Introducing Ryan Butler, Queer Capita’s 2024 Community Champion Award Winner

One could call Ryan Butler a trailblazer in the music industry, and they’d be right – but he’s so much more than that. He’s also an architect, designing structures and spaces built to last. As the Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at The Recording Academy, Butler works to create a culture where marginalized voices can be heard loud and clear.

Having navigated exclusionary spaces in the industry time and time again, Butler brings a critical perspective to his role, operating with firsthand knowledge of how it feels to be shut out. He is one of the few openly gay Black senior executives in the music industry, and at every turn, he leverages his platform to advocate for his communities. He can often be found at speaking engagements and panel discussions, sharing his thoughts and expertise. Through his tireless pursuit of equity and inclusion, Butler has made a positive impact on the music industry and shows no sign of stopping anytime soon.

In September 2020, Butler was instrumental in launching the Academy's Black Music Collective (BMC), an advisory group whose mission is to amplify Black voices in the industry. Butler, with his fellow BMC leaders, introduced the Recording Academy Honors, which is a GRAMMY week event that celebrates groundbreaking work in Black music. Previous honorees include Mariah Carey, Missy Elliott, Lenny Kravitz, and Jay-Z, all of whom have received the Global Impact Award for their contributions.

Butler also implemented the Recording Academy's Inclusion Rider, which tackles the industry’s exclusive hiring practices head-on. This contract addendum makes the GRAMMY Awards the first major music awards show to publicly commit to an inclusion rider. Butler works with production staff to ensure the accessibility of every show, making accommodations that include ASL interpreters and disability ramps throughout the venue.

Ryan Butler (left) accepts the 2024 Community Champion Award presented by Bryant Woodson (right).

Through his work, Butler lifts up aspiring professionals and LGBTQ+ youth with a variety of initiatives. As a former Dean and Professor at Hampton University, Butler created the “Your Future Is Now” scholarship for HBCU students, providing them with professional development opportunities in the industry. Since its inception, a dozen students have received the scholarship, preparing them for full-time music careers upon graduation.

Butler has also forged meaningful partnerships with LGBTQ+ organizations to take a stand against youth bullying. In October 2023, the Academy partnered with GLAAD and LiveNation to present the GLAAD Spirit Day Concert. This event brought industry leaders, celebrities, athletes, and influencers together as a united front against LGBTQ+ youth bullying. This event shone a bright light on young queer people, making an invaluable statement of solidarity and support. Butler’s achievements all demonstrate his unwavering commitment to his communities. His self-awareness and reasoning guide this commitment that if someone in his position is uncomfortable, others might also be.

For these reasons, the board of Queer Capita was pleased to award Ryan as our inaugural Community Champion Award winner at The Power In Pride this June, an event produced by LiveNation, Queer Capita, and The Recording Academy in honor of Black Music Month and Pride. When accepting the award, Butler took a deep breath and told the room, “I’m proud of myself” – he hasn’t always been comfortable saying so, but he deserves every moment of celebration. Judging by the enthusiastic applause and cheers that followed his speech, his peers, colleagues, and community are proud of him, too.

Written by Caroline Reinstadtler. Edited by Daniel Iammatteo.