Logo: The Urban Influencer

Just 10 Days In Front Of The Grammys, Recording Academy Pres./Chief Executive Deborah Dugan Is Out

Image: Just 10 Days In Front Of The Grammys, Recording Academy Pres./Chief Executive Deborah Dugan Is Out

Share This On:

Tongues are wagging but no one is talking about the details behind the sudden exit of RECORDING ACADEMY Pres./Chief Executive DEBORAH DUGAN, just 10 days in front of the 62nd annual GRAMMY AWARDS. She replaced longtime RECORDING ACADEMY chief executive NEIL PORTNOW, taking that new post on AUGUST 1, 2019.

According to the LOS ANGELES TIMES, "In an internal RECORDING ACADEMY memorandum, interim RECORDING ACADEMY Pres./CEO HARVEY MASON Jr. wrote that the 'RECORDING ACADEMY BOARD OF TRUSTEES has placed RECORDING ACADEMY Pres./CEO DEBORAH DUGAN on Administrative Leave, effective immediately.

“'The BOARD OF TRUSTEES felt this action to be necessary, due to serious concerns that recently were brought to our attention. While we are unable to share the details of the concerns to protect employee privacy, please know that the BOARD has retained two independent third-party investigators to conduct independent investigations into allegations.'

“'THE BOARD determined this action to be necessary in order to restore the confidence of the RECORDING ACADEMY’s membership, repair RECORDING ACADEMY employee morale, and allow the Recording Academy to focus on its mission of serving all music creators,” the statement continued. “Board Chair HARVEY MASON JR. will serve as Interim Pres./CEO pending the conclusion of the investigation. The RECORDING ACADEMY BOARD OF TRUSTEES is committed to fostering a safe, diverse, and inclusive workplace, music industry and society.'”

The GRAMMYS will take place at STAPLES CENTER in LOS ANGELES on JANUARY 26th, and air on CBS.

More on this developing story, soon.

In related news, Public Enemy frontman Chuck D pulled no punches in an Instagram post excoriating the Recording Academy for ousting recently installed chief Deborah Dugan. In his post, Chuck praises Dugan for trying to change the system and puts the Academy's old guard on blast. PE is due for a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's awards. They were incredulous, according to reports, when Dugan reached out to them given their famous lyric "Who gives a fuck about a goddamn Grammy?" But Dugan reportedly told them their activism was part of why there was now a Rap category. Expect fireworks when their award is bestowed.

You can read it in its entirety below.