Los Angeles (AFP)
The Grammy Awards prepare to celebrate Sunday in Los Angeles the music and its talents of the moment, like Lizzo, Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X, but another air will blur the partition: the serious accusations brought against the organization by its boss, recently suspended from office.
A few days before the annual high mass of the music industry, the CEO of the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, professional association that organizes the Grammys, filed a complaint in Los Angeles with the Commission for the equal professional opportunities.
Deborah Dugan accuses not only the Academy, which has just suspended her of functions, of discrimination and harassment, but she also affirms that her predecessor was guilty of rape on an artist and that certain votes for the Grammy nominations Awards are marred by "conflicts of interest".
His predecessor at the head of the "Recording Academy", Neil Portnow, categorically denied these "ridiculous and spurious rape accusations", and the organization also refuted these "serious allegations", stressing that Ms. Dugan had been placed in "administrative leave" after having herself been accused of psychological harassment by an employee.
An independent investigation has been opened into these facts and Ms. Dugan's charges.
The awards officer at the Academy stepped up to the plate on Thursday to defend the procedures in effect at the Grammy Awards.
"False allegations that members or committees use our process to promote the appointments of artists with whom they are connected are flatly false, misleading and mistaken," said Bill Freimuth in a statement.
- Women dominate -
The first woman to take over the Academy in August, Deborah Dugan claims to be the victim of retaliation because she wanted to "change things" after 17 years as president of Neil Portnow.
The latter had officially renounced to extend his contract after being strongly criticized for remarks considered sexist: he had declared that women had to "move up a gear" to justify the fact that few of them had obtained rewards during the 2018 edition.
Leaving aside these quarrels, the 2020 vintage should from this point of view be a success.
Women dominate the list of nominations, especially in the four queen categories (album of the year, recording of the year, song of the year and best new artist).
In addition to Lizzo, on pole with eight nominations, Billie Eilish (six), Ariana Grande (five), Lana Del Rey, Beyoncé and the singer HER also fared well.
As for Lil Nas X, phenomenon of 2019 with his hit "Old Town Road", he also embodies diversity, because he is one of the few rappers to have publicly declared to be homosexual. A black artist, he also rocked the very white and very American world of country music, which was reluctant to accept his song as part of his universe.
- New wind on the Grammys? -
The exuberant Lizzo, 31, and the somber Billie Eilish, 18, embody two styles very far apart: on the one hand a sparkling young black woman, with colorful clips and bursts of voice; on the other a white teenager with a soft and heady voice.
It's a new wind that could blow on the Grammys on Sunday, with two favorites who broke through in 2019 even if they have been on the circuit for several years.
Like Taylor Swift, still omnipresent a few years ago but which this time is only in the running in three categories, established artists "do not really dominate", estimates John Vilanova, professor at Lehigh University who has a lot studied the Grammy Awards.
The ceremony, which will take place in the famous Staples Center in Los Angeles, is often as memorable for its performances as for its awards.
This year, Lizzo, Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande will lead the show, with a highly anticipated version of "Old Town Road" by the sensation of K-pop, the Korean group BTS, the country star Billy Ray Cyrus and DJ Diplo .
Tribute will also be paid to rapper Nipsey Hussle - who was killed last year in Los Angeles and who posthumously competed in three categories - by John Legend, rapper Meek Mill and DJ Khaled.
© 2020 AFP