MASON TAPPED AS ACADEMY'S INTERIM PREXY/CEO

In the wake of Deborah Dugan's surprise ouster as Recording Academy chief, Board Chairman Harvey Mason Jr. has sent a letter to Academy members declaring that he has been appointed Interim President and CEO. See below for the full text of Mason's letter.

Dear Recording Academy Member,

We wanted to share that the Recording Academy Board of Trustees has placed Recording Academy President and CEO Deborah Dugan on Administrative Leave, effective immediately.

The Board of Trustees felt this action to be necessary in light of serious concerns that recently came to their attention. While we are unable to share the details of the concerns to protect employee privacy, please know that the Board has also retained two independent third-party investigators to conduct independent investigations of the allegations that caused the concerns.

We want to assure you that the Recording Academy Board of Trustees is committed to fostering a safe, diverse, and inclusive workplace, music industry, and society. The Board has appointed me to serve as Interim President and CEO, and all Recording Academy operations will proceed as normal during the interim leadership transition.

The GRAMMY Awards and all related activities will go forward as planned. Recording Academy Chief Industry, Government Affairs, & Member Relations Officer Daryl Friedman and VP of Membership & Industry Relations Laura Segura Mueller will share additional information with you as it becomes available and when appropriate.

In the interim, our focus on service to the music community – and to you, our members – will remain uninterrupted and undiminished.

Sincerely,

Harvey Mason, Jr.
Interim Recording Academy President and CEO