Grammy producers request WGA waiver

Today (Jan. 15) the producers of the 50th Annual Grammy Awards requested an interim agreement from the Writers Guild of America for the Feb. 10 telecast of the awards, according to a statement from The Recording Academy, which owns the Grammy Awards but does not produce the show.

In the statement, Recording Academy President Neil Portnow affirms that he met with WGA President Patric Verrone on Jan. 8 to discuss the awards. He reveals that producers Cossette Productions requested the waiver from the WGA, which would allow WGA writers to participate, and ensure that the broadcast would not be picketed.

Also today, the American Federation of Musicians and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists issued a statement urging the WGA to grant a waiver for the Grammy Awards.

Monday,  the WGA stated it was unlikely to grant a waiver request for the Grammys. The refusal to do so would not necessarily spell the end of this year's Grammys -- only that WGA members, and perhaps members of the Screen Actors Guild and union-friendly artists, would refuse to participate. Thus far, the WGA has not stated whether it would picket the Grammys.

In the release, Portnow states that prep for the Grammys "remain in full-swing," and the Recording Academy "will take whatever action is necessary" to ensure the Grammys happen as planned.

The WGA West acknowledged receipt of the request, and said it would be referred to its board of directors for decision. No timetable was given.

Full Recording Academy statement below:

Statement from Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy®
Regarding the 50th Annual GRAMMY® Awards:

"Today the producers of the 50th Annual GRAMMY® Awards requested an interim agreement from the WGA for the telecast on February 10. The Recording Academy® remains hopeful that there will be a quick and positive response.

"The Academy is similarly pleased and gratified that AFTRA and AFM, the two unions that have long been the only ones with jurisdiction and representation of the musical talent on the show, stand alongside us in our efforts to present the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards at a level that millions of music fans around the world expect and deserve.

"This whole-hearted support recognizes the vital importance and meaning of the GRAMMY Awards and the critical work of The Recording Academy by the two unions that represent the great musical and creative talent within our industry. It also is an important validation of the solidarity of the music community behind both The Academy and the GRAMMY Awards.

"The Academy owns all rights to the GRAMMY Awards telecast but does not produce the show and is not a signatory with the WGA. We, however, fully support the offer of the producer, Cossette Productions, to immediately execute an interim agreement under the same terms as those arrangements signed by the WGA with David Letterman's company, Worldwide Pants (airing on the same network as the GRAMMY telecast) as well as other companies. Executing such an agreement would both allow the talented writers for the show to be compensated fairly for their valuable services and allow us to demonstrate support for the creative community of writers in a tangible and meaningful way. 

"On January 8, 2008, I met with WGA President Patric Verrone to outline these and other facts. During that meeting, I explained that the music industry had for more than a decade been fighting to obtain fair and just compensation for the original digital content of its members and thus, of course, supported the WGA in its efforts to obtain like results for its own members. I outlined in great detail the scope, reach, and vital importance of GRAMMY Week and the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards telecast not only to The Recording Academy, but to the worldwide music industry and creative community as a whole. I explained how those in the music and creative industry depend upon the annual proceeds from the GRAMMY Awards telecast to fund a whole variety of worthwhile programs such as our MusiCares® Foundation, which literally saves lives and offers millions of dollars of aid to music people in need, our GRAMMY Foundation®'s programs to advance the importance and role of music and the arts in our schools and in society, and our efforts in Washington, D.C. to advocate for the rights and needs of our music community. In short, no awards show touches more lives of those in need than the GRAMMYs.

"We also want to underscore that the GRAMMY Awards telecast is now, and will always be, a union show. More than 700 proud union members work for months to create the music industry's gold standard of awards shows. That includes approximately 250 AFM members, 150 AFTRA members, and 2 WGA members. 

"GRAMMY Week represents the most significant worldwide music event of the year. And we are in a different industry than the motion picture and television business; I am quite certain that most are aware of the extremely difficult and challenging conditions facing our industry's creators and companies, unparalleled in our history. This year, more than ever, GRAMMY Week and the milestone of a 50th GRAMMY Awards, along with the 50th Anniversary of the founding of The Recording Academy, are a centerpiece and beacon of hope, optimism, and represent literally multi-millions of dollars in sales, promotion, and marketing for our musicians and as such, take on far more significance than simply three and one-half hours of television programming.

"In closing, let me reiterate our desire to bring this matter to a positive resolution working with the WGA. And to slightly alter a famous saying in our world, 'The Show will go on.' We will take whatever action is necessary to ensure that a program so vital to our industry, artists, charitable beneficiaries, and the great city of Los Angeles is held as planned. Accordingly, all preparations by The Academy for our milestone 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards remain in full-swing."

Comments

[Dynasty]

Go NARAS Go!

[Dynasty]

Go NARAS Go!

[Dynasty]

Go NARAS go!

[LoveZilla]

Wow, you mean if the strike isn't settled, we could have the best Grammy night, in YEARS?

[Frankie R.]

For the Grammys, writers are not necessarily needed...all musical (non-WGA/SAG members) presenters have to say is just the following...the nominees for Record of the Year are... (nominees); And the Grammy goes to..(winner)...and...To present Best Rap/Hip-Hop Solo Vocal Performance, please welcome Carrie Underwood and John Mayer...and so on...there's really no need for any kind of scripted monologue or scripted comedic little moments which always fall flat anyways...This show is all about music and NARAS should always keep it as such. So what if Justin Timberlake can't show because he's a SAG member...we get too much exposure of this low-grade, so called talent as it is...it would be refreshing not seeing him at the Grammys..PLEASE!! NARAS keep it all about the music and its 50th anniversary and it should be a show worth treasuring...Plus without much scripted monologue, the show may actually end on time and more musical acts may get to be added or winners may get a few extra minutes to ramble on...just give a shout out to the writers though...

[acousticb1@email.phoenix.edu]

the problem is that studios want to be greedy. The ticket prices are high and they get money off merchandise and other avenues and everyone should partake in hte pie.

[Frankie R.]

Just might be the case..if reality shows can do without scripts...haha..reality shows unscripted..that's a good one...then the Grammys and other award shows can air without scripts..Afterall, they are live shows, n'est pas?

[RBBrittain]

The biggest surprise in this announcement is that AFTRA is *NOT* tagging along with SAG in backing WGA. AFM is important too, but the close ties between AFTRA & SAG (there's not much difference between videotaped TV & filmed TV) mean AFTRA's stance is bigger news. That and the two announcements today (DGA contract, Beyoncé at the Grammys--expect Timberlake shortly) suggest SAG can't back WGA too much longer, or AFTRA may squeeze them out of TV. Without SAG, the strike will fold quickly.

[SCREW THE GRAMMYS]

I hope the GRAMMYS get cancelled! SO BORING! and not worth watching anyway. Here's hoping the WRITERS stay on strike until they get EVERYTHING that they are asking for. Stay strong writers and don't accept anything short of everytthing that you are asking for. I know at least 5,000 people who would be very happy to come out and picket the Grammys with you writers, see you there. And don't give up, or settle UNTIL EVERY SINGLE DEMAND IS MET. the writers deserve what they are asking for. SCREW THE GRAMMYS