Music producer Brian invited to join Grammy voting academy

CARLOW native Brian Sheil has achieved a significant milestone in his music career after being invited to join The Recording Academy, the organisation behind the world-famous Grammy Awards.

Brian has been granted exclusive voting membership, which will allow him to help select Grammy award-winners each year and influence the direction of the global music industry. The prestigious membership is reserved for professionals with proven track records and is only awarded through peer nomination and rigorous committee review.

“Being invited to join The Recording Academy is an incredible honour,” said Brian. “But for me, it’s not just about the awards process; it’s about using my voice to support creators everywhere.” 

The Carlow man was nominated by two high-profile Grammy-recognised producers, reflecting his growing reputation in the international music scene. With over 30 million global streams and seven number 1 chart positions, Brian has established himself as one of Ireland’s most in-demand music producers and audio engineers.

His profile received a major boost in 2024 when RTÉ selected him as one of Ireland’s official Eurovision Song Contest judges, representing the country at the grand finals in Malmö, Sweden, which attracted over 163 million viewers worldwide.

“Coming from the second smallest county in Ireland, I’m proud to bring my Irish and local community’s spirit to a global platform like The Recording Academy,” Brian said. “Not many from Ireland have been invited to join as voting members, and I may be the first from Carlow to help shape music’s biggest night.” 

Beyond his music career, Brian has ventured into an unusual crossover field, combining his audio engineering expertise with forensic science. During the Covid-19 lockdowns, he pursued a master of science degree in audio and video forensics at Liverpool John Moores University, graduating with a first-class distinction.

His research focuses on the growing threat of synthetic voices and ‘shallowfakes’, convincing blends of fake and real audio that are being used to deceive people across various sectors, from entertainment to finance.

“Synthetic audio is no longer science fiction; it’s already here today impersonating real voices, eroding public trust and shaking confidence in everything from news to national security,” he explained.

The relevance of his research was highlighted recently when Ireland’s National Treasury Management Agency fell victim to a €5 million scam through a sophisticated voice phishing attack.

As a new voting member, Brian joins this year’s class of invitees alongside LA-based girl group Katseye and pop sensation Addison Rae. He will serve as part of the Recording Academy’s Los Angeles chapter and contribute to the producers and engineers wing.

“I hope that the journey I’m on can inspire young people to dream big and imagine their voices echoing on a world stage, too,” Brian concluded.