Zac Brown Band Honored At '16 GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards

NORTHWEST -- Multiplatinum-selling act the Zac Brown Band snagged another award for its trophy case on Wednesday evening, when the country rockers were honored with the 2016 Recording Artists' Coalition Award during The Recording Academy's annual GRAMMYs on the Hill celebration.

Dee Snider and Harvey Mason Jr.

Rep. Joseph Crowley and family.
Having sold over 8 million albums to date, including 15 #1 hit radio singles, the band is no stranger to success. Indeed, the Zac Brown Band already counts itself the winner of three GRAMMYs. But last night's award went beyond heralding the act's musical achievements by also honoring its commitment to philanthropic causes.

GRAMMY-winning gospel singer Yolanda Adams.

A much looked forward to event among Washington politicos (the night is unofficially known as the city's "most interesting mix of music and politics") each year, GRAMMYs on the Hill serves to highlight issues impacting music creators directly to lawmakers.

Ed Roland of Collective Soul.

GRAMMY winner Jon Secada and Congressman Louie Gohmert.
To such an end, Wednesday's award ceremony also honored Reps. Joseph Crowley (D-NY) and Thomas J. Rooney (R-FL), co-sponsors of the Allocation For Music Producers Act that seeks to streamline how producers receive performance royalties.

Lawmakers performing on stage.

Smokey Robinson.
GRAMMYs on the Hill is actually just the kickoff event to The Recording Academy's annual Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill, which serves as the music community's largest program each year to advance policies benefiting American music creators.

Rodney Jerkins.
Hundreds of music professionals from across the country will visit with lawmakers today to lobby for music creators' rights. And many of those artists were in the audience yesterday, such as GRAMMY winner Smokey Robinson, Ed Roland of Collective Soul, GRAMMY winner Jon Secada, Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, and hometown D.C. rapper Wale.

David Bromberg and Clyde's Restaurant Group President Tom Meyer.
Proceeds from GRAMMYs on the Hill, which is sponsored by performance rights organization SESAC, benefit the GRAMMY Signature Schools initiative, which provides support for underserved music programs throughout the country.