Grammy Awards head Deborah Dugan has been removed from her position just 10 days before the ceremony after being accused of misconduct.
In a statement issued by the organisation, the academy said that Dugan has been placed on administrative leave "in light of a formal allegation of misconduct by a senior female member of the Recording Academy team”. The type of misconduct has not been specified.
The board has commissioned two independent investigators to look into the accusations against Dugan.
Harvey Mason Jr, the academy's chairman, will step in as an interim chief executive during the investigation.
The organisation said: “The board determined this action to be necessary in order to restore the confidence of the Recording Academy’s membership, repair Recording Academy employee morale, and allow the Recording Academy to focus on its mission of serving all music creators."
The Recording Academy recently came under fire for its lack of female representation. Dugan’s predecessor, Neil Portnow, was criticised after he said that women in the music industry should “step up” if they want to advance their careers.
Dugan joined the academy in August last year to become the academy’s first female chief executive.
In an interview with Variety last year Dugan said that “change is afoot”. “There’s a lot more communication, and there have been huge efforts to make sure we’re more inclusive and more diverse," she said.
“I want us to be of the industry, but also ahead of it – pioneering, and not catching up.”
The Grammys will take place on 26 January at the Staples Centre.
