Grammys setting up taskforce to address female biases, calls for CEO’s resignation over “step up” comments

After telling females in the music industry to “step up” to be recognised, the Recording Academy, organiser of the Grammys, has made a step up of its own.

It will set up an independent task force to review "where we can do more to overcome the explicit barriers and unconscious biases that impede female advancement in the music community."

The letter was signed by president/CEO Neil Portnow who caused a furore with his remarks backstage at the awards about an improper balance of women’s presence in the event.

When questioned about why Alessia Cara’s Best New Artist win was the only female triumph to make the televised broadcast, Portnow responded that women need to "step up," if they want to have a bigger role in making music and in the industry.

He’d already apologised for "the hurt that my poor choice of words" when the backlash came.

Pink, who performed at the Grammys, responded. In a handwritten note on Twitter: "Women in music don’t need to ’step up’.

“Women have been stepping up since the beginning of time.

"When we celebrate and honor the talent and accomplishments of women, and how much women step up every year, against all odds, we show the next generation of women and girls and boys and men what it means to be equal.”

Sheryl Crow added, "To put it on women not tapping into their creativity and not pushing for roles in the business of music such as producing, it seemingly comes off as sexist.

"It is a strangely insensitive thing to say, particularly at this juncture of women standing up for themselves."

Lorde, Kelly Clarkson, Iggy Azalea, Katy Perry, Halsey and Charli XCX also criticised Portnow’s comments.

A petition circulated by executives and musicians to have him sacked had by the weekend reached 13,733 of its targeted 14,000 signatures.

Sources say it is highly doubtful that Portnow will lose his job.

His apology went: “Regrettably, I used two words, ‘step up’ that, when taken out of context, do not convey my beliefs and the point I was trying to make.

"Our industry must recognize that women who dream of careers in music face barriers that men have never faced.

“We must actively work to eliminate these barriers and encourage women to live their dreams and express their passion and creativity through music.

“We must welcome, mentor, and empower them.

“Our community will be richer for it. I regret that I wasn’t as articulate as I should have been in conveying this."

He subsequently released another statement: “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."