The Recording Academy has appointed accomplished songwriter Ross Golan as Co-Chair of its Songwriters & Composers Wing, signaling a significant power shift within the Grammy organization’s advocacy structure. The appointment, effective August 2025, pairs Golan with current Chair Evan Bogart in a leadership model designed to amplify the voices of music creators within the industry’s complex ecosystem.
Golan, whose songwriting credits include hits for Ariana Grande, Céline Dion, Michael Bublé, and Sabrina Carpenter, brings substantial creative credibility to the role. His selection underscores the Academy’s renewed commitment to advocating for songwriter and composer rights during a period when creator compensation and copyright protections face evolving challenges.
Golan’s extensive hit-writing resume strengthens the Academy’s advocacy position during critical times for creator rights and compensation.
The leadership change aims to strengthen the Recording Academy’s influence on legislation and industry practices affecting the songwriting community. Golan will help shape programming that addresses current songwriter and composer needs while expanding membership to guarantee broader representation within the Academy. His responsibilities will include collaborative work with music industry partners and advocacy organizations to improve conditions for creators.
Industry observers note that Golan’s appointment represents more than a routine leadership change. The move reflects a deliberate recalibration of power dynamics that have historically favored performing artists and labels over songwriters and composers. As the first songwriter on the board of the National Music Publishers Association, Golan’s background as a working songwriter provides an authentic perspective on the challenges facing music creators.
In his new role, Golan is expected to sustain momentum on legislative fronts that impact royalty frameworks and copyright law. With expertise in both traditional revenue streams and emerging opportunities, he aims to help songwriters develop diverse income streams beyond typical publishing royalties. His advocacy work will likely include promoting proper registration with performance rights organizations to ensure songwriters receive fair compensation for their work. The S&C Wing functions as both an advocacy entity and community-building platform within the Recording Academy structure, offering programming that educates and supports this creator segment. Since its establishment in 2021, the wing has grown to include over 6,000 members representing a significant portion of the Academy’s voting membership.
The appointment reinforces the Academy’s strategic pivot toward leading on creator advocacy beyond its traditional role of awarding excellence through the Grammy Awards, positioning the organization to more effectively influence industry-wide policies affecting songwriters and composers.
