The Recording Academy Fires President/CEO Deborah Dugan

Deborah Dugan, President/CEO of The Recording Academy, who was placed on paid administrative leave in mid-January, just days before the 62nd Grammy Awards, has now been terminated. Variety reports that decision was shared in a letter to Academy members. Dugan had been accused of “misconduct” toward a female employee that sources say was her former assistant. Dugan had then leveled accusations against the academy, alleging that the Grammy system was “rigged,” and that the Academy was “corrupt.”

The letter reads, in part, “We are writing to let you know that, earlier today, the Board of Trustees voted to terminate Ms. Dugan’s employment as President/CEO of the Recording Academy. This decision of the Board, with full support of the Executive Committee, was based on: Two exhaustive, costly independent investigations relating to Ms. Dugan and the allegations made against her and by her. These investigations were carried out by experienced individuals with no prior relationship to the Academy, interviewed a combined total of 37 witnesses, and reviewed numerous relevant documents and emails.”

The letter continues, “Each investigator had free rein to fully investigate all of the allegations that were made against Ms. Dugan and by Ms. Dugan against the Recording Academy. The unwarranted and damaging media campaign that she launched in an attempt, without justification, to derail the Grammy Awards show, including her false allegations that the system was — in her words —
‘rigged’ and that the Academy was ‘corrupt.’ In closing, the letter cited “Ms. Dugan’s consistent management deficiencies and failures, and other factors. All of this led the elected leaders of the Academy to conclude that it was in the best interests of the Academy to move on.” Stay tuned for further developments.