Jesse Jackson Enters Fray Over Grammy Cuts
The Rev. Jesse Jackson is hinting at protests over the Recording Academy's cuts to the Grammy categories and he wants to meet with the president of the organization. Jackson sent a letter to president and CEO Neil Portnow about the Academy's decision to cut the categories from 109 to 78. He said after talking to members of the entertainment community, he asked that the Rainbow Push Coalition “meet with you urgently to express our concerns and to see if we might help resolve this conflict ... and allow the Grammys to do what they do best.” Portnow said Friday that he was willing to talk with Jackson. Jackson clarified that he wanted “cooperation, not confrontation” with the Academy, but added there may be a protest of the February 12th show, which is being held in Los Angeles, if his talks with the Academy didn't go well. Some of the categories eliminated include instrumental awards in pop, rock and country; traditional gospel; children's spoken-word album; Zydeco or Cajun music album; and best classical crossover album. Men and women also compete against each other for vocal performance categories instead of separating the two genders.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson is hinting at protests over the Recording Academy's cuts to the Grammy categories and he wants to meet with the president of the organization. Jackson sent a letter to president and CEO Neil Portnow about the Academy's decision to cut the categories from 109 to 78. He said after talking to members of the entertainment community, he asked that the Rainbow Push Coalition “meet with you urgently to express our concerns and to see if we might help resolve this conflict ... and allow the Grammys to do what they do best.” Portnow said Friday that he was willing to talk with Jackson. Jackson clarified that he wanted “cooperation, not confrontation” with the Academy, but added there may be a protest of the February 12th show, which is being held in Los Angeles, if his talks with the Academy didn't go well. Some of the categories eliminated include instrumental awards in pop, rock and country; traditional gospel; children's spoken-word album; Zydeco or Cajun music album; and best classical crossover album. Men and women also compete against each other for vocal performance categories instead of separating the two genders.
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