THE SHOW MUSTN’T GO ON
Why This Year’s Grammy Awards Show Should Be Postponed
Thoughts from our CEO Maurice Bernstein
The music and entertainment business is well known for making the show happen despite obstacles. The adage “The Show Must Go On!” is a rallying cry of resilience and determination.
However, for this year’s Grammys, I strongly believe the event should be cancelled or postponed. Scheduling a prime-time award show is a herculean feat—coordinating talent, production teams, networks, advertisers, and more. But sometimes, stepping back is the more courageous and necessary choice.
The music industry has often ignored warning signs, prioritizing money or ego over health. The number of incredible artists we’ve lost—pushed to the brink—is staggering. Could we have saved Amy Winehouse or Kurt Cobain if we had prioritized their well-being? Did nobody see the signs?
Whitney Houston’s tragic decline is another glaring example. When she died in her hotel room during the 2012 Grammys, a famous record executive still held his annual bash, declaring, “the show must go on!”—even as her body was being wheeled out of Beverly Hilton.
Now, Los Angeles is reeling from unprecedented destruction caused by fires. Homes and businesses are lost; the physical damage is immense, but the mental toll is harder to measure. This is Los Angeles’ “9/11.” The Grammys claim they will raise money and awareness for “MusiCares” to help affected artists. While MusiCares is a worthy cause, we must ask: is this the best way to help?
The Grammys aren’t the Super Bowl in terms of viewership. In 2024, 16.9 million viewers tuned in—an improvement but still far below the Super Bowl’s 123.7 million viewers. The cost to produce the Grammys is estimated at $20 million. Could this money be better spent directly on relief efforts? Could artists, with their billions of followers, issue a unified call to action to mobilize support?
Universal Music Group, Sony Music, and Warner Music Group have already cancelled events to redirect resources to relief efforts. The Clio Awards also followed suit. It’s time for The Recording Academy to lead by example. Cancel or postpone this year’s show and redirect funds, energy, and focus toward rebuilding and mental health support.
Sometimes, the bravest decision is to say, “the show mustn’t go on.” The world will understand and the lives it could save or improve will be far more meaningful than a fleeting spectacle.
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