Trediz’s Weblog

The Grammy Awards are set to take place this Sunday.  The ceremony is to include some of the top players in the music industry.  Musicians scheduled attend are:  Beyonce, Alicia Keys, The Foo-Fighters, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, and Mary J. Blige.  Because of the on-going writer’s strike and the Writer’s Guild of America’s reluctance to grant the Recording Academy a waiver, it was unknown if the Grammy’s would take place.  WGA members pleaded with singers who also classify themselves as actors to boycott the Grammy ceremony.  Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake, and Queen Latifah are included in the singer/actor category.  Many of those celebrities released statements saying that they would support the writers and not cross picket lines, if the strike was not resolved and a waiver was not granted. 

 On Jan. 18, 2008, Beyonce’s management released a statement saying the Grammy-winning singer would in fact perform at the telecast with or without the writers.  In the weeks leading up to Sunday’s telecast, the WGA granted a waiver allowing striking writers to work on material for the big show.  However, Beyonce has critisim from many fan sites including ,www.mediatakeout.com, for agreeing to perform at the show without a waiver or a strike resolution.  Beyonce, who is an accomplished writer herself, has appeared in numerous films such as “Dreamgirls,” “Austin Powers in Goldmember,” and “The Pink Panther.”  In 2007, Beyonce received a Golden-Globe Nomination for her work as struggling singer Deena Jones in the broadway remake “Dreamgirls.”

 Because of the agreement between the WGA and the Recording Academy Beyonce will not be in jeopardy of crossing the picket lines, however by simply agreeing to cross could affect future acting roles.  If I were Beyonce’s publicist, I would start by releasing a statement saying:

  “Ms. Knowles’ decision to perform at the Grammy Awards was reached after much thought and deliberation.  She felt torn between her two occupations; the singer wanted to perform and support the Grammy’s and the actress wanted to support the writers.  Ms. Knowles has always expressed that she is a singer first and then an actress. She felt compelled to support the Grammy’s because they have supported her career since she released her first album in 1998.  Being a writer herself, Ms. Knowles has the utmost respect for the writers and their cause, and prays that the strike is resolved in a fair and timely manner.”

 Following the statement, I would then urge Beyonce to show her support by agreeing to participate in writer’s rally and picket with them.  I would then urge Beyonce to go to schools and colleges with a press team, and stress the importance of writing, because without it the entertainment industry would not survive.