Recording Academy’s Diversity Task Force Is’Shocked and Dismayed’ in Dugan Allegations, Demands Action
In the aftermath of prior Recording Academy chief Neil Portnow’s ill-spoken 2018 remark that female leaders and musicians necessary to”measure up” to be able to progress in the audio business, the firm formed a Task Force for Diversity and Inclusion, directed by Michelle Obama’s former chief of staff Tina Tchen, to spot and implement these aims. Last month, it published a strongly-worded 47-page report identifying numerous areas for advancement in the Academy. (Read the entire report here.)
Currently, almost two decades after, amid the shocking allegations of sexual misconduct in the Academy at ousted CEO Deborah Dugan’s legal criticism, it’s issued a statement stating that the company the Academy”apply all the modifications in the report which we sent — without delay.” It states it’ll be reconvening in 90 times and”hopes to listen to advancement from the Academy at that moment.”
The announcement follows below in complete:
As agents from throughout the audio community serving on the Recording Academy Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion, we would like to talk in our own voice regarding our shock and dismay in the allegations surrounding the Recording Academy and its leadership which surfaced this week.
Our Task Force committed the previous year and a half of discovering ways of earning this sector we adore more comprehensive and representative of all our voices. About December 12, 2019, we issued a 47-page file, setting out 18 systemic adjustments we decided were required to boost inclusion and diversity in the Academy, and also induce constructive change throughout the audio sector.
COPYRIGHT_BP: Published on https://bingepost.com/recording-academys-diversity-task-force-is-shocked-and-dismayed-at-dugan-allegations-demands-action/10605/ by Cecilia Jones on 2020-01-24T03:49:02.000Z
These new fees reinforce exactly how important and urgent it is that the Academy apply each the modifications in the report which we delivered — with no delay.
The Academy’s Board of Trustees and direction should immediately commit themselves to reform, take tangible actions to implement each one the Task Force reforms, and reluctantly and regularly report on their progress — such as reluctantly reporting on the impending investigations they’ve declared are penalized. The Task Force will be reconvening at 90 times and hopes to listen to advancement from the Academy at the moment.
To reiterate, one of the recommendations summarized in our report are forecasts for:
- Ensuring that all committees of the Academy, such as nominations committees, are varied, with equal representation of people — a place where progress achieved this past season has been eroded in this season’s appointments;
- Implementing ranked-choice voting in the nominating committee and closing ballot phases for its Big Four award groups (Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist), which we think are much fair and representative way to pick among a large set of nominees;
- Shifting the Board of Trustees election method so the direction of this Academy will be diverse and inclusive. While the Academy declared a partial execution of the recommendation each month, It Doesn’t go far enough;
- Implementing a committed Diversity and Inclusion Officer at the executive level to direct the deeper changes Which Are obviously required; and
- Hiring a different outside adviser to conduct a review of policies to make sure the Academy includes a compliant and inclusive workplace culture.
To be clear, these are adjustments that have to be made in the greatest levels and institutionalized so they infect any individual boss.
While we know that there are ongoing investigations concerning the topics raised over the previous week, our expertise and research tells us that when the Academy leadership, its own employees, along with the nominating committees that regulate the awards were varied and inclusive, there are greater processes for solving problems and much more trust from the Academy as a whole. Those trying to create such reforms will need to be encouraged, not vaccinated.
Change is tough. It will not be easy to create these changes. But we’re deeply disappointed in the amount of commitment by a number of the Academy’s leadership in effecting the type of actual and constructive change introduced in our report. We’re convinced that they could do better.
Music has catalyzed and galvanized mass societal change. And therefore it must . Now.
