60th Annual Grammy Awards


The 60th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony was held on January 28, 2018. The CBS network broadcast the show live from Madison Square Garden in New York City. The show was moved to January to avoid coinciding with the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, as was the case in 2010 and 2014. James Corden returned as host.
The ceremony recognizes the best recordings, compositions and artists of the eligibility year, which ran from October 1, 2016, to September 30, 2017. The nominations were announced on November 28, 2017. The "pre-telecast" ceremony was held on the same day prior to the main ceremony.
Bruno Mars was nominated for six awards and won all six on the night.

Performers

Main ceremony

ArtistSong
Kendrick Lamar
U2
Dave Chappelle
"XXX"
"DNA"
"Big Shot"
"New Freezer"
"King's Dead"
Lady Gaga
Mark Ronson
"Joanne"
"Million Reasons"
Sam Smith"Pray"
Little Big Town"Better Man"
Jon Batiste
Gary Clark Jr.
Joe Saylor
Tribute to Fats Domino and Chuck Berry:
"Ain't That a Shame"
"Maybellene"
Luis Fonsi
Daddy Yankee
Zuleyka Rivera
"Despacito"
Childish Gambino
JD McCrary
"Terrified"
Pink"Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken"
Bruno Mars
Cardi B
"Finesse"
Sting
Shaggy
"Englishman in New York"
"Don't Make Me Wait"
DJ Khaled
Rihanna
Bryson Tiller
"Wild Thoughts"
Eric Church
Maren Morris
Brothers Osborne
Tribute to the victims of the 2017 Las Vegas shooting
and Manchester Arena bombing:

"Tears in Heaven"
Kesha
Camila Cabello
Cyndi Lauper
Julia Michaels
Andra Day
Bebe Rexha
"Praying"
U2"Get Out of Your Own Way"
Elton John
Miley Cyrus
"Tiny Dancer"
Ben PlattTribute to Leonard Bernstein:
"Somewhere"
Patti LuPoneTribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber:
"Don't Cry for Me Argentina"
SZA"Broken Clocks"
Chris Stapleton
Emmylou Harris
Tribute to Tom Petty:
"Wildflowers"
Logic
Alessia Cara
Khalid
Tribute to Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington:
"1-800-273-8255"

Presenters

Nominations and winners

Nominees list adapted from the Recording Academy's website.

General

;Record of the Year
;Album of the Year24K MagicBruno Mars
;Song of the Year
;Best New Artist

Pop

;Best Pop Solo Performance
;Best Pop Duo/Group Performance"Feel It Still" – Portugal. The Man
;Best Traditional Pop Vocal AlbumTony Bennett Celebrates 90 – Dae Bennett, producer Nobody but MeMichael BubléTriplicateBob DylanIn Full SwingSeth MacFarlaneWonderlandSarah McLachlan
;Best Pop Vocal Album

Dance/electronic music

Best Dance Recording"Tonite" – LCD Soundsystem
Best Dance/Electronic Album3-D The CatalogueKraftwerkMigrationBonoboMura MasaMura MasaA Moment ApartOdeszaWhat NowSylvan Esso

Contemporary instrumental music

Best Contemporary Instrumental AlbumPrototypeJeff Lorber FusionWhat If – The Jerry Douglas BandSpirit – Alex HanMount RoyalJulian Lage and Chris EldridgeBad HombreAntonio Sanchez

Rock

;Best Rock Performance"You Want It Darker" – Leonard Cohen
;Best Metal Performance"Sultan's Curse" – Mastodon
;Best Rock Song"Run"
;Best Rock AlbumA Deeper UnderstandingThe War on DrugsEmperor of SandMastodonHardwired... to Self-DestructMetallicaThe Stories We Tell OurselvesNothing MoreVillainsQueens of the Stone Age

Alternative

Best Alternative Music AlbumSleep Well BeastThe NationalEverything NowArcade FireHumanzGorillazAmerican DreamLCD SoundsystemPure ComedyFather John Misty

R&B

Best R&B Performance
Best Traditional R&B Performance"Redbone" – Childish Gambino
Best R&B Song
Best Urban Contemporary Album
Best R&B Album24K MagicBruno MarsFreudianDaniel Caesar[Let Love (Kendrick Lamar song)|Love Rule (Ledisi album)|Let Love Rule]LedisiGumboPJ MortonFeel the RealMusiq Soulchild

