Grammy Awards ratings expected to hit record LOW as early viewership numbers roll in

Grammy Awards ratings expected to hit record LOW as early viewership numbers roll in … following sharp audience decline for Golden Globes

Pandemic-era awards shows simply aren’t drawing audiences.

Ratings are rolling in for the 2021 Grammy Awards, which aired on CBS and were hosted by Trevor Noah on Sunday night, and the early numbers are bleak. 

According to Nielsen, initial tallies show a massive decline since last year with the telecast brought in about 7.9 million viewers as compared to 18.7 million in 2020.

Record low: Ratings are rolling in for the 2021 Grammy Awards, which aired on CBS and were hosted by Trevor Noah on Sunday night, and the early numbers are bleak

The 7.9 million is expected to be ratcheted up about 15-20% once the West Coast viewership is added in later on Monday, according to Variety

However, even with the most generous ratings estimations from different time zones, viewership isn’t expected to be remotely close to years prior.

In fact, the current record low for the Grammy’s is from 2006 – a year where the Recording Academy had no host for the telecast – was 17 million.

There is a slight silver ling for the CBS production which clocked in at over three hours long, it was the highest-rated broadcast of the night, according to Nielsen. 

Bummer: According to Nielsen, initial tallies show a massive decline since last year with the telecast brought in about 7.9 million viewers as compared to 18.7 million in 2020

Bummer: According to Nielsen, initial tallies show a massive decline since last year with the telecast brought in about 7.9 million viewers as compared to 18.7 million in 2020

The Grammy Awards were plagued by pandemic problems with the original January 31st date postponed due to COVID-19. Producers pulled off a partially in-person telecast, however, with performers on separate stages from the presenters/winners. 

Additionally, the Recording Academy was marred by accusations of being ‘corrupt’ and having rigged voting by artist The Weeknd whose hit album was suspiciously snubbed this year. 

The Candian musician vowed last week to boycott the awards and prohibit his record label from submitting his music for consideration in the future due to what he called ‘secret committees.’  Several other black artists have made similar criticisms in the past including Drake and Nicki Minaj.

Delays: The Grammy Awards were plagued by pandemic problems with the original January 31st date postponed due to COVID-19

Delays: The Grammy Awards were plagued by pandemic problems with the original January 31st date postponed due to COVID-19

Grammy executive Harvey Mason Jr. responded to The Weeknd’s boycott saying the Grammys is ‘disappointed’, and added that the Recording Academy is ‘going to take a hard look at how to improve our awards process, including the nomination review committees’. 

This year’s abysmal Grammy ratings follow similar low numbers for the Golden Globes which aired just a few weeks prior.

Hosted bi-coastally by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, this year’s Globes brought in a paltry 6.91 million viewers with a 1.52 rating among adults 18-49. That is a nearly 70% drop from the previous year. 

Boycott! Additionally, the Recording Academy was marred by accusations of being 'corrupt' and having rigged voting by artist The Weeknd whose hit album was suspiciously snubbed this year

Boycott! Additionally, the Recording Academy was marred by accusations of being ‘corrupt’ and having rigged voting by artist The Weeknd whose hit album was suspiciously snubbed this year

Because of the coronavirus pandemic the show was a mostly virtual affair with no red carpet and with celebrities taking part via video links from their homes and other locations.

It was also overshadowed by a controversy over the lack of black members within the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which decides on the winners. Members of the HFPA appeared briefly on stage and pledged to do better.

All eyes will be on whether or not The Academy Awards, seen as the most elite of the bunch, will be able to draw in a respectable crowd for it’s April telecast. 

Not great: This year's abysmal Grammy ratings follow similar low numbers for the Golden Globes which aired just a few weeks prior and brought in a paltry 6.91 million viewers

Not great: This year’s abysmal Grammy ratings follow similar low numbers for the Golden Globes which aired just a few weeks prior and brought in a paltry 6.91 million viewers