The 2025 Grammy Awards will proceed as planned on February 2, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. told members in a letter Monday morning, assuring that the show will go on at Crypto.com Arena early next month as Los Angeles currently faces the devastating Palisades and Eaton wildfires.
With the Grammys about three weeks away, Mason Jr. and Recording Academy Board of Trustees Chair Tammy Hurt told Academy members in the letter that the annual awards show will also act as a charitable evening to help with relief efforts.
“In close coordination with local authorities to ensure public safety and responsible use of area resources, the 67th GRAMMY Awards telecast on CBS on February 2nd will proceed as planned,” Mason Jr. and Hurt wrote in the letter. “This year’s show, however, will carry a renewed sense of purpose: raising additional funds to support wildfire relief efforts and honoring the bravery and dedication of first responders who risk their lives to protect ours.”
The wildfires have devastated much of Los Angeles, killing a confirmed 24 people as of Monday morning while destroying thousands of homes. About 150,000 people had to evacuate to escape the fires, and evacuation orders remain in place in areas closest to the flames.
Hundreds of artists and industry insiders have lost their houses, recording studios, and equipment, and the industry has stepped up to help with relief. MusiCares, the Recording Academy’s non-profit aimed at providing assistance to the music community in times of grief, pledged $1 million last week to establish its Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort.
“In challenging times, music has the power to heal, comfort, and unite like nothing else,” Mason Jr. and Hurt wrote. “The Grammys will not only honor the artistry and achievements of our music community but also serve as a platform to amplify the spirit of resilience that defines this great city of Los Angeles.”
In a typical year, Grammy Week is the biggest week in the music business, with much of the industry flocking to Los Angeles in the days before the show to attend lavish parties all over the city. With the ceremony still a few weeks away, it’s unclear how celebratory the industry will feel come Grammy Week this year. MusiCares’ annual gala is currently proceeding as planned, a representative confirmed. As of now, other annual parties like the annual Clive Davis Gala and Spotify’s Best New Artist showcase haven’t announced any changes yet, and representatives haven’t responded to Rolling Stone’s request for comment.
Others in the business have cast concerns both about the optics and logistics of the events. Songwriter management company Milk and Honey already confirmed that their party has been canceled. In an Instagram story, Milk and Honey’s CEO and founder Lucas Keller implored other companies to do the same, calling it “tone deaf to celebrate.”
“Don’t come to town for the Grammys and take up hotels that people need desperately,” Keller wrote. “Release your hotel blocks or donate them. In the meantime, if you can, please give money to MusiCares support wildfire relief, everything counts.”
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