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In the wake of Recording Academy chief Neil Portnow’s ill-worded comments after the Grammy Awards Sunday night — in which he said female artists and executives need to “step up” — and a low number of nominees and winners who are women, a group of female music-industry senior executives have issued a letter calling for his resignation. The group, which is led by veteran music-business attorney Rosemary Carroll, also includes agents Cara Lewis, Natalia Nastaskin and Marsha Vlasic; John Legend manager Ty Stiklorius; Pharrell Williams manager Caron Veazey; Warner/Chappell publishing VP Katie Vinten; branding executive Marcie Allen and several others....

The Recording Academy recently announced that gospel recording artist George Beverly Shea, a longtime Billy Graham Crusade soloist, will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award during the 2011 Grammy Week in February. The Grammy Award winner mirthfully told The Christian Post, “I was surprised at this recognition and so grateful at my age 102. It almost broke me up.” Shea is among one of the oldest living persons to be honored at the Grammy’s. He reflected on his 80 years in the music industry and how being a gospel singer was not his original plan for life. He shared,...

Garth Brooks was in Washington D.C. recently to take part in "Grammys On The Hill," an event that supports intellectual property rights. During an interview with CBS, Garth spilled the news that he presented President Barak Obama with his second Grammy, for Best Spoken Word Album for Audacity of Hope. President Obama won his first Best Spoken Word Grammy in 2006. "We're the same except I don't have the peace prize," Garth joked with CBS reporter Bob Schieffer about his own two Grammys.

Comedian Stephen Colbert won a Grammy last night at the 2010 Grammy Awards show for Best Comedy Album. The album is entitled "A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!" After taking the stage, Mr. Colbert told the audience: "This is a Christmas album, so obviously I should thank Jesus Christ for having such a great birthday." His comment seemed a little tongue-in-cheek and was met with mild laughter from the audience. He should indeed thank Jesus Christ, who is truly the greatest gift of all, but of course his remark was most likely said not in thanks, but in...

WASHINGTON (Hollywood Reporter) - The music industry scored some brownie points with rising star, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, when it handed him its ultimate award on Wednesday, a Grammy that he won earlier this year for best spoken word album. The Illinois Democrat, honored for his 2005 recording of "Dreams From My Father," wasn't able to attend the awards ceremony in Los Angeles last February as his day job got in the way, so the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences came to him. The presentation was made as part of the academy's annual Grammys on the Hill Day,...