The 66th annual Grammy Awards, held on Sunday, proved to be a monumental success in terms of viewership. The show garnered an average of 16.9 million viewers, marking a significant increase of 34% compared to last year's broadcast, which reached 12.4 million viewers on average. This year's Grammy Awards was the most-watched ceremony since 2020, drawing in a massive audience.
These impressive numbers were calculated by considering both Nielsen's measurement of linear views on CBS and Paramount Global's data on streams from Paramount+, CBS.com, and the CBS app. Notably, Paramount+ experienced its highest Grammys viewership ever, with a staggering 173% increase in streams compared to the previous year.
One of the highlights of Sunday's show was the emotional In Memoriam segment, which featured legendary artists Stevie Wonder, Annie Lennox, Jon Batiste, and Fantasia Barrino paying tribute to musicians who have passed away. This particular quarter-hour of the show, which began at 9:45 p.m., attracted the highest viewership of the entire ceremony, with 18.3 million people tuning in.
The Grammy Awards also saw some remarkable performances and surprises. Tracy Chapman, in her first public appearance in years, took the stage alongside Luke Combs to perform her beloved hit song 'Fast Car,' delighting fans. Another iconic moment was Joni Mitchell's first-ever performance at the Grammys, showcasing the enduring impact of her musical talent. The audience was also surprised when Celine Dion made a special appearance to present the prestigious Album of the Year award, making her first major public appearance since revealing her Stiff Person Syndrome diagnosis. Furthermore, Taylor Swift created anticipation by announcing her upcoming album, titled 'The Tortured Poets Department.'
Trevor Noah, known for his wit and charm, successfully hosted the Grammys for the fourth consecutive year. The show was produced by Fulwell 73 for the Recording Academy, with Ben Winston serving as the executive producer, alongside Raj Kapoor and Jesse Collins.
In addition to the success of the Grammy Awards, NBCUniversal enjoyed significant victories as well. 'E! Grammys Live From the Red Carpet' attracted its largest viewership since 2020, with 1.5 million viewers tuning in. Similarly, both the pre-show, 'E! Countdown to the Red Carpet,' and the post-show, 'E! After Party,' achieved their highest audiences in four years.
The 66th annual Grammy Awards will undoubtedly be remembered as a memorable and impactful event in the music industry. With its impressive viewership numbers, outstanding performances, and unexpected surprises, this year's ceremony demonstrated the enduring popularity and influence of the Grammys.
