GRAMMYS POSTPONED... VIVA LAS VEGAS?

Music’s Biggest Night is moving. After much back-and-forth and endless speculation, the Recording Academy and CBS are jointly confirming that they are pushing the Grammys (which were scheduled for 1/31). The surge in COVID cases has made the original date untenable.

Our sources, who note that the decision to postpone was ultimately driven by pushback from artists, say the Grammys will likely be moved to spring. We’re also told that the storied trophyfest will not take place at L.A.'s Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center). What will be the new venue? It’s believed that organizers are looking at moving the entire operation to Las Vegas, where performance spaces, party spots and hotel rooms abound.

“After careful consideration and analysis with city and state officials, health and safety experts, the artist community and our many partners, the Recording Academy and CBS have postponed the 64th Annual Grammy Awards Show,” reads the brief announcement. “The health and safety of those in our music community, the live audience and the hundreds of people who work tirelessly to produce our show remains our top priority. Given the uncertainty surrounding the Omicron variant, holding the show on January 31 simply contains too many risks. We look forward to celebrating Music’s Biggest Night on a future date, which will be announced soon.”

Given Omicron’s unbelievable spread and the ever-higher bar to making events safe amid the surge, the Academy’s decision seems eminently sensible—despite the enormous cost of moving the show and associated events, the safety concerns and potential liability issues had to take precedence.

Stay tuned for updates.