The Recording Academy and Hyundai announced the launch of Amplifier Center Stage: A Grammy U Initiative. The program unites emerging artists with established artists to mentor their careers. It will run through the 56th Annual Grammy Awards season with the winners announced on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014. Grammy Week culminates with the 56th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, airing live on the CBS Television Network, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

The 2014 program curators are Kendrick Lamar, jazz pianist Robert Glasper, Ariana Grande, and Hunter Hayes. The 2014 ambassador for Amplifier Center Stage will be announced at the beginning of December.

The Amplifier Center Stage online platform allows emerging musicians to share their songs via SoundCloud for a chance to have their music vetted by a panel of music icons.

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