to create a career without having to go to another state and other industries to build themselves up,” Honeycutt said this week.

As of Friday morning, November 6, the petition had received 260 signatures. The petition’s original goal was to get 200 signatures, but was bumped to 500 once it achieved the initial 200 signatures quickly.

Honeycutt said, “Without having a New England chapter, we’re not represented by the music industry. There’s certain qualifications you need to meet in order to get into a Recording Academy. Which then would give you the eligibility to win a Grammy. Since we don’t have that here in New England, essentially none of the local artists can be eligible. So it leaves us in the dark.”

Honeycutt says he hopes a Recording Academy chapter for New England in Worcester would give something concrete that musicians and arts can lean on for support. 

“With a New England chapter, one of the major steps is we can create a real viable interest from the other major areas of the entertainment industry interested in planting their feet in our soil,” Honeycutt said.

Honeycutt has partnered with Grammy Award-winning producer Prince Charles Alexander, who has worked with music industry superstars like Mary J. Blige, Destiny’s Child, Faith Evans, P. Diddy, the Notorious B.I.G., Usher, Boyz II Men, Brandy, Babyface, Sting, Aretha Franklin, Usher, and more.

Once the petition reaches its goal of 500 signatures, Honeycutt and Prince Charles Alexander will draft a letter of interest to the Director of the Recording Academy of New York explaining what’s happening in the area to help develop a recording academy. 

To sign the petition, click here.

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