LOS ANGELES – The scandal surrounding the Recording Academy and its ousted president is moving so fast – even as we interview Variety Senior Music Editor Jem Aswad, news is breaking.
He has been covering music for as long as he can remember, working everywhere from MTV to Billboard to Variety. He knows the industry’s in and out.
“It's impossible to imagine music without Grammys. It’s what you strive for. It’s the Oscars it’s the Super Bowl. What if they took away the super bowl," Aswad said.
MORE STORIES ON THE GRAMMYS:
- "Who Knows If the Grammy's Even Survive?" - Former Music Exec
- Hit-Boy Remembers Working with Nipsey Hussle on Grammy-Nominated Song
- 1500 Sound Academy Pairs Grammy Winning Producers with Students
With allegations flying back and forth between the Recording Academy and its ousted president Deborah Dugan, he doesn’t want to see the music industry get caught in the crossfires.
“It’s like a country with a government with corrupt people in it. The issue isn’t with music or most of the people in it, it’s some of them,” Aswad said.
Despite allegations of voting corruption, Aswad doesn’t think the Grammys will be done away with – nor should they be.
“The Grammys would have to be replaced by something. There would have to be a bigger honor. Don’t get me wrong they’ve alienated some major artists and its ripe for change," Aswad said.
He thinks Sunday’s show will air with little mention of the scandal, but once the show is over, he thinks the change will start.