Universal, Warner, Sony & BMG All Cancel 2025 Grammy-Related Events

Just hours after the Recording Academy announced, on Monday Jan. 13, that it plans to go ahead with the 67th annual Grammy Awards telecast on Feb. 2 as scheduled despite the wildfires that have devastated parts of Los Angeles in the past week, Universal Music Group (UMG) announced it is canceling all of the company’s Grammy-related events, including its artist showcase and after-Grammy party, and will instead “redirect the resources that would have been used for those events to assist those affected by the wildfires.” Within 24 hours, Warner Music Group and Sony Music Group had also canceled plans.

“Our deepest gratitude goes to the first responders and emergency personnel, who continue to perform heroically,” said Universal in a statement. “L.A. is home to so many of us. We are committed to helping and supporting the music community, our artists, our teams and the people of Los Angeles get through this horrific episode.”

Also on Monday, Warner Music Group confirmed to Billboard that the company made a decision over the weekend not to hold a Grammy Week party and will instead redirect funds to efforts to combat the wildfires and help those affected by the destruction. The company previously announced it would be making a $1 million donation to support fire relief and rebuilding efforts in the L.A. region via its Warner Music Group/Blavatnik