Dugan To Appear On ‘GMA’ Thursday
• With this weekend’s 62nd Grammy Awards just about 72 hours away, the big show has been effectively overshadowed by the internal firestorm that was ignited late last week with the ouster of Deborah Dugan, the embattled Pres./CEO of The Recording Academy.
By now you’ve read the shocking allegations leveled by Dugan against the Academy and certain members; specifically her predecessor, Neil Portnow, powerful industry attorney Joel Katz and others, while labeling the organization as “a boys’ club.” While Grammy rehearsals continue, so does the back and forth.
Yesterday, in a direct rebuttal to Dugan’s description (and without mentioning her by name), four women on the Recording Academy’s Executive Committee — Vice Chair Tammy Hurt, Chair Emeritus Christine Albert, and Trustees/Executive Committee Members Leslie Ann Jones and Terry Jones — issued a statement that read, in part, “It is deeply disturbing to us — and quite frankly, heartbreaking — to witness the firestorm against our organization that has been unleashed. The Academy is keenly sensitive to any and all allegations of harassment or abuse, and we support the independent investigations that have been launched. Thank you for your patience as these continue.”
The letter continues, “We have collectively volunteered many years of service guiding and supporting this organization. We would not have taken precious time away from our families and careers if we felt that it was a ‘boys’ club.’ We are leaders of this organization and fully committed to transformational change both within the Academy and within our industry at large. We stand ready to address all concerns, allegations and accusations with facts in hand. In the meantime we continue to pursue our mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture.”
• For her part, Deborah Dugan intends to raise the stakes on Thursday morning when she is scheduled to tell her side of the story — live — on ABC’s Good Morning America. Check your local listings.
