GRAMMYs Attempt to Defend Its Representation of Women With Open Letter

After Recording Academy president Neil Portnow came under fire from various singers in the industry for stating female artists need to "step up" in order to be recognized, the GRAMMYs are now attempting to combat the backlash with an open letter that defends its representation of women.

In a letter sent to voting and non-voting members on Thursday, the academy offers statistics to show that women had a larger presence at the awards show compared to the industry standard. “The gender composition of our membership and nominations reflect that of the music community. But it’s not enough to reflect the community. We must be leaders in moving our industry toward greater inclusion and representation,” the letter reads. “Women are 50 percent of our world. We need their voice and presence at every level.”