Nigerian DJ Aderonke Ariyo Was Appointed by the Grammys as a Recording Academy Governor – How Big a Deal is it?

Last week, the Grammy’s unveiled the yearbook for its Recording Academy and Nigerian disc jockey, Aderonke Ariyo also known as DJ Soupa Model, was selected as a governor for Washington DC.

The Newest Chapter Governors of the Recording Academy – Washington, D.C. Chapter (There’s a red arrow above DJ Ariyo)

The Recording Academy, also known as the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS), is the organization of musicians, producers and recording engineers that oversee the Grammy Awards every year, amongst other things.

The organisation has 12 chapters in the U.S. and the chapters are mandated to do three things – develop music in their local music communities, provide professional development for local talent in all genres and provide networking opportunities for its members. Ariyo will be one of the governors of the Washington DC chapter of NARAS for the next one year, meaning her and her colleagues will be saddled with this responsibility.
Now, the chapters are different from the prestigious Producers & Engineers Wing of the Grammys who make up the critical mass of those who vote on the Grammy Awards each year. The DJ is joining the Grammy family and she too could become a voting member of the Academy but her new work will focus more on music development in her region of the US for the next 12 months.

Industry professionals in the U.S. can apply to join either group at NARAS but the requirements are quite stringent. Successful applicants are shortlisted after they apply and are screened by the Academy before they become members.

So yes, it’s a big achievement for the DJ and it is a big addition to her CV which already includes CEO of a music publishing and licensing company, Music BLVD. The DJ is mostly known for her EDM, house music mixes, such as her remixes of singles by Mavin artistes Dr Sid and Tiwa Savage. Listen to one of her mixes below.