APNewsBreak Jackson enters fray over Grammy cuts

NEW YORK (AP)

Jesse Jackson

is entering a ravel over The

Recording Academy

's cuts to a Grammy categories: He's seeking to accommodate with a boss of a classification and has lifted a probability of protests with a awards reduction than dual weeks away.

The polite rights romantic sent a minute to

Neil Portnow

, a boss and CEO of a Academy, and voiced his dismay over a academy's preference final Apr to cut a categories from 109 to 78, a biggest renovate in a afterwards 53-year history. In a letter, Jackson pronounced he had been articulate to members of a party village and asked that his organization,

Rainbow Push Coalition

, "meet with we urgently to demonstrate a concerns and to see if we compet ence assistance solve this dispute ... and concede a Grammys to do what they do best."

In a matter to The Associated Press on Friday, Portnow pronounced he was peaceful to speak with Jackson.

"We are receptive to assembly with a Rev. Jackson to explain how a assignment routine works and to uncover a ensuing perse organisation of nominees it constructed for a 54th Grammys many in a low-pitched genres he cited in his letter," Portnow said. "We also determine with a Rev. Jackson that a Grammys are about music, not sales. They have, and always will, mount for value in song and celebrating a impact all song has on a culture."

In an talk with The Associated Press on Thursday night, Jackson pronounced he wanted "cooperation, not confrontation" with a Academy. However, he did lift a probability of a criticism of a Feb. 12 Grammys, to be hold in Los Angeles, if his talks with a Academy did not go well.

"We are prepared to work with artists and ministers and activists to occupy during a Grammys so a interest of care of forgiveness unequivocally competence be heard," he said.

The Academy motionless final year to cringe a saturated categories after a yearlong hearing of a awards structure. Among a changes: rejecting of some of a instrumental categories in pop, stone and country; normal gospel; children's spoken-word album; Zydeco or Cajun song album; and best exemplary crossover album. In addition, group to women contest head-to-head in outspoken opening categories instead of apart categories for any sex.

Some musicians in a Latin jazz village have filed a lawsuit opposite a Academy claiming a reductions in categories caused them lost harm.

The Academy contends a changes simply make a awards some-more competitive, though do not forestall people from entering into competition.

But Jackson pronounced he's endangered that it boundary appearance of those who have been disenfranchised.

"Music of all humani ties should be expanded and inclusive," he said. "So most talent comes from a bottom of misery and those in a margins. You extent a base, we skip too most talent."

While some have left so distant as to call a cuts racist, Jackson pronounced he did not trust that.

"I don't consider that we have to infer that to make a point. We're articulate about expansion," he said.

"Sometimes inclusion is untimely though it's a right thing to do," he added.

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Online:

http://www.grammys.com

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Nekesa Mumbi Moody is a AP's song editor. Follow her during http://www.twitter.com/nekesamumbi

(news.yahoo.com)