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Former MusiCares VP Dana Tomarken has accused Recording Academy Head Neil Portnow of steering money away from the charity to fund a deficit from this year’s Grammy telecast and brokering a deal to hold the charity's Person of the Year Award at a more expensive venue that netted the charity just $1 million in 2018 versus $5 million the year before.
In January, Portnow came under fire for tone deaf comments about the Grammy's glaring gender gap, with more than 13,000 signing a petition demanding his resignation. Portnow and the Recording Academy are responsible for the annual awards ceremony.
Tomarken was fired in April after 25 years with the Recording Academy. She is alleges wrongful termination, claiming that she and coworker Dorit Kalev were fired over late payment for a $2,500 MusiCares auction item. The firing , she said, came “after a painful year of trying to protect MusiCares from being exploited,(and) enduring ongoing instances of workplace abuse and harassment” from two male coworkers named in the letter obtained by Variety.
MusiCares has provided $48 million in emergency assistance to members of the music community since its founding in 1989.
In response to Tomarken, the Recording Academy issued this statement:
“While we will not address point by point the letter from Ms. Tomarken, who was recently terminated following a thorough investigation, we respond as follows:
(1) The decision as to the venue for this year’s Person of the Year event was made after careful consideration of all options, and input from all appropriate individuals. MusiCares’ interests were not sacrificed in favor of the interests of the Recording Academy.
(2) As Ms. Tomarken well knows, neither MusiCares nor the Recording Academy ever intended to reduce, nor will they reduce, the amount of financial support made available to MusiCares clients in need. MusiCares continues to provide the highest level of service to people in need across our music community, as evidenced by the four-star rating it earned, once again, in February from Charity Navigator—the highest rating the independent charity watchdog organization awards. Simply, our commitment and support will not be diminished.
(3) Ms. Tomarken did not raise the issues relating to alleged “workplace abuse and harassment” until after her employment was terminated. An independent investigation of these allegations was immediately commenced. Based on the outcome of that investigation, appropriate action (if any) will be taken. Both the Recording Academy and MusiCares take all allegations of this kind seriously.”
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