While we were enjoying the Grammy Awards in 2019, turmoil continued in the executive ranks of the organizer, the Recording Academy. Just 6 months in office as the first female chief executive and president, Deborah Dugan, was placed on administrative leave a few days prior to the Grammies, for alleged misconduct against a senior female member of the organization. In an explosive complaint filed with the EEOC, Dugan responds that her placement on administrative leave was in retaliation for her internal complaints to superiors alleging gender discrimination, unequal pay, sexual harassment, and a “boys’ club mentality.” She alleges further that her predecessor’s contract (Neil Portnow) was not renewed due to allegations of rape by a female artist. This new turmoil piles on to current criticism of the Recording Academy for failing to recognize female artists and artists of color. Dugan was then fired.

One of her complaints involve the academy's outside counsel, Joel Katz.

Effective December 31, 2020, Joel Katz, power house lawyer and founder of Greenberg Traurig’s entertainment practice resigned the law firm by “mutual understanding” one year after he was accused of sexual harassment by Dugan.  Katz has denied Dugan’s allegations that he repeatedly commented on her appearance, called her “baby,” invited her to travel on his private plane and attempted to kiss her during a dinner meeting in 2019 while acting as outside counsel for the academy. Dugan alleges she was placed on leave and later fired after she complained about Katz’s conduct and the academy’s “boys' club” mentality. Her EEOC Complaint continues to be investigated.

Katz is well known in the music industry for his impressive list of clients, including B.B. King, Willie Nelson, Jimmy Buffet, Sammy Hagar, Tim McGraw, George Strait, James Taylor, Justin Timberlake, and others, and was inducted in to the Music Hall of Fame in Georgia in 1995 and 2008.

What will you do today to be #beupstanding and help #changetheculture for an environment without #sexualharassment, #abuse and #racism? #TimesUp. Let’s #playnice. For more info on this topic and other related issues, check out “Play Nice - Playground Rules for Respect in the Workplace,” and join us at www.thesandboxseries.com.