Cam Named to Recording Academy Diversity and Inclusion Task Force

Cam has been named to a newly formed task force focused on diversity and inclusion within the Recording Academy and at the Grammy Awards. The country singer is one of 16 task force members who will help the task force's chair, Tina Tchen, examine the issues affecting women, people of color and other minority groups in the music industry.

In addition to Cam, the task force's members include a number of Grammy Awards-nominated and -winning artists (Sheryl Crow, Common, Andra Day and Jimmy Jam); record label executives (Stephanie Alexa from ATO Records, Julie Swidler from Sony Music and Michele Anthony from Universal Music Group); ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews; and Beth Laird, the CEO and co-owner of Creative Nation, the Nashville-based music company she co-owns with her husband, songwriter Luke Laird. Task force members are, per a press release, volunteering their time.

"I'm honored to lead such an esteemed group of visionaries who possess the experience and passion needed to drive real change in building a more inclusive and equitable music community," says Tchen, formerly the chief of staff to then-First Lady Michelle Obama and one of the leaders of the Time's Up legal defense fund. "This is an important first step made possible by the Recording Academy's leadership, which recognizes the benefit of examining these issues with fresh eyes."

The Recording Academy has been working to establish this task force since after the 2018 Grammy Awards in late January, after which some members of the music industry felt that women and people of color, specifically in light of the #MeToo and Time's Up movements, were underrepresented. Comments by Recording Academy President and CEO Neil Portnow and Grammy Awards telecast producer Ken Ehrlich that were dismissive of women in music intensified the outcry.

The press release reports that this newly established task force will begin by reviewing Recording Academy operations and policies, including those surrounding the Grammy Awards telecast and Recording Academy membership. The task force has already established a feedback tool to collect public suggestions; it is available at Grammy.com.

"The Recording Academy prides itself on being a thoughtful organization, and is committed to being responsive to those we represent in the creative community," says Portnow in a statement. "Today, there's an opportunity for us to effect historic change in attitudes and practices within our industry. We embrace that opportunity in full. With a leader like Tina at the helm and a group of such high caliber, this task force is primed to have a meaningful impact on building a music community that is inclusive, welcoming and open to all."

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