Rap

;Best Rap Performance"Humble" – Kendrick Lamar
;Best Rap/Sung Performance"Loyalty" – Kendrick Lamar featuring Rihanna
Best Rap Song"Humble"
Best Rap AlbumDamnKendrick Lamar4:44Jay-ZCultureMigosLaila's WisdomRapsodyFlower BoyTyler, the Creator

Country

Best Country Solo Performance"Either Way" – Chris Stapleton
Best Country Duo/Group Performance"Better Man" – Little Big Town
Best Country Song"Broken Halos"
Best Country AlbumFrom A Room: Volume 1Chris StapletonCosmic HallelujahKenny ChesneyHeart BreakLady AntebellumThe BreakerLittle Big TownLife ChangesThomas Rhett

New Age

Best New Age AlbumDancing on WaterPeter KaterReflectionBrian EnoSongVersation: MedicineIndia ArieSacred Journey of Ku-Kai, Volume 5KitarōSpiral RevelationSteve Roach

Jazz

Best Improvised Jazz Solo"Miles Beyond" – John McLaughlin, soloist
Best Jazz Vocal AlbumDreams and DaggersCécile McLorin SalvantThe JourneyThe Baylor ProjectA Social CallJazzmeia HornBad Ass and BlindRaul MidónPorter Plays Porter – Randy Porter Trio with Nancy King
Best Jazz Instrumental Album
RebirthBilly ChildsUptown, DowntownBill Charlap TrioProject FreedomJoey DeFrancesco & The PeopleOpen BookFred HerschThe Dreamer Is the DreamChris Potter
Best Large Jazz Ensemble AlbumBringin' ItChristian McBride Big BandMONK'estra Vol. 2John BeasleyJigsaw – Alan Ferber Big BandHomecomingVince Mendoza & WDR Big Band CologneWhispers on the Wind – Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge
Best Latin Jazz Album
Jazz TangoPablo Ziegler TrioHybrido – From Rio to Wayne Shorter – Antonio AdolfoOddaraJane Bunnett & MaquequeOutra Coisa – The Music of Moacir SantosAnat Cohen & Marcello GonçalvesTípicoMiguel Zenón

Gospel/contemporary Christian music

Best Gospel Performance/Song"Never Have to Be Alone" – CeCe Winans
  • * Dwan Hill & Alvin Love III, songwriters
  • "Too Hard Not To" – Tina Campbell
  • * Tina Campbell & Warryn Campbell, songwriters
  • "You Deserve It" – JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise featuring Bishop Cortez Vaughn
  • * David Bloom, JJ Hairston, Phontane Demond Reed & Cortez Vaughn, songwriters
  • "Better Days" – Le'Andria
  • * Le'Andria, songwriter
  • "My Life" – The Walls Group
  • * Warryn Campbell, Eric Dawkins, Damien Farmer, Damon Thomas, Ahjah Walls & Darrel Walls, songwriters
Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song"What a Beautiful Name" – Hillsong Worship
Best Gospel AlbumLet Them Fall in LoveCeCe WinansCrossover: Live from Music CityTravis GreeneBigger Than MeLe'Andria JohnsonCloseMarvin SappSunday SongAnita Wilson
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
Chain BreakerZach WilliamsRiseDanny GokeyEchoesMatt MaherLiferMercyMeHills and ValleysTauren Wells
Best Roots Gospel AlbumSing It Now: Songs of Faith & HopeReba McEntireThe Best of The Collingsworth Family – Volume 1 – The Collingsworth FamilyGive Me JesusLarry CordleResurrection – Joseph HabedankHope for All NationsKaren Peck & New River

Latin

;Best Latin Pop AlbumEl DoradoShakiraLo Único ConstanteAlex CubaMis Planes Son AmarteJuanesAmar y Vivir La Santa CeciliaMusas (Un Homenaje al Folclore Latinoamericano en Manos de Los Macorinos)Natalia Lafourcade
;Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album
ResidenteResidenteAyoBomba EstéreoPa' Fuera – C4 Trío & Desorden PúblicoSalvavidas de HieloJorge DrexlerEl ParadiseLos Amigos Invisibles
;Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)Arrieros Somos – Sesiones AcústicasAida CuevasNi Diablo, ni SantoJulión Álvarez y Su Norteño BandaAyer y HoyBanda el Recodo de Cruz LizárragaMomentosAlex CamposZapateando en el Norte
;Best Tropical Latin Album
Salsa Big BandRubén Blades con Roberto Delgado & OrquestaAlbitaAlbitaArt of the ArrangementDoug BeaversGente ValienteSilvestre DangondIndestructibleDiego el Cigala

