This is a question on everyone’s mind. Maybe not the first thing but I bet you have that lingering question Is it going to happen? The 50th annual Grammy Awards are scheduled to air February 10 at 8 pm et/pt on CBS live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
In an argument likely to be repeated in spirit by the Motion Picture Academy in coming weeks, Academy President Neil Portnow noted “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.”
With a Golden Globes-type boycott by actor-presenters and some music stars, The Recording Academy has issued a request/plea to the Writers Guild of America to call off a picket or the Grammys and grant it an interim agreement like the one issued David Letterman and his Worldwide Pants company.
“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,” stated Portnow.
A spokesman for the Writers Guild of America stated they would likely not grant the waiver, though Tuesday evening they issued a statement saying they formally received the request and would ponder it further. “This request will be referred to the WGAW Board of Directors for decision.”
The Screen Actors Guild will be telling its members not to cross the line if the waiver is not granted. “The WGA has informed us that this is struck work, and they expect to have a picket line in place. Nominees that are also actors include Justin Timberlake, Queen Latifah, Tim McGraw, Beyonce, Jack White, Jon Bon Jovi and Fantastia.
The WGA granted an interim agreement to the NAACP so that its Image Awards could still be broadcast.
The Grammys would not be struck as hard as the Globes which had all 70 actor nominees boycott the show and force a cancellation — yet a dozen or so SAG actors who present Grammys and an unknown number of strike-sympathetic artists could refuse to cross the picket line, even symbolically.
The union musicians on the show are covered by AFM and AFTRA contracts which have no-strike clauses, which those unions say will be honored. The Academy is similarly pleased and gratified that 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.
“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,” Portnow concluded.
So will the Grammys really happen? It is going to be a touch and go series of letters, meetings, and press conferences until any type of agreement is reached.
