The Recording Academy released the following statement on Wednesday, indicating that the awards show scheduled for January 31 is postponed to a later date.
The Joint Statement was released from the Recording Academy and CBS:
“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. 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 31st simply contains too many risks. We look forward to celebrating Music’s Biggest Night on a future date, which will be announced soon.”
Yesterday rumors began circulating after several sources stated that the awards show would be cancelled to Billboard Magazine.
Last year, the ceremony was also scheduled to take place on January 31 but on January 5 was postponed until March 14, according to Billboard, and was ultimately held outdoors.
The Recording Academy has not yet commented on whether or not the event is on this year.
There were 44,753 Covid-19 cases reported in Los Angeles county on Sunday where the award show is scheduled, according to county data. Los Angeles county has the highest number of Covid-19 cases in the country, according to Johns Hopkins University’s Covid-19 tracker.
The Grammys isn’t the only awards show possibly taking a step back amid the intense rise in Covid-19 cases around the country.
Last month the Critics Choice Awards and the Academy Governors Awards postponed their January ceremonies, leaving the coming awards season up in the air.
Musician Jon Batiste received 11 nominations this year, more than any other artist. Doja Cat, H.E.R. and Justin Bieber received 8 nods each, and other popular acts like Olivia Rodrigo and Lil Nas X are expected to receive trophies.
Pamoja by Etana, Sean Paul’s album Live N Livin, Spice’s 10, Jesse Royal’s Royal, Gramps Morgan’s Positive Vibration, and reggae band SOJA’s Beauty in the Silence are all up for Best Reggae Album