American roots

;Best American Roots Performance"Killer Diller Blues" – Alabama Shakes
;Best American Roots Song"If We Were Vampires"
;Best Americana AlbumThe Nashville SoundJason Isbell and the 400 UnitSouthern BloodGregg AllmanShine on Rainy DayBrent CobbBeast EpicIron & WineBrand New DayThe Mavericks
;Best Bluegrass Album
Laws of GravityInfamous StringdustersAll the Rage: In Concert Volume One Rhonda Vincent and the RageFiddler's DreamMichael ClevelandOriginalBobby OsborneUniversal FavoriteNoam Pikelny
;Best Traditional Blues Album
Blue & LonesomeThe Rolling StonesMigration BluesEric BibbElvin Bishop's Big Fun Trio – Elvin Bishop's Big Fun TrioRoll and TumbleR.L. BoyceSonny & Brownie's Last TrainGuy Davis & Fabrizio Poggi
;Best Contemporary Blues AlbumTajMoTaj Mahal & Keb' Mo'Robert Cray & Hi RhythmRobert Cray & Hi RhythmRecorded Live in LafayetteSonny LandrethGot SoulRobert Randolph and the Family BandLive from the Fox OaklandTedeschi Trucks Band
;Best Folk Album
Mental IllnessAimee MannSemper FeminaLaura MarlingThe Queen of Hearts – Offa Rex You Don't Own Me AnymoreThe Secret SistersThe Laughing AppleYusuf / Cat Stevens
;Best Regional Music AlbumKalendaThe Lost Bayou RamblersTop of the MountainDwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco HellraisersHo'okena 3.0 – Ho'okenaMiyo Kekisepa, Make a Stand Northern CreePua Kiele – Josh Tatofi

Reggae

;Best Reggae AlbumStony HillDamian "Jr. Gong" MarleyChronologyChronixxLost in ParadiseCommon KingsWash House Ting – J BoogAvrakedabraMorgan Heritage

World music

;Best World Music AlbumShaka Zulu Revisited: 30th Anniversary CelebrationLadysmith Black MambazoMemoria de los SentidosVicente AmigoPara MíConcha BuikaRosa dos VentosAnat Cohen & Trio BrasileiroElwanTinariwen

Children

;Best Children's AlbumFeel What U FeelLisa LoebBrighter SideGustafer YellowgoldLemonadeJustin RobertsRise Shine #Woke – Alphabet RockersSongs of Peace & Love for Kids & Parents Around the WorldLadysmith Black Mambazo

Spoken word

;Best Spoken Word Album The Princess DiaristCarrie Fisher Astrophysics for People in a HurryNeil deGrasse TysonBorn to RunBruce SpringsteenConfessions of a Serial SongwriterShelly PeikenOur Revolution: A Future to Believe InBernie Sanders and Mark Ruffalo

Comedy

;Best Comedy Album The Age of Spin & Deep in the Heart of TexasDave ChappelleCincoJim GaffiganJerry Before SeinfeldJerry SeinfeldA Speck of DustSarah SilvermanWhat Now?Kevin Hart

Musical theatre

; Best Musical Theater Album

Music for visual media

; Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual MediaLa La Land
; Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
La La LandJustin Hurwitz, composerArrivalJóhann Jóhannsson, composerDunkirkHans Zimmer, composerGame of Thrones: Season 7Ramin Djawadi, composerHidden FiguresBenjamin Wallfisch, Pharrell Williams & Hans Zimmer, composers
; Best Song Written for Visual Media"How Far I'll Go" – Lin-Manuel Miranda, songwriter

Composing

Best Instrumental Composition"Three Revolutions"

