Photo Credit: Trisha Yearwood, recipient of the June Carter Cash Humanitarian Award at the 2024 CMT Awards / US Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley
Paramount hits pause on select events in 2025, including the CMT Music Awards and the MTV EMAs as its merger with Skydance Media is expected to close.
Paramount Global is putting the brakes on several events this year, as the company looks to “reimagine and optimize” its events offerings going forward. The news comes as Paramount’s planned merger with David Ellison’s Skydance Media is expected to close in the first half of the year.
Affected events include the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs), the CMT Music Awards, the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards Mexico, and the MTV MIAWs, formerly known as the MTV Millennial Awards. The announcement comes from an internal memo sent from the office of Bruce Gillmer, Paramount president of music, music talent, programming and events, media networks, and chief content officer.
“We are pausing a few events for 2025, as we look to reimagine and optimize our events slate going forward. These include the MTV EMAs, MTV MIAWs, Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards in Mexico, and CMT Music Awards,” reads Gillmer’s memo.
“Our world-class events remain a key component of Paramount’s music offering as we continue to raise the bar in delivering iconic, unforgettable performances and moments that drive pop culture. We have the best team in the business, and we are grateful for your hard work and dedication in bringing these events to life.”
In the past year, Paramount has been trimming down significantly. The company’s co-CEOs George Cheeks, Brian Robbins, and Chris McCarthy unveiled a plan in August to cut 15% of the company workforce in the US to save approximately $500 million. Shortly thereafter, the first of three rounds of layoffs took place, which saw the departure of several high-profile executives and the shuttering of Paramount TV Studios. The second round affected portions of the business that include CBS News.