Grammy Boss Neil Portnow Launches Task Force to Focus on ‘Female Advancement’

Recording Academy president was criticized for saying that female artists need to “step up”

| February 1, 2018 @ 4:26 PM
Neil Portnow Grammys

Recording Academy president Neil Portnow at the 2018 Grammy Awards show (Getty Images)

Recording Academy president/CEO Neil Portnow, who drew criticism for saying that female artists need to “step up” to fix the gender imbalance in the music industry, will now launch a task force aimed at improving chances of “female advancement in the music community.”

In a statement issued Thursday, Portnow acknowledged his “poor choice of words” that were “not reflective of my beliefs.”

“The Recording Academy is establishing an independent task force to review every aspect of what we do as an organization and identify where we can do more to overcome the explicit barriers and unconscious biases that impede female advancement in the music community,” the statement reads. “We will also place ourselves under a microscope and tackle whatever truths are revealed.”

Also Read: Moby Calls Out Grammys Artists: 'Musicians, You Have a Voice, An Audience, And You're Wasting it'

Portnow continued, “I appreciate that the issue of gender bias needs to be addressed in our industry, and share in the urgency to attack it head on. We as an organization, and I as its leader, pledge our commitment to doing that. We will share more information about the steps we are taking in the coming weeks.”

Read the full statement below.

Also Read: Grammys Settle for 19.8 Million Viewers, Down 24 Percent From Last Year

After hearing from many friends and colleagues, I understand the hurt that my poor choice of words following last Sunday’s GRAMMY telecast has caused. I also now realize that it’s about more than just my words. Because those words, while not reflective of my beliefs, echo the real experience of too many women. I’d like to help make that right.

The Recording Academy is establishing an independent task force to review every aspect of what we do as an organization and identify where we can do more to overcome the explicit barriers and unconscious biases that impede female advancement in the music community. We will also place ourselves under a microscope and tackle whatever truths are revealed.

I appreciate that the issue of gender bias needs to be addressed in our industry, and share in the urgency to attack it head on. We as an organization, and I as its leader, pledge our commitment to doing that. We will share more information about the steps we are taking in the coming weeks.

Sincerely,
Neil Portnow
President/CEO of the Recording Academy

All 20 Grammys Musical Performances Ranked, From Kendrick to Kesha and Beyond (Photos)

  • grammys best performances kendrick lamar kesha sza Getty Images
  • T.J. Osborne, John Osborne, Maren Morris, and Eric Church Getty Images
  • shaggy and sting grammys Getty Images
  • ben platt grammys Getty Images
  • grammys sam smith Getty Images
  • chris stapleton emmylou harris grammys Getty Images
  • grammys little big town Getty Images
  • grammys pink wild hearts can't be broken Getty Images
  • patti lupone don't cry for me argentina grammys Getty Images
  • elton john miley cyrus tiny dancer grammys Getty Images
  • jon batiste gary clark jr chuck berry tribute grammys Getty Images
  • SZA grammys Getty Images
  • u2 grammys outside Getty Images
  • daddy yankee luis fonsi despacito grammys Getty Images
  • rihanna grammys Getty Images
  • grammys lady gaga million reasons Getty Images
  • grammys bruno mars cardi b Getty Images
  • alessia cara logic khalid grammys Getty Images
  • childish gambino grammys Getty Images
  • Kendrick Lamar grammys opening performance dave chappelle u2 Getty Images
  • grammys kesha praying Getty Images
1 of 21

This year’s Grammys featured performances that spanned the full spectrum from awful to absolutely and thoroughly mindblowing

The 2018 Grammys were a powerful event full of powerful performance, but it also had some extreme lows. Scroll through to see who we thought gave the best and worst performances of the evening.

View In Gallery

Related Content