Arranging

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella"Escapades for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra" from Catch Me If You Can
  • * John Williams, arranger
  • "Ugly Beauty"/"Pannonica"
  • * John Beasley, arranger
  • "All Hat, No Saddle"
  • * Chuck Owen, arranger
  • "Home Free "
  • * Nate Smith, arranger
  • "White Christmas"
  • * Chris Walden, arranger
Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals"Putin"

Packaging

; Best Recording PackageEl Orisha de la Rosa
; Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition PackageThe Voyager Golden Record: 40th Anniversary Edition

Historical

Best Historical AlbumLeonard Bernstein – The Composer
  • * Robert Russ, compilation producer; Martin Kistner & Andreas K. Meyer, mastering engineers Bobo Yeye: Belle Epoque in Upper Volta
  • * Jon Kirby, Florent Mazzoleni, Rob Sevier & Ken Shipley, compilation producers; Jeff Lipton & Maria Rice, mastering engineers Glenn GouldThe Goldberg Variations – The Complete Unreleased Recording Sessions June 1955
  • * Robert Russ, compilation producer; Matthias Erb, Martin Kistner & Andreas K. Meyer, mastering engineers Sweet as Broken Dates: Lost Somali Tapes from the Horn of Africa
  • * Nicolas Sheikholeslami & Vik Sohonie, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer Washington Phillips and His Manzarene Dreams
  • * Michael Corcoran, April G. Ledbetter & Steven Lance Ledbetter, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer

Engineered album

; Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical24K Magic
; Best Engineered Album, ClassicalShostakovich: Symphony No. 5; Barber: Adagio
  • *Mark Donahue, engineer Danielpour: Songs of Solitude & War Songs
  • *Gary Call, engineer Kleiberg: Mass for Modern Man
  • *Morten Lindberg, engineer Schoenberg, Adam: American Symphony; Finding Rothko; Picture Studies
  • *Keith O. Johnson & Sean Royce Martin, engineers Tyberg: Masses
  • *John Newton, engineer; Jesse Brayman, mastering engineer

Producer

;Producer of the Year, Non-ClassicalGreg Kurstin
;Producer of the Year, ClassicalDavid Frost
  • *Alma Española
  • *Amplified Soul
  • *Beethoven: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 6
  • *Bruckner: Symphony No. 9
  • *Garden Of Joys And Sorrows
  • *Laks: Chamber Works
  • *Adam Schoenberg: American Symphony; Finding Rothko; Picture Studies
  • *Troika
  • *Verdi: Otello
  • Blanton Alspaugh
  • *Adamo: Becoming Santa Claus
  • *Aldridge: Sister Carrie
  • *Copland: Symphony No. 3; Three Latin American Sketches
  • *Death & The Maiden
  • *Handel: Messiah
  • *Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 53, 64 & 96
  • *Heggie: It's A Wonderful Life
  • *Tyberg: Masses
  • Manfred Eicher
  • *Mansurian: Requiem
  • *Monk, M.: On Behalf Of Nature
  • *Point & Line – Debussy And Hosokawa
  • *Rímur
  • *Silvestrov: Hieroglyphen Der Nacht
  • Morten Lindberg
  • *Furatus
  • *Interactions
  • *Kleiberg: Mass For Modern Man
  • *Minor Major
  • *Northern Timbre
  • *So Is My Love
  • *Thoresen: Sea Of Names
  • Judith Sherman
  • *American Nocturnes
  • *The Birthday Party
  • *Discovering Bach
  • *Foss: Pieces Of Genius
  • *Secret Alchemy – Chamber Works By Pierre Jalbert
  • *Sevenfive – The John Corigliano Effect
  • *Sonic Migrations – Music Of Laurie Altman
  • *Tribute
  • *26

Remixer

;Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical"You Move"

Surround sound

;Best Surround Sound AlbumEarly Americans
  • * Jim Anderson, surround mix engineer; Darcy Proper, surround mastering engineer; Jim Anderson & Jane Ira Bloom, surround producers Kleiberg: Mass for Modern Man
  • * Morten Lindberg, surround mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer So Is My Love
  • * Morten Lindberg, surround mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer 3-D The Catalogue
  • * Fritz Hilpert, surround mix engineer; Tom Ammermann, surround mastering engineer; Fritz Hilpert, surround producer Tyberg: Masses
  • * Jesse Brayman, surround mix engineer; Jesse Brayman, surround mastering engineer; Blanton Alspaugh, surround producer

Classical

;Best Orchestral PerformanceShostakovich: Symphony No. 5; Barber: Adagio
;Best Opera RecordingBerg: Wozzeck
;Best Choral PerformanceBryars: The Fifth Century
;Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble PerformanceDeath & the Maiden
;Best Classical Instrumental SoloTranscendental
;Best Classical Solo Vocal AlbumCrazy Girl Crazy – Music by Gershwin, Berg & Berio
;Best Classical CompendiumHigdon: All Things Majestic, Viola Concerto & Oboe Concerto
  • * Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor; Tim Handley, producerBarbara
  • * Alexandre Tharaud, conductor; Cécile Lenoir, producerKurtág: Complete Works for Ensemble & Choir
  • * Reinbert de Leeuw, conductor; Guido Tichelman, producerLes Routes de l'Esclavage
  • * Jordi Savall, conductor; Benjamin Bletton, producerMademoiselle: Première Audience – Unknown Music of Nadia Boulanger
  • * Lucy Mauro, pianist and producer
;Best Contemporary Classical CompositionViola Concerto
  • *Jennifer Higdon, composer Songs of Solitude
  • *Richard Danielpour, composer Requiem
  • *Tigran Mansurian, composer Picture Studies
  • *Adam Schoenberg, composer Concerto for Orchestra
  • *Zhou Tian, composer

Music video/film

;Best Music Video"Humble" – Kendrick Lamar
;Best Music FilmThe Defiant Ones

Special merit awards

[MusiCares Person of the Year]

Lifetime Achievement Award">Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award">Lifetime Achievement Award

Trustees Award">Grammy Trustees Award">Trustees Award

[Technical Grammy Award]

  • Tony Agnello
  • Richard Factor

Music Educator Award

  • 2014 Kent Knappenberger
  • 2015 Jared Cassedy
  • 2016 Phillip Riggs
  • 2017 Keith Hancock
  • 2018 Melissa Salguero
  • 2019 Jeffery Redding
  • 2021 Jeffrey Murdock
  • 2022 Stephen Cox

Grammy Hall of Fame inductions

TitleArtistRecord labelYear of releaseGenreFormat
Band of GypsysJimi HendrixCapitol1970RockAlbum
"Bring It On Home to Me"Sam CookeRCA Victor1962SoulSingle
The ChronicDr. DreDeath Row Records1992RapAlbum
"Dream On"AerosmithColumbia1973RockSingle
"Fight the Power"Public EnemyMotown1989Hip hopSingle
"Flash Light"ParliamentCasablanca1978FunkSingle
"Grazing in the Grass"Hugh MasekelaUni1968JazzSingle
Heart Like a WheelLinda RonstadtCapitol1974Country rockAlbum
"I Can't Help Myself"Four TopsMotown1965SoulSingle
"I Heard It Through the Grapevine"Gladys Knight & the PipsMotown1967R&BSingle
"(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons"The King Cole TrioCapitol Records1946JazzSingle
"I Will Always Love You"Whitney HoustonArista1992PopSingle
Johnny Cash at Folsom PrisonJohnny CashColumbia1968CountryAlbum
"Mary Had a Little Lamb"Thomas Alva Edison1878ExperimentalSingle
"Me and Mrs. Jones"Billy PaulPhiladelphia International1972SoulSingle
"Moon River"Andy WilliamsColumbia1962Traditional popTrack from Moon River and Other Great Movie Themes
"My Man"Billie HolidayBrunswick1937JazzSingle
NevermindNirvanaDGC1991GrungeAlbum
A Night at the OperaQueenElektra1975Progressive rockAlbum
"Paint It, Black"The Rolling StonesLondon1966Psychedelic rockSingle
"Savoy Blues"Louis Armstrong and His Hot FiveOkeh1927JazzSingle
"A Song for You"Leon RussellShelter1970PopSingle
"Space Oddity"David BowieMercury1969Art rockTrack from Space Oddity
"That's All Right"Arthur "Big Boy" CrudupRCA Victor1949BluesSingle
Tubular BellsMike OldfieldVirgin1973Progressive rockAlbum

In memoriam

Multiple nominations and awards

The following received multiple nominations:
Eight:
Seven:
Six:
Five:
Four:
Three:
Two:
The following received multiple awards:
Six:
Five:
Three:
Two:

