LOS ANGELES — Trinidadian music producer Kasey Phillips, now making waves in the U.S., blends Caribbean influences into American genres. He is just one example of the international and Caribbean talent diversifying The Recording Academy.

“The mission is, for myself, to show that we can do it from the Caribbean,” Phillips said. “A lot of us are scared to even make that leap and make that jump. So I’m just trying to do this as an example.”

The Recording Academy indicated that 44% of its 2022 class of music professionals were from traditionally underrepresented categories, and that 15% represented the genre of world music. Phillips’ his achievement so far showcased the impact of that kind of diversity.

Grammy-nominated songwriter and Virgin Islands native Theron Thomas, who is half of the music duo of R. City and behind hits like Lizzo’s “About Damn Time,” is another example. He thinks not only do the academy’s international members have a lot to contribute to American music, but that global music will get even bigger.

“We’re about to see an incredible amount and a huge impact of people outside of the United States having extremely big, big United States success,” Thomas said.

Thomas is up for a Grammy for songwriter of the year in 2024 and says it’s less about the awards and more about the representation.

“The goal was to always come from the Caribbean and make some kind of impact and also pave the way forward, so just pushing forward on that goal,” Phillips said.

The Grammys will be held on Feb. 4, 2024, at Crypto.com Arena.