The 2025 Grammys Will Proceed as Planned, Despite L.A. Wildfires
UPDATE: In a joint statement, the Recording Academy and MusiCares CEO Harvey Mason Jr. and Tammy Hurt, the chair of the academy’s board of trustees, confirmed the Grammy Awards telecast will proceed on Feb. 2 as planned.
The music industry was questioning whether the show would continue with its scheduled date, despite the fact that the Los Angeles wildfires have devastated many communities in the area in the past week.
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“This year’s show, however, will carry a renewed sense of purpose: raising additional funds to support wildfire relief efforts and honoring the bravery and dedication of first responders who risk their lives to protect ours,” the statement reads.
Read the complete statement below.
Dear Recording Academy Members,
Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. This city is our home, and we mourn the loss of life and destruction that have come to it in recent days.
In response to this crisis, the Recording Academy and MusiCares launched the Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort last week with an initial $1 million donation to support music creatives and professionals. Thanks to additional contributions, we have already distributed over $2 million in emergency aid to those most in need – and we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing ongoing assistance.
In close coordination with local authorities to ensure public safety and responsible use of area resources, the 67th Grammy Awards telecast on CBS on February 2nd will proceed as planned. This year’s show, however, will carry a renewed sense of purpose: raising additional funds to support wildfire relief efforts and honoring the bravery and dedication of first responders who risk their lives to protect ours.
In challenging times, music has the power to heal, comfort, and unite like nothing else. The Grammys will not only honor the artistry and achievements of our music community but also serve as a platform to amplify the spirit of resilience that defines this great city of Los Angeles.
With heartfelt concern,
Harvey Mason jr.
Recording Academy & MusiCares CEO
Tammy Hurt
Chair, Board of Trustees
PREVIOUSLY: With the Grammy Awards exactly three weeks away, the wildfires that continue to rage across the event’s long-running home city of Los Angeles have led many in the industry to speculate whether or not the show will be postponed. Even if the wildfires are contained by then and the city is on the road to recovery, the sheer extent of the destruction to residences and local businesses and, most significantly, the number of people who have lost their homes or been evacuated from vulnerable areas make any prospect of a business-as-usual show impossible. The 2025 Grammys are scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 2 at their traditional home of the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Sources confirm to Variety that although it is too early to determine whether the show will be postponed, it is very likely that major elements of it will be focused on raising money for relief for both the city and its music-centric residents. The upper management of the Recording Academy and its longtime broadcast partner CBS are said to be considering multiple options but as of yet have not made any decisions.
Plans are also ongoing for a benefit concert in the days leading up to the scheduled Feb. 2 date that would involve MusiCares, the Grammys’ foundation aimed at aiding music professionals in need, sources tell Variety; that news was first reported by the Hollywood Reporter. It is unclear whether that event would be merged with MusiCares annual fundraising concert — traditionally an all-star tribute concert focused on a single artist, this year’s honoree being the Grateful Dead — or a separate event; the ticketing page for the Grateful Dead MusiCares gala says no tickets are available, with a waiting-list option. On Friday, Live Nation, the Azoff family and AEG Presents announced a “FireAid” Jan. 30 benefit concert to be held at the Intuit Dome, the night before the MusiCares event. The lineup has not yet been announced.
All of this is sadly familiar, as both the 2021 and 2022 Grammy Awards — executive producer Ben Winston’s first shows at the helm — had a similar charitable focus due to the coronavirus pandemic. The latter show was postponed for several weeks and held in Las Vegas, a relatively last-minute decision due to the Omicron variant, although it seems unlikely that the 2025 Grammys would be held anywhere but Los Angeles.
Variety will have more on this story as it develops.
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