Celebrated Filipino songwriter and music producer Jonathan Manalo is unlocking a new milestone. He is now an official voting member of the Recording Academy, the organization behind the prestigious Grammy Awards.
On Instagram, Manalo shared that he was honored to be part of the 2025 New Member Class, which he described as “joining a global community of creators and professionals who are shaping the future of music and raising the standard of excellence worldwide.”
As a member of the Academy, the ABS-CBN Music operations, content, and creative head now has a voice in the Grammy Awards process, which serves as a platform to advocate for the industry and to be part of a community of peers working to uplift music.
“The strength of the Academy comes from its diversity of genres, experiences, and voices. I’m humbled and excited to contribute my own perspective, and to champion music that connects, inspires, and moves the world,” he adds in the caption.
Last July, the Recording Academy welcomed nearly 3,600 new members. Of that number, 49% were women, 56% were People of Color (POC), and 60% were under 40 years old. The invitees also include the likes of Addison Rae, KATSEYE, and Nikki Glaser.
Recently, Newport World Resorts’ Full House Theater Company staged the jukebox musical Delia D., which was inspired by the songs of Manalo. The production follows the story of Delia, a rising drag performer in the pursuit of her dreams.
Founded in 1957 in Los Angeles, the Recording Academy, officially known as the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers, and other music professionals.
It is best known for presenting the prestigious Grammy Awards, which were first held in 1959 to honor artistic and technical excellence in the recording arts.