Episode 5: Meet Jeriel Johnson

Rise Up Chorus Presents "Meet the Musicians"

In this fifth episode, Matt has a conversation with Jeriel Johnson, the Executive Director of the Recording Academy™ Washington, D.C. Chapter, responsible for overseeing Membership & Industry Relations for D.C., Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. Jeriel is also Executive Sponsor of the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective, an advisory group of esteemed artists and industry executives dedicated to the inclusion, recognition and advancement of Black Music and its creators and professionals within the Academy and music industry at-large. A native of Philadelphia and an accomplished drummer, Jeriel received a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music, and after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Music Business & Management he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the music business. Prior to assuming the role of ED of the D.C. Chapter, Jeriel served as Head of Urban Music at the Recording Academy, where he oversaw the awards process for the R&B, Rap, and Reggae categories for the GRAMMY Awards®. Prior to the Academy, Jeriel held leadership roles at NBCUniversal, Warner Bros. Records and The Walt Disney Company. A 2018 Prince George’s County, Maryland 40 Under 40 honoree, Jeriel has also been featured in Billboard Magazine, Berklee Today Magazine and Music Industry Quarterly. He has served as a guest lecturer at the American Dramatic School for the Arts in Los Angeles, University of Maryland, and has produced and/or moderated panels at Essence Festival, SXSW, BET Week, Roots Picnic, Urban Network Conference, The Worship & Arts Summit, The NSO, and The GRAMMY Museum on topics ranging from the state of Hip Hop & R&B to Mental Health & Addiction in those music communities. Jeriel is a servant leader, sharp administrator and skilled relationship builder with a knack for curating innovative programs at the intersection of art and life, while his advancedmusicianship has earned him high praise and trust from artists and executives. Jeriel believes we must “lift as we climb” and is committed to supporting the next generation of musicians and industry leaders.

Grant funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund.
Program funded by Middlesex County, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.