April 16th, 2017 Declared Selena Day by Austin Mayor Steve Adler
Selena’s birthday brings buckoos of celebration across the Lone Star state, even more than two decades after the Tejano pop icon’s death. This year was no exception, as the city of Austin spent yesterday celebrating what would have been Selena’s 46th birthday. 22 years after the singer’s tragic murder by her fan club president, Austin pulls out all the stops to celebrate her life. Movie parties at the Alamo Drafthouse, Selena tributes galore, Dog and Duck Pub even hosted a Selena trivia night. The highlight of the yesterday’s events was SELENAFEST! at the Highball, an affair that included a Selena lookalike contest, live Cumbia dance lessons, and a performance by the one and only Bidi Bidi Banda. But this year was extra special. Austin mayor Steve Adler declared April 16th, 2017 Selena Day. The declaration came to fruition specifically through the efforts of Bidi Bidi Banda lead singer and manager and City of Austin Music Program Coordinator Stephanie Bergara.
Welcome to the New Grammy Museum Foundation
In an effort to transform itself from a simple museum housing interactive exhibits and intimate concerts to a full-fledged institute of education, L.A.’s Grammy Museum has merged with the Recording Academy’s Grammy Foundation, now called the Grammy Museum Foundation, combining intimate exhibits, music education, and research and preservation all into one institution. More than any thing, the merger will allow for both institutions to receive major financial support from entertainment giant AEG, which currently supports the museum, ensuring that the Foundation can remain a cultural institution rather than a cash cow, as Recording Academy President Neil Portnow told the L.A. Times. More focus will be put on research and preservation efforts, which in the last year alone the Grammy Foundation has provided $300,000 in grants to facilitate such efforts. The primary goal, however, is music education. Working as 2 separate entities, the museum and foundation have paired over 100,000 students with industry professionals, a number expected to grow exponentially under the new Grammy Museum Foundation.
-Taylor Wallace