Changes

In June 2017, the Grammy organization announced a few minor changes to the voting and awarding process.
  • As of 2018, voting members will cast their votes online rather than by paper ballot. This transition will provide greater flexibility for touring artists, eliminate the possibility of invalid ballots, and protect further against fraudulent voting.
  • All music creators, including songwriters, producers, engineers, mixers, mastering engineers and featured artists, which are credited with at least 33 percent or more playing time on the winning album will be eligible to receive a Grammy in the Album of the Year category. This is the first time songwriters are recognized in this category.
  • From this year on, Nominations Review Committees will be created and implemented for the Rap, Contemporary Instrumental, and New Age Fields.
  • From this year, the definition of Album is expanded in Classical, Dance, And Jazz Fields. To be eligible for Grammy consideration, an album must comprise a minimum total playing time of 15 minutes with at least five distinct tracks or a minimum total playing time of 30 minutes with no minimum track requirement.
  • An exception on the rule of only one version of a song allowed to enter in the Grammy Awards nomination process will be made in the Best Song Written for Visual Media category, allowing the film version of a track to be entered in the category, even if a different version of the track is submitted in other categories. In the Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media category, eligibility guidelines have been amended to require soundtrack albums for a documentary or biopic to contain 51 percent or more of newly recorded music.

New York as a host city

The 60th Annual Grammy Awards marked the first time since 2003 that the ceremony was held in New York City. The Staples Center in Los Angeles had been the home of the Grammys since 2000. The 2003 ceremony was also held at New York City's Madison Square Garden. The fifteen-year gap between the 2003 and 2018 Grammys in New York marked the longest period of time New York went without hosting the awards.
With the main telecast being held at Madison Square Garden, the premiere ceremony was held at the Hulu Theater.
The MusiCares Person of the Year tribute is typically held at the Los Angeles Convention Center two days prior to the Grammys, but since the 2018 Grammy Awards were held in New York, the MusiCares tribute was held at Radio City Music Hall.

Controversy and cost overruns

Hosting the Grammy Awards in New York City resulted in the Grammy Awards costing more to organize, as the costs associated with hosting it in Los Angeles are significantly less. The awards cost $8 million more to host in New York City. The host committee that the city assembled failed to raise the money that they had initially promised. The MusiCares Person of the Year tribute, which the Barclays Center was hoping to host, ended up being held at Radio City Music Hall, which is owned by The Madison Square Garden Company. MusiCares funds, which were intended for charitable purposes, were instead used to pay for the $8 million cost overruns associated with hosting the Grammys in New York City.
Dana Tomarken, the former executive VP of MusiCares, claims that Recording Academy president Neil Portnow directed these funds away from MusiCares to pay for the cost overruns. Dana Tomarken had been negotiating a deal to have the MusiCares Person of the Year tribute to Fleetwood Mac to be held at the Barclays Center, but Portnow decided to have it at Radio City Music Hall, without consulting Tomarken. Irving Azoff who heads Azoff MSG Entertainment, informed her of this change rather than Portnow consulting her first. Tomarken has since made a claim of wrongful termination. On June 5, 2018, an independent investigation was launched to examine the claims made by Dana Tomarken. The investigation also examined the MusiCares Person of the Year tribute as well as sexual harassment allegations. In May 2019, Tomarken claimed she was fired because she pushed back against the academy's "boys club". The academy allegedly tried to keep Tomarken's allegations from being fully made public. She also claimed that she struggled to find a suitable venue in New York for the MusiCares Person of the Year tribute to Fleetwood Mac. The Barclays Center offered up an acceptable deal, but Irving Azoff of the Madison Square Garden Company prevented the event from being held there. By having it at Radio City instead, the event was not a traditional VIP dinner, nor did it have a silent auction. This then prevented the event from turning a profit.
On June 4, 2018, the mayor's office weighed in on the controversy, saying their position was always to be "venue neutral" and denied any involvement in the venue controversy. The Barclays Center notified City Hall of their interest in being involved with Grammy week, and Julie Menin passed that information along to Grammy organizers.

Ratings

The show was moved to January to avoid competing with the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, as was the case in 2010 and 2014. Viewership for the ceremony dropped 24% compared to the previous year, obtaining the smallest audience in the show's history in the key demographic.