Kelley Purcell

Kelley Purcell serves as Vice President of Membership & Industry Relations for the Recording Academy®, overseeing all aspects of membership outreach, peer review, member account services, and the Academy's Chapter systems, including regional and local teams, Chapter events and programming, and all aspects of Chapter service.

Purcell joined the Recording Academy as the Executive Director of the Los Angeles Chapter in 2013, then transitioned to Senior Director of Member Outreach, leading industry outreach efforts across the Membership & Industry Relations department. During her tenure, she project managed a cross-department team of IT, Digital Media and Communications colleagues over a two-year period and successfully implemented historic changes to the Academy’s membership systems. She also led the recruitment efforts to diversify Academy membership and was the liaison to the Academy’s first-ever Peer Review Panel, responsible for training this body and serving as its point person.

Prior to her time at the Recording Academy, she served as the executive director of Harvardwood, and also had past roles at Island Def Jam Music Group, Monitor Deloitte, the Office for the Arts at Harvard, and Goldstar. Formerly one of the lead vocalists of the critically-acclaimed Afro-funk band, Soulfege (nominated for multiple Boston Music Awards and Independent Music Awards, as well as a featured performer at the NACA National Convention), Kelley is also an accomplished vocalist who has performed around the world and shared the stage with the likes of Bobby McFerrin, El Debarge, and more. She is currently one of the praise and worship leaders at Covenant Blessing Fellowship and co-founder of Yielded Vessels Ministry (yvministry.com).

Purcell has been recognized as an Exemplar of Humanity Centered Media at the 2016 Media Done Responsibly Awards and was honored at the 10th Annual Toast to Urban Entertainment Executives in 2017. In 2018, she was honored to take part in the American Express Women in Music Leadership Academy. She was recently named to the 2024 Billboard Women in Music list.

Purcell received a cum laude bachelor’s degree in economics at Harvard University.