Entertainment News
-
April 21, 2021
The passing of prominent journalist, editor, lecturer, communications specialist and former Television Jamaica news anchor Michael Sharpe early Tuesday morning has had an impact on people from every sector, including entertainment. Sharpe, who was... Read More
-
March 26, 2021
Reggae and dancehall artiste I-Octane has been sporting a slimmer physique over the past few weeks. Following some ridicule on social media over his weight gain in the past few months, the proclaimed ‘Hot Ras’ has been sharing his road to fitn... Read More
Recent Sport News
- March 1, 2021 The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has secured an international friendly with regional powerhouse, the United States, for March 25. The match will be played in Austria. JFF president Michael Ricketts made the announcement on Monday at a virtual ... Read More
-
February 26, 2021
Former McGrath High schoolboy player Peter McGregor says that he is determined to prove his worth at the next level, following his long-awaited move to Europe. The 20-year-old has signed a one-year deal with Swedish club Djurgården of the Allsven... Read More
- February 24, 2021 Local athletics stakeholders are breathing a collective sigh of relief, while issuing a word of warning ahead of this weekend’s return of competitive track and field, which arrives after weeks on inactivity and two rejected protocol proposals. T... Read More
Featured Events
-
June 17, 2019
When: JULY 20 2019
Read More
Where: 272 Park Avenue, Orange Bew Jersy -
June 17, 2019
When: SAT JUNE 22 2019
Read More
Where: Quest Lounge, 58 St. Patterson New Jersey -
June 17, 2019
When: JULY 27 2019
Read More
Where: Secret Location, Off Central Avenue East Orange New Jersey -
June 17, 2019
When: SUNDAY JULY 21 2019
Read More
Where: 32 Lindsley Place East Orange, New Jersey -
June 17, 2019
When: SEP 28 2019
Read More
Where: Paddle Wheel, @1 World Flair Marina Flushing Queens, behind Citifiled -
June 17, 2019
When: SUNDAY AUG 11TH 2019
Read More
Where: T.O.A.C 1342 West Chew Ave, Philadelphia PA -
June 17, 2019
When: JULY 12TH-14TH 2019
Read More -
June 17, 2019
When: JULY 4TH 2019
Read More
Where: To BE ANNOUNCED
First woman picked to lead Grammys
- 5-10-2019
- Categorized in: Vibes Link FM News
Deborah Dugan, the CEO of Bono’s (RED) organisation, has been named president and CEO of the Recording Academy, becoming the first woman appointed to lead the organisation.
The academy announced on Wednesday that Dugan will succeed Neil Portnow, who has led the Grammys since 2002. He announced that he chose not to seek an extension on his contract, which ends this year.
Before joining (RED), the AIDS organisation that launched in 2006, Dugan was president of Disney Publishing Worldwide and executive vice-president at EMI/Capitol Records. She started her career as an attorney on Wall Street.
Dugan will formally start the new job on August 1.
“I’m honoured, humbled, and ready,” Dugan said in a statement. “The goal of the Recording Academy is to support, encourage, and advocate for those within the music community. I will listen to and champion all of those individuals, and lead this iconic organisation into the future. I’m excited to get started.”
PAST POSITIONS
Before Dugan, music executive Christine Farnon held the top position at the academy for years, though she never had the title of president and CEO. She held multiple positions at the Grammys throughout her tenure, retiring in 1992 as executive vice-president.
Michael Greene became the first official president and CEO of the academy in 1988, leading the organisation until 2002, when Portnow took over.
Dugan’s hire comes after Portnow was criticised at the 2018 Grammys, when he said women need to “step up” when asked about the lack of female winners in a backstage interview. Only two female performers won awards during the live telecast, and the Grammys were criticised for not letting pop singer Lorde, the only women nominated for album of the year, perform at the show.
Portnow called his comments a “poor choice of words” and later announced that he would leave his post this year. An online petition posted by singer-songwriter Vanessa Carlton, calling for his resignation, surpassed its goal of 10,000 signatures; more than 30,000 people had signed the document.
Three months after the debacle, Portnow said he would not seek an extension on his contract. This year’s Grammy Awards include more female nominees in the top categories, and country singer Kacey Musgraves won Album of the Year while British singer Dua Lipa was named Best New Artiste.