Hollywood writers are allowed to work on the 50th Grammy Awards,
according to an interim agreement between Grammy Awards and the
Writers Guild of America (WGA) Monday.
Last week, WGA said it would not picket the music event, so
Monday's announcement further ensures the show will continue in its
traditional format of presenters giving awards and musicians
performing hit songs.
"Professional musicians face many of the same issues that we do
concerning fair compensation for the use of their work in new
media," said Patric Verrone, president of the Writers Guild of
America, West.
"In the interest of advancing our goal of achieving a fair
contract, the WGAW Board felt that this decision should be made on
behalf of our brothers and sisters in the American Federation of
Musicians and the American Federation of Television and Radio
Artists," Verrone added.
The WGA's move to allow the Grammys to proceed without
interference means that the kudocast will be able to use the 10-20
actors who usually serve as presenters.
The decision is seen as a relief for the beleaguered music
industry, which has feared that picket lines would deter artists
from performing on or attending this year's kudocast, a crucial
promotional platform for record labels and artists and for CBS
which will carry the telecast.
Last week, the WGA began informal talks with the Alliance of
Motion Picture and Television Producers, offering a glimmer of hope
that formal contract negotiations would eventually resume.
(Agencies via Xinhua January 29, 2008)
