Grammy Awards To “Proceed As Planned”
• The uncertainty surrounding the upcoming 67th Grammy Awards show has now been put to rest, as it was announced that the show will indeed take place as scheduled on Sunday, Feb. 2.
A letter addressed to members of The Recording Academy, signed by Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy & MusiCares, and Tammy Hurt, Chair, Board of Trustees, reads, in part, “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.”
The letter continues: “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.”
Last week, in response to this ongoing crisis, the Recording Academy and MusiCares launched the Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort with an initial $1 million donation to support music creatives and professionals. As the letter states, “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 a related story, Variety reports that Universal Music Group has canceled all of its Grammy-related events, including the Saturday artist showcase and the Sunday after-Grammy party, and will use the money instead for Los Angeles wildfire relief.
A statement from UMG notes, “Today we have cancelled all of our Grammy-related events, including the Artist Showcase and After-Grammy Party and will redirect the resources that would have been used for those events to assist those affected by the wildfires. Our deepest gratitude goes to the first responders and emergency personnel, who continue to perform heroically.” The statement adds, “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.”
