The Academy subsequently set up a Dec. 11 Zoom meeting to discuss the issue which was attended by all of those nominated in the category — Mailander and Justin Lansing of the Okee Dokee Brothers, Moock, Dean Jones of Dog on Fleas, Joanie Leeds and Justin Roberts, who is an Academy trustee — as well as Lucy Kalantari, the frontwoman of Lucy & The Jazz Cats, and Black children’s music artists Smith, Uncle Devin, his manager wife Lolita Walker and Tommy Shepherd of the ABC Rockers.
Recording Academy interim president Harvey Mason Jr. and chief diversity and inclusion officer Valeisha Butterfield Jones were among the Academy officials who took part in the meeting.“The big thing that the Grammys admitted in that meeting was that the nomination review committee [for the category] did not have strong representation from people of color,” says Mailander. “That was said outright — they said it should have been stronger, and that it was unacceptable.
The Academy representative said that the two remaining nominees had been informed of the decision. The protesting nominees had not, however, and when Mai lander was alerted to this development, he said the Okee Dokee Brothers and their fellow protesters, "are pleased to hear that we are no longer an official nominee this year; that the academy adhered to our request, and that there is no chance we will win this award."
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