Award Shows vs. the Coronavirus: The GRAMMYs 2021

With award season in full swing, it’s interesting to see how each award show will go about integrating pandemic guidelines. Being one of the first music-based award shows of 2021, the 63rd Annual GRAMMY Awards were held last night (March 14th), at the STAPLES center in California. “Music’s biggest night” was supposed to air on January 31, but was rescheduled due to coronavirus risks.

There was no audience inside of the venue, only crew members – which you could hear in the applause after each performance. While no one was allowed inside, a smaller area on the outside of the venue was dedicated for acceptance speeches and artists. This way, artists could sit six feet apart – while wearing masks – and it proved safe enough for winners to take off their masks to speak on the stage.

As far as those winning the awards, in-person versus online attendance depended on where the artist was located. Artists already living in LA were in attendance live, whereas others were asked to join over video. In order for artists to travel to California for this event, artists were able to prove that they had been tested (and quarantined) within a specific window before the event.

The performances themselves were fairly minimalistic, with the most focus falling on the artist’s musical ability than any effects or choreography. Background dancers were scarce, but when they did appear on stage (in small numbers, might I add), they were to wear masks.

The entire broadcast relied heavily on pre-recorded segments; interviews with performers before they performed, and even pre-recorded videos for those presenting the GRAMMYs. In an attempt to connect this night with the popular streaming services available, it was broadcasted that all interviews and performances (as well as bonus, behind the scenes content) would be available on Paramount+ immediately following the show.

All in all, this event did a great job of being covid-safe. I think that it’s good to hear that the award show was strict about the “no audience” guideline, because many television events aren’t choosing to get rid of their audiences. In the future, as we (hopefully) enter the tail-end of the virus, other award shows will learn from this event!