As Los Angeles reels from devastating wildfires, the Recording Academy faces mounting pressure to cancel the 67th annual Grammy Awards. Despite the catastrophic impact on the region, the Academy announced that the event will proceed as planned on February 2. However, key players in the music industry, including Universal Music Group (UMG) and Warner Music Group, have taken decisive action, canceling all Grammy-related events and redirecting resources to wildfire relief efforts.
On Monday, UMG, the world’s largest music company, announced the cancellation of its Grammy artist showcase and after-party. “Our deepest gratitude goes to the first responders and emergency personnel, who continue to perform heroically,” the company stated. “L.A. is home to so many of us. We are committed to helping and supporting the music community, our artists, our teams, and the people of Los Angeles get through this horrific episode.”
Several music industry heavyweights including Merck Mercuriadis of Hipgnosis Songs have commended UMG for making the move to cancel the parties.
Instead of hosting celebratory events, UMG has pledged to redirect resources to aid those affected by the wildfires. This decision reflects a growing trend of solidarity within the music industry.
On the same day, Warner Music Group confirmed it would not host a Grammy Week party. The company announced it would channel funds to wildfire relief, including a $1 million donation via its Warner Music Group/Blavatnik Family Foundation Social Justice Fund. “Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the wildfires,” Warner Music Group representatives stated.
While not announcing anything relating to the Grammys, Sony Corp, including Sony Music Group has pledged $5m towards emergency relief efforts.
While major players in the industry pull back, the Recording Academy remains resolute. CEO Harvey Mason Jr. and Tammy Hurt, chair of the board of trustees, issued a statement expressing concern for those affected by the wildfires. “This city is our home, and we mourn the loss of life and destruction that have come to it in recent days.”
The Academy emphasized that it is working closely with local authorities, including Mayor Karen Bass’s office and public safety agencies, to ensure public safety during the event. They framed the ceremony as an opportunity to “raise additional funds to support wildfire relief efforts and honor the bravery and dedication of first responders.”
The Weeknd also announced the cancellation of his Rose Bowl concert scheduled for January 25 and will push back the release of his album to January 31st.
In the past the Grammys and Latin have been postponed due to natural disasters. The 2017 Latin Grammy nominations were postponed because of an earthquake in Mexico and the aftermath of hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
The 64th Annual Grammy Awards, initially set for January 31, 2022, at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena, were relocated to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and held on April 3.
This marked the first time since 1999 that the Grammys were hosted outside a Los Angeles venue. Similarly, in 2021, the event faced a postponement due to COVID-19 concerns, moving from its originally scheduled date of January 31 to March 14.
Divided Opinions
The decision to proceed has sparked criticism. Lucas Keller, founder of Milk & Honey, canceled the company’s annual pre-Grammy event with a pointed message on Instagram: “It would be tone-deaf to celebrate, and I hope all other companies will follow suit. Don’t come to town for the Grammys and take up hotels that people need desperately. Release your hotel blocks or donate them.”
His call to action includes donations to MusiCares, which has launched the Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort with an initial $1 million donation to support music professionals affected by the fires. To date, more than $2 million in emergency aid has been distributed.
With the Grammys set to continue, questions remain about the fate of ancillary events, such as the MusiCares Person of the Year tribute to the Grateful Dead and the Recording Academy’s Special Merit Awards. The Recording Academy’s commitment to wildfire relief efforts provides some justification for proceeding, but the controversy surrounding the decision persists.
