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The Recording Academy is speaking out after its CEO and President Deborah Dugan — whowas placed on administrative leaveearlier this month — made a bombshell claim that theGrammy Awards‘ nomination system is rigged.
Hours after Duganappeared onGood Morning Americaon Thursday to speak about the controversy surrounding her leave, in which she claimed that there’s a “conflict of interest” within some of the voting committee members, the Recording Academy released a statement condemning the allegations as “categorically false.”
“Spurious allegations claiming members or committees use our process to push forward nominations for artists they have relationships with are categorically false, misleading and wrong. This process is strictly enforced with everyone involved and has no exceptions,” Bill Freimuth, the Recording Academy’s chief awards officer, said in a statement to PEOPLE.
Freimunth said in the statement that committee members are chosen weeks before the first round of entry list nominees is created, so it’s unknown whether some of the members will be nominated for a Grammy.
“Because these committee members are at the top of their craft, and many members work with multiple artists, it is not unusual that some of the people in each room will end up with nominations from the first round,” Freimuth added. “There are strict rules in place to address any conflict of interest.”
“We remain fully committed to the integrity, transparency and robustness of the awards and look forward with excitement to celebrating the artists who deservingly receive them,” the statement added. “We are acutely aware that many artists have worked a lifetime for this moment at music’s biggest night and it is them we want to focus on when we celebrate this weekend.”
On Thursday, Dugan appeared onGood Morning Americaand claimed she has “evidence” that the nomination system is unfairly balanced due to “conflict of interest.”
“I’m saying that the system should be transparent and that there are incidents of conflicts of interest that taint the results,” she said on the morning show. “I couldn’t say more positive things about all of the nominations and everybody that performs. I hate that I’m in this situation because I’d much rather be here talking about the artists and the music, but I can’t help but have to say there are conflicts of interest that go on.”
In her formal complaint that she filed, Dugan alleged that some musicians did not get Grammy nominations due to favoritism and conflicts of interest.
In astatement to PEOPLE, Dugan’s attorneys denied the misconduct allegations against her.
Dugan had been the head of the Recording Academy for just five months after being appointed in August 2019. She became the first female president and CEO of the organization last year, followingallegations of gender biasagainst the Recording Academy, and after former president Neil Portnow stepped down in July 2019.
Alicia Keys will return as host for this year’s Grammys, which will also feature performances fromBlake Sheltonand Gwen Stefani,Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Demi Lovato, Lizzo and more.
TheGrammy Awardswill take place at Los Angeles’ Staples Center on Sunday, Jan. 26. The telecast will be broadcast live on CBS at 8 p.m. EST.
source: people.com
