Recording Academy Names Mason Pres./CEO
• The Recording Academy®’s Board of Trustees has removed the “interim” from Harvey Mason Jr.‘s title, officially anointing him as the Academy’s President/CEO, effective June 1. Mason has been in the position on an unpaid, interim basis since January 2020. Prior to that he was Chair of the Academy’s Board, a position he will now relinquish, while also taking appropriate steps to prevent any conflict of interest with his business, Harvey Mason Media.
In a joint statement, search committee co-chairs John Burk and Leslie Ann Jones said, “We are delighted that Harvey will remain at the helm and continue to steer the organization through this pivotal time. As we journeyed deeper into our extensive search, it became clear that the best person for the job was Harvey. We are immensely impressed by the remarkable work he has done during his interim tenure and look forward to the continued evolution of the Academy under his effective, results-driven leadership.”
Shortly after Mason was appointed as Interim President/CEO, the Academy confronted the unexpected challenge of COVID-19 and the disruption it caused to the livelihoods of so many Academy members and the music community. Under his leadership, MusiCares® raised and distributed over $24 million to help struggling music creators through the crisis. Mason also continued the Academy’s internal transformation, implementing the final recommendations of its Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, hired its first-ever Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer and conducted an organizational restructure. During Mason’s tenure, the Academy has also improved the transparency of the GRAMMY Awards® process, made important changes to voting procedures, and has made strides towards ensuring a more diverse and inclusive membership body. Additionally, the Academy launched a new Songwriters & Composers Wing and the Black Music Collective.
“There is nothing more rewarding than having the trust and respect of your colleagues and peers,” Mason said. “I am honored to have been appointed to continue to lead the Recording Academy on our transformative journey. While I had not initially expected to be in this position, I remain deeply invested in the success of the organization and am motivated to help us achieve our greatest ambitions. I will serve humbly with a steadfast commitment to building a more inclusive, responsive and relevant Academy.”
