The 66th Annual Grammy Awards took place at the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles on the 4th of February, drawing some of the biggest names in the music industry to honor the year's best music.
The night was hosted by comedian Trevor Noah for the fourth consecutive year, as female artists showcased their groundbreaking impact on the industry throughout the ceremony.
Indie rock sensation Phoebe Bridgers emerged as the most-awarded artist of the night, claiming four Grammys before the ceremony began. Her wins included Best Rock Song, Best Rock Performance, Best Alternative Music Album (as part of the supergroup boygenius) and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with SZA for "Ghost in the Machine."
Miley Cyrus also secured two awards, including Record of the Year for her chart-topping single "Flowers."
Colombian artist Karol G secured her first Grammy for Best Música Urbana Album, while Lainey Wilson's "Bell Bottom Country" took home Best Country Album.
SZA was moved to tears as she received her third award of the night, Best R&B Song, for "Snooze." Additionally, Billie Eilish clinched two more awards, including Song of the Year for "What Was I Made For?"
Victoria Monét was named Best New Artist, marking a significant milestone in her career. Taylor Swift, though winning only two awards, made a profound statement by announcing her upcoming project, "The Tortured Poets Department," during her acceptance speech for Best Pop Vocal Album.
Despite these successes, some of the year's most-nominated artists, such as Lana Del Rey and Olivia Rodrigo, left empty-handed.
In addition to the award presentations, this year's Grammy performances captivated audiences. Dua Lipa delivered a highly choreographed medley, while Billie Eilish and SZA delivered powerful renditions of their respective hits. Miley Cyrus performed "Flowers" for the first time on television, captivating the audience with her upbeat energy.
The night included an unexpected appearance by Canadian singer Celine Dion who was diagnosed with stiff person syndrome in 2022. An electrifying performance by Burna Boy kept the audience engaged and entertained.
The “In Memoriam” segment paid tribute to industry legends lost in the past year, featuring performances by Stevie Wonder, Annie Lennox, Jon Batiste and Fantasia Barrino. Music icons Tracy Chapman and Billy Joel also made triumphant returns to the stage, adding to the evening's emotional resonance.
The awards concluded with a resounding moment as Taylor Swift clinched her fourth Album of the Year trophy, solidifying her stature as one of the foremost songwriters of her generation. Her win for her album "Midnights", made her the first person in history to win the coveted Album of the Year award for a record fourth time.
The most surprising winner of the night, was Killer Mike whose song “Scientists & Engineers,” featuring André 3000, Future and Eryn Allen Kane, won awards for best rap song and best rap performance. The Atlanta-based rapper followed up that with a third award for best rap album with his album “Michael”.
The Grammy Awards have, however, experienced declining viewership for much of the past decade, with its highest ratings recorded in 2012, when approximately 39 million viewers tuned in to watch Music's Biggest Night. Following that peak, the show's format struggled to attract the same substantial audience numbers seen in the early 2010s.
According to Statista, these trends highlight a broader pattern of diminishing viewership and relevance across major awards ceremonies in recent years.
This trend of declining viewership is not unique to the Grammys.
The Oscars have also seen a decrease in television viewership over the past decade. In 2023, the Academy Awards attracted 18.7 million viewers, marking a notable improvement from 2021 and 2022, but still only half the size of the audience seen in 2015.
Similarly, the Golden Globes experienced a downward trend, hitting an all-time low of approximately 6.3 million TV viewers in 2023.
