Grammy Awards Audience Declines by 9%

Viewership for the Grammy Awards fell to 15.4 million viewers on Sunday night, marking a 9% decrease from last year's figures, according to The NY Times citing Nielsen data. 

This dip interrupts a three-year upward trend in viewership for the Grammys. The numbers had been on the rise since 2021, when a scaled-back, pandemic-affected ceremony attracted only about nine million viewers, reaching a peak of nearly 17 million last year.

Despite the downturn, the Grammys, broadcast on CBS and available for streaming on Paramount+, are expected to remain among the top entertainment programs of 2025. The decline in viewership among adults under 50 was relatively slight.

The event featured several high-profile moments and performances. Taylor Swift awarded Beyoncé the best country album, and Beyoncé made history by winning Album of the Year for her album "Cowboy Carter." The night was filled with dynamic performances by artists including Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX, Benson Boone, and Doechii. A notable highlight was a duet by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars performing "California Dreamin’," amidst a ceremony that also served as a tribute to the victims of the recent Los Angeles wildfires. The Recording Academy announced that over $24 million was raised for wildfire relief through the event.

The ratings decline could be a warning sign for the coming Academy Awards, which will air on ABC and stream on Hulu on March 2. Ratings for awards shows have generally been on the upswing since 2022, and the Oscars is no exception: It has had three consecutive years of ratings growth, leading to last year’s audience of 19.5 million viewers.

But the Grammys are the second major awards show to see a decline this year. The Golden Globes ratings slipped to 9.3 million viewers last month, Nielsen said, nearly a million viewers shy of last year’s event.