How LA Devastation Will Change Grammy This Year

The week leading to the Grammy Awards is usually a stellar seven days.

It is filled with exclusive parties that attract some of the best talents of music from all over the world – producers, singers, agents and musicians – all at the epicenter of the Los Angeles entertainment industry.

But almost all this does not exist this year. Even Hallmark Rowdy After-Parties have been canceled.

There were questions about whether the Grammy Ceremony, the “Music Oscars”, would even continue as planned on Sunday after Los Angeles saw its most devastating fire accident ever recorded – flames that were completely suffocated on Friday after burning for 24 days.

Twenty -nine people died and over 16,000 homes and businesses have been destroyed – with complete neighborhoods now AshS Many artists and professionals in the industry are among those who have lost homes, studios and equipment.

In the muffled leading role to the show, the efforts that are usually put into the parties instead focused on efforts to raise funds. Showrunners say the ceremony itself will also look different.

The Academy of Sounds, which runs the show, said the show was needed more than ever. The trustees say that the evening will double as a charity event for raising money and worship of both victims and the emergency responses who risk their lives.

But it will look different from the past years.

Showrunners strive to hit the right tone in honor of the victims of the fire and show a challenging Los Angeles who will persevere. But there is concern that the optics of the rich celebrities embedded in smiles on a red carpet can come out as deaf.

The CEO of Academy Harvey Mason Jr. He stated that the show included a rethought format, a scaled red carpet and a more reflective tone.

He emphasized the economic impact, noting that thousands rely on work related to Grammy, especially in the service industry. He described the event as a symbol of sustainability, arguing that the cancellation would not benefit the city or the music industry.

“Canceling, pressing, relocation does not achieve what we are standing together,” says G -n -Mason in a webcap. The show will be “unifying and gathering, honoring music, but also to use the power of music to cure, restore and provide services to people who need it.”

“I think this may be one of the most important weeks of Grammy we’ve ever had.”

Mson Mason told The New York Times that they consult a number of government officials about whether they should hold the event – including the mayor of the city and the governor of California Gavin Newom – and whether it will prevent fire response effort S

“They categorically offered to move forward with the hosting of the event,” he told The Outlet. “Everyone said there was nothing good that came from the delay.”

But there are still worries that the night will be a bad look for the music industry.

“In fact, I don’t think Grammy should happen,” said Elin Casaryan, a creative director in the music industry, before the BBC.

“It’s just very strange to me that there will be celebrities on a red carpet wearing expensive clothes, while people in other parts of the city suffer and whose livelihood is destroyed.”

Showrunners say the fires will be a topic that takes place throughout the ceremony, and the city of Los Angeles will be the central scene.

Ben Winston, one of the three executive producers of the show, told The New York Times that the awards will “make LA in a hero on the night of Grammy” and the show will pay tribute to the first answers.

A big goal of the show will be to raise funds for effort to relieve the fire.

Just days before the show, another major music event in the city has raised millions to restore efforts. Thehe Fireaid concertHost two arenas in LA with more than two dozen music acts have raised over $ 60 million in ticket sales.

Grams will be performed for eight hours and will distribute 94 awardsRecognizing everything -from the best pop album to the best choral performance.

Beyonce and Taylor Swift will attend, as for the first time they will join the Album of the Year category for the first time since 2010 – which Swift won this year.

There will also be performances by Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter, Benson Boone, Shakira, Stevie Wonder, Teddy Swims and Raye – and In memory Tribute to the producer of the thriller Quincy Jones.

This is not the first time a great embarrassment affected the biggest night of the music industry.

In 2021, the show was postponed due to Covid-19 and was significantly changed to accommodate safety protocols. It included a social remote format, without any live audience and pre -recorded performances in an intimate outdoor setting, not in the usual large -scale production of the arena.

The artists had to adapt to a new way to promote their music, relying on digital platforms, not on personal events of Grammy Week, which were either canceled or moved online.

“I would not necessarily like to compare Covid’s pandemic to what’s going on here,” said Variety’s senior music writer, Stephen Jo Horovitz before the BBC. “Covid went on for so long and the effects were devastating for years. People had to cancel large versions and everything moved to digital space.”

He said the fires were different.

“The industry is reacting in real time. It is not as widespread as a global pandemic, so people are a little slightly fascinating about how to properly react and help those affected,” he said.

The artist’s manager Danny Chavez told the BBC that the fires had affected many people working in the LA music industry.

“I know many musicians who have lost their equipment,” Chavez said. “I know stylists who work in music that have lost their houses who have had costumes and more. I know musicians who were born and grew up in LA who have lost their house.”

The industry also has a pulsation effect on those who are not personally affected by the fires.

The events week before the show helps new musicians and allows them to explode on a crowded market – getting time with the best executives and those of big recording labels.

“Visibility is very important for artists,” Horovitz told the BBC.

“Say that you are the best new nominee for a performer who is relatively unknown to the public – being on these platforms and at these parties is a really big look if you are trying to take out your music in front of the industry. It really does help. “

One of the most sought after parties is Spotify’s event in honor of the nominees for the best new performer of the year. This is Half Party, Half Concert, with previous nominees showing their new music and celebrities from all parts of the entertainment industry there to celebrate.

After the fires, Spotify chose to cancel this year’s event.

“We have decided that the most influential approach is the cancellation of all our Grammy Week events, including our annual new artist party and redirect means to support the efforts to reach local fans and charity organizations,” the global leader of Spotify music partners And the audience Joe Joe Hadley wrote in a message.

The music industry and Grammy are deeply rooted in Los Angeles, and although the city goes through a devastating period, it has increased the sense of community, especially in the music industry.

“Even if people lose everything, they still have hope. And I think it goes into what we will see in the music industry in the future,” said Horovitz. “People will not escape from Los Angeles because of this one thing. It will not stop LA from being one of the main music centers in the world.”