Because of the uncertainty surrounding the Omicron strain of the Corona Virus (Covid-19), which has spread across the United States in recent weeks, the Grammy Awards organization postponed the next music awards banquet scheduled for January 31st, 2020.
After so much consideration and analysis with country and state officials, health and safety professionals, the art community, and many other partners have concluded and postponed the 64th Grammy Award show coming up on the 31st of January 2022.
“Holding the Grammy Awards show on January 31 contains too many risks, we look forward to celebrating music’s biggest night on a future date which will be announced soon” this is a statement from the recording academy.
“The health and safety of people in our music community, the live audience, and hundreds of those who work tirelessly to produce our show is our top priority”
This show was expected to be hosted by Trevor Noah.
Justin Bieber, Billie Eilish, and Olivia Rodrigo were among the leading nominees for the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, with Jon Batiste, a jazz and R&B performer, television personality, and bandleader, receiving the most nominations with 11.
The show last spring was the first of the pandemic era’s Grammys, and it was a more television-friendly, socially removed cabaret-style presentation with a heavy-on performance. The show was to take place at Los Angeles Staples Center.
On Tuesday, thousands of people in Los Angeles was tested positive for Covid-19 according to Los Angeles country public health office. Nearly 2000 people were hospitalized with the virus recently, almost twice of what occurred last year.
On November 23, nominations for the awards were revealed, with projects released between September 1, 2020, and September 30, 2021, being considered. Jon Batiste led the field with 11 nominations, followed by Justin Bieber and R&B artist H.E.R, who each received eight. After receiving three nominations, rapper Jay-Z became the most nominated artist in the show’s history, with 83 nominations.
The Big Four Grammy categories include Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist, in addition to Album of the Year.
After his record-breaking, chart-topping album After Hours and single “Blinding Lights” were spurned by voting members of the Recording Academy, R&B and pop sensation The Weeknd boycotted last year’s Grammy Awards.
As previously reported by theGrio, The Weeknd’s friend and fellow Toronto native Drake withdrew his smash Certified Lover Boy album from Grammy consideration in December after getting nods for Best Rap Album and Best Rap Performance.
Drizzy didn’t give a reason for the change, although he has previously criticized the Grammys.
The winners of the January 31 show would have been determined solely by the votes of academy members. Following protests from big musicians, the Recording Academy stated in 2021 that it will no longer use anonymous review groups.
The new date for the awards ceremony has yet to be determined.