GRAMMY ARTISTS REVEALED Concert Held With Ethridge At Hard Rock Cafe 6/21

The Recording Academy® will host the sophomore installment of its GRAMMY Artists Revealed^TM series, presented by MasterCard®, as part of its continuing tradition of celebrating musical excellence and diversity throughout the year. The event - to be held on Monday, June 21, at Hard Rock Cafe in New York City's Times Square - will feature two-time GRAMMY® winner Melissa Etheridge. Delivered through a partnership with MasterCard, this event - part of a new series that launched in 2009 - gives music fans the opportunity to see their favorite artist perform songs from their catalog in an up-close-and-personal, storyteller-style format, and allows artists to share anecdotes about their musical journey to the GRAMMYs.

"As a two-time GRAMMY Award winner and friend of The Recording Academy, Melissa Etheridge is not only a uniquely gifted rock musician and songwriter but an inspirational woman with an incredible story to tell," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. "So it is a true thrill to have her join us for our second installment of GRAMMY Artists Revealed."

"I'm honored The Recording Academy has asked me to share my road to the GRAMMYs story," said Etheridge. "Winning two GRAMMYs has been a highlight of my career, so I look forward to sharing some great memories in such an intimate environment for all my fans."

"Working with Recording Academy, we are pleased to be able to offer our cardholders the opportunity to see one of the most iconic female rock musicians in an up-close-and-personal setting," said Michael Robichaud, Vice President, Global Sponsorship, MasterCard Worldwide. "Our sponsorship of the GRAMMY Artists Revealed series supports our commitment to provide our cardholders with unique rewards and value and is a unique opportunity to provide them with an unforgettable experience."

One of the top all-time female rock icons, Etheridge became one of the most popular recording artists of the '90s due to her mix of confessional lyrics, pop-based folk-rock, and gritty vocals. Fearless Love, her 10th studio album just released on April 27, reflects music that still embodies much of what fans have come to anticipate from Etheridge - soaring melodies, her bold, expressive voice, and plenty of musical, lyrical and emotional drama. Her biggest album to date, Yes I Am, sold a staggering 6 million copies in the United States during a single-year period and spawned two major MTV/radio hits with "I'm The Only One" and "Come to My Window." She has won GRAMMY Awards twice in her career for Best Female Rock Vocalist for "Ain't It Heavy" and "Come To My Window." Her powerful performance of Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart" at the 47th Annual GRAMMY Awards in 2005 showcased her fearlessness and cemented her rock icon status. In February 2007, she celebrated a career milestone when she won an Oscar® in the Best Original Song category at the 79th Annual Academy Awards® for "I Need To Wake Up," written for the Al Gore documentary on global warming, An Inconvenient Truth. Etheridge is an outspoken cultural, political and human rights activist, a thought-provoker, a longtime truth-seeker, a mother, and a cancer survivor. For more information on Melissa Etheridge, go to www.melissaetheridge.com

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards - the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music - The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, join the organization's social networks as a Twitter follower at www.twitter.com/thegrammys, a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/thegrammys, and a YouTube channel subscriber at www.youtube.com/thegrammys.

About MasterCard Worldwide
MasterCard Worldwide advances global commerce by providing a critical economic link among financial institutions, businesses, cardholders and merchants worldwide. As a franchisor, processor and advisor, MasterCard develops and markets payment solutions, processes over 22 billion transactions each year, and provides industry-leading analysis and consulting services to financial-institution customers and merchants. Powered by the MasterCard Worldwide Network and through its family of brands, including MasterCard®, Maestro® and Cirrus®, MasterCard serves consumers and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. For more information, go to www.mastercard.com. Follow us on Twitter: @mastercardnews.

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