{"id":803427,"date":"2020-01-24T10:46:08","date_gmt":"2020-01-24T17:46:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/?p=942471"},"modified":"2020-01-24T10:46:08","modified_gmt":"2020-01-24T17:46:08","slug":"grammy-task-force-demands-real-and-constructive-change-after-ceo-ousting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/music-news\/grammy-task-force-demands-real-and-constructive-change-after-ceo-ousting\/","title":{"rendered":"Grammy Task Force Demands \u2018Real and Constructive Change\u2019 After CEO Ousting"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Grammy task force<\/a> has demanded \u201creal and constructive change\u201d in the aftermath of the battle between the Recording Academy and ousted CEO Deborah Dugan.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Tina Tchen-chaired<\/a> Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion issued a statement late Thursday \u2014 signed by artists and task force members Common, Andra Day and producer Jimmy Jam, among others \u2014 that criticized the Recording Academy for its slow implementation of change; in December 2019, the task force authored a 47-page report<\/a> \u201csetting out 18 systemic changes we determined were needed to improve diversity and inclusion at the Academy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

However, as Dugan claimed in a pair of television interviews<\/a> as well as her EEOC filing<\/a> against the Recording Academy, her attempts to bring about change \u2014 including to a voting process she deemed \u201crigged\u201d \u2014 were stifled by the members of the Academy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs representatives from across the music community serving on the Recording Academy Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion, we want to speak in our own voice about our shock and dismay at the allegations surrounding the Recording Academy and its leadership that surfaced this week,\u201d the task force\u2019s statement read. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhile we understand there are ongoing investigations about the issues raised over the last week, our experience and research tells us that if the Academy leadership, its staff, and the nominating committees that govern the Awards were more diverse and inclusive, there would be better processes for resolving problems and more trust in the Academy as a whole.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

While the statement did not outright support Dugan, it noted, \u201cThose seeking to make such reforms need to be supported, not impeded.\u201d <\/span>Among the changes the task force recommended were \u201cimplementing ranked-choice voting at both the nominating committee and final ballot stages for the Big Four award categories\u201d and <\/span>\u201censuring that all committees of the Academy, including nominations committees, are diverse, with equal representation of men and women.\u201d In the latter case, \u201cprogress achieved last year was eroded in this year\u2019s appointments.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cChange is hard. It won\u2019t be easy to make these changes. But we are deeply disappointed at the level of commitment by some of the Academy\u2019s leadership in effecting the kind of real and constructive change presented in our report. We are confident that they can do better,\u201d the statement concluded. <\/span>\u201cMusic has historically catalyzed and galvanized mass social change. And so it must again. Now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A rep for the Recording Academy told Rolling Stone<\/em> that the statement was issued \u201cdirectly by the task force.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Grammy Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion Full Statement<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

As representatives from across the music community serving on the Recording Academy Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion, we want to speak in our own voice about our shock and dismay at the allegations surrounding the Recording Academy and its leadership that surfaced this week.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Our Task Force devoted the last year and a half to determining ways of making this industry we love more inclusive and representative of all of our voices. On December 12, 2019, we issued a 47-page report, setting out 18 systemic changes we determined were needed to improve diversity and inclusion at the Academy, and drive constructive change across the music industry.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

These new charges reinforce just how important and urgent it is that the Academy implement all of the changes in the report that we delivered \u2014 without any delay.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

The Academy\u2019s Board of Trustees and leadership must immediately commit themselves to real reform, take concrete steps to implement all of the Task Force reforms, and transparently and regularly report on their progress \u2014 including transparently reporting on the pending investigations they have announced are underway. The Task Force will be reconvening in 90 days and expects to hear progress from the Academy by that time.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

To reiterate, among the recommendations outlined in our report are calls for:<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n