Disney Buys Grammy Media Rights

Disney has agreed to pay more than $500 million over ten years to become the new home of the Grammy Awards, according to people familiar with the matter, ending the show’s more than 50-year run with CBS.

Under the terms of its new deal with the Recording Academy, which begins in 2027, Disney’s ABC broadcast network and streaming services Disney+ and Hulu will carry the show simultaneously. The Academy will also create specials and other new programming for Disney’s platforms.

The Wall Street Journal reports the value of Disney’s deal represents a premium to what longtime broadcaster CBS currently pays. CBS’s deal escalates in price each year, with the network scheduled to pay $50 million to air the awards in 2026, people familiar with the pact said.

The Grammys adds to an already strong lineup of awards shows for Disney, including the Oscars and the Country Music Awards. Sports and live entertainment have become crucial for networks and streaming companies looking to draw large audiences and premium advertiser rates.

“Live events have never been more important to our culture and industry, and we just acquired one of the crown jewels,” said Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Dana Walden in a statement.