A representative for the show has confirmed that due to coronavirus-related concerns, the show is being rescheduled for March 14.
“After thoughtful conversations with health experts, our host and artists scheduled to appear, we are rescheduling the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards to be broadcast Sunday, March 14, 2021,” a statement reads.
“The deteriorating COVID situation in Los Angeles, with hospital services being overwhelmed, ICUs having reached capacity, and new guidance from state and local governments have all led us to conclude that postponing our show was the right thing to do. Nothing is more important than the health and safety of those in our music community and the hundreds of people who work tirelessly on producing the show. We want to thank all of the talented artists, the staff, our vendors and especially this year’s nominees for their understanding, patience and willingness to work with us as we navigate these unprecedented times.” The statement is signed by Harvey Mason jr., Chair & Interim President/CEO of the Recording Academy; Jack Sussman, Executive Vice President, Specials, Music, Live Events and Alternative Programming, CBS; and Ben Winston, Grammy Awards Executive Producer, Fulwell 73 Productions.
The show was originally scheduled for January 31st and is to be hosted by The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah,
Countless Complications
Because of the pandemic, the Grammys have been contemplating with the demanding complications involve in staging awards shows with an audience of 18,000-plus people.
Initially, the plan was to hold the event at Staples Center in L.A. with either limited or no audience at all. However, late November, Grammy Chief Harvey Mason jr., stated the show would be held “in and around Downtown Los Angeles,” clueing on the possibility of staging multiple venues in the area. In a brief interview with Billboard published last month, Winston, who is executive-producing his first Grammy show this year, said he was “looking to do something quite exciting with independent venues” either in or around the 2021 show.
“I’m so struck by the independent music venues around the world, and I’m aware of how hard hit that side of the industry has been. I’m looking to do something quite exciting with the independent venues — supporting them and putting a spotlight on them in what has been a really tough year for them.” The venues will receive aid as part of the Save Our Stages Act, which was passed into law along with the stimulus bill last month.
Mason told Variety in late November that the Grammys are looking at other shows for ideas, but “It’s gonna be a show that’s different from the other awards shows that have happened at this point,” he said. “We’re going to determine as we get a little bit closer what we’re going to do with our audience, but we have some really cool and special things that are coming together for our show.”
For the past three years, the Grammys have been surrounded with controversies such as lack of gender and racial diversity to the sudden ouster of Mason’s predecessor, Deborah Dugan. This year is no different.
The Weeknd, one of 2020’s most successful artist, received no nominations while Beyoncé leads the show with nine nominations despite not releasing an album. This was followed by six apiece for Taylor Swift, Roddy Ricch and Dua Lipa.
