Photo Credit: The Recording Academy
The Grammys viewership in 2025 has dropped 9% compared to last year—only 15.4 million people tuned in to watch the awards ceremony. The 2024 edition of music’s biggest night on TV saw 17 million viewers tune in.
The awards show aired on CBS and was available to stream on Paramount+, but this year a 9% drop breaks a three-year streak of viewership increases. Ratings began climbing in 2021 after the pandemic, but this year viewership fell despite the massive blow-out performances from Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, and more.
Grammys producers were not surprised by the ratings decline, likely because of the devastation of the LA wildfires. The Grammys did not engage in a massive marketing blitz to attract attention to the awards show and several pre and post-Grammys parties were cancelled in favor of focusing on relief efforts for those impacted by the wildfires. Despite the drop in audience attendance, the show was able to raise more than $24 million to support wildfire relief.
The Grammys Sunday alone raised $9 million. The weekend figure of more than $24 million includes MusiCares’ annual fundraising tribute concert, which honored The Grateful Dead. It also includes the Clive Davis pre-Grammy Gala on Saturday. The Grammys themselves were interspersed with tributes to emergency workers fighting the fires, focusing on commercials from LA businesses affected by the fires, and featuring stories of those who lost their homes and livelihoods.
The event began with a performance from LA-based rock band Dawes, who lost their homes and equipment in the LA wildfires. They performed a cover of Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.” which was later released as a benefit single. 29 people lost their lives in the blaze, which destroyed 16,000 homes and buildings. The estimated financial toll of the wildfires sits at more than $250 billion in total damages and economic loss.