The first female chief executive officer (CEO) of the Recording Academy, Deborah Dugan, organisers of the annual Grammy awards, has been removed.
She was removed on Thursday — barely 10 days to the event — billed to take place on January 26 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
According to a statement released by the Academy, Dugan was placed on “administrative leave,” over allegations bordering on misconduct.
The Academy stated that the move was expedient to protect its reputation and also ensure it remains focused on its overarching mission of serving all music creators.
“In light of concerns raised to the Recording Academy board of trustees, including a formal allegation of misconduct by a senior female member of the Recording Academy team, the board has placed Recording Academy president and CEO Deborah Dugan on administrative leave, effective immediately,” the statement read.
“The board has also retained two independent third-party investigators to conduct independent investigations of the 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.”
Dugan would be temporarily replaced by Harvey Mason Jr, the board’s chairman until investigations into the issues are concluded.
Mason reportedly forwarded an email to the Academy on Thursday, noting the “the Grammy Awards and all related activities will go forward as planned.”
The 61-year-old Dugan was appointed the Academy’s first female president in 2018, replacing Neil Portnow, over controversies that trailed his comment which bordered on gender and the awards.
The move has been generating dust with insiders describing it as a ‘coup’
The year’s award ceremony would be graced by several artistes across the world, including Damini Ogulu, Nigerian Afro-fusion singer better known as Burna Boy, who made the nominees list.
