Grammys CEO Pledges to “Enhance Our Awards Processes From the Inside Out”

Recording Academy Interim President & CEO Harvey Mason, Jr.
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Recording Academy Interim President & CEO Harvey Mason, Jr.
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Grammys President & CEO Harvey Mason Jr.

Grammys CEO Harvey Mason Jr. is expanding upon the sweeping changes that the Recording Academy has implemented in response to much-publicized controversies and criticism, including by developing plans to “enhance our awards processes from the inside out.”

Harvey Mason Jr., who began leading the Grammys on an interim basis in the wake of Deborah Dugan’s shocking allegations early last year, reiterated his reform-minded vision for the award show in a formal release today. Said release was published to announce two executive appointments, part of a broader “transformational period at the Recording Academy as the organization evolves to better serve its membership and the music industry at-large.”

“Effective immediately,” the 64-year-old Recording Academy – which laid off more than a dozen team members last October – has named Ruby Marchand chief awards and industry officer and upped Joanna Chu to VP of awards. Marchand in the expanded role will report to Academy co-president Valeisha Butterfield Jones, who was originally brought on as “chief diversity officer” in April of 2020.

The longtime Warner Music A&R exec Marchand will specifically work “to effect outreach to musical communities across the nation and beyond, bringing innovative new possibilities into the Awards process while ensuring their utmost integrity,” according to the Recording Academy’s release.

Joanna Chu, formerly an aerospace-industry software engineer and, more recently, director of the Recording Academy’s awards division, will lead “the team through all aspects of the Awards season” in her new position. Additionally, Chu is set to “report to Marchand and join her in reinforcing key Academy initiatives throughout the Awards process, with a special emphasis on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.”

Addressing the appointments in a statement, Harvey Mason Jr. – who was named president and CEO of the Recording Academy on a full-time basis in May – said: “I am proud to welcome Ruby and Joanna into their new positions as we work to enhance our awards processes from the inside out.

“Their expertise in this space is highly valuable as we continue to refine the Recording Academy’s role in the music industry and work to provide the highest quality of service to our members,” he finished.

Moving forward, it’ll be worth seeing whether these and forthcoming changes will be enough to help the Grammys put an end to corruption allegations from artists and reverse a years-running trend of declining viewership.

On the latter front, the 2021 Grammys delivered the smallest television audience in Grammys history, and the Recording Academy then scheduled the 2022 edition on a Monday (as opposed to the usual Sunday) night. Furthermore, the 2020 Grammys telecast also turned in a lackluster performance with regard to watchers, as stars including Taylor Swift and Beyonce boycotted the happening following Dugan’s aforementioned allegations.

The changes made by the Recording Academy during the remainder of 2020 – such as renaming the “Best World Music Album” category to avoid “connotations of colonialism” and removing the term “urban” from award categories – were evidently enough for Swift and Beyonce to rethink their opinions of the event, for both attended the 63rd Grammys.

However, different criticism yet – including allegations of corruption from The Weeknd (who no longer submits his music to the Recording Academy), Halsey, and Zayn Malik – prompted the Grammys organizer this year to eliminate “secret” committees, retool its rules, and invite nearly 3,000 more voting members.

12 Responses

  1. Jez Martin

    The proof will be in the pudding, but this one might have already curdled.

    • I'm trying to tell you

      Proof will be

      They fire 20 white racists replace them with 20 black racists

      Lil Naz X gets artist of the year and you believe the fake press you buy until your master wants to see why it takes you 5 million to make 6

  2. Johamed Talibiden

    This garbage award has been irrelevant for years. Nobody gives a fuck about it anymore.

    • George

      That’s not actually true as millions still watch the program and artists who are both nominated or win, see spikes in sales, downloads, etc. immediately after the show.

      • Another hired bot

        With an expensive law degree

        Shame on you for shilling for the devil

        What A waste of your degree

        Can’t wait for you to be out a job!

  3. Bullshit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I am embarrassed I was ever apart of the accademy.

    Kanye was right to piss on his award I hope you got some of the spray

    Liars cheats scum rapists go away you’ve done enough to RUIN MUSIC!

  4. Roger

    The process is a scam. The votes mean nothing. It’s all about select few who ultimately decide. That is if you can even get past the submission process which is designed purposely difficult and cumbersome. More artists should boycott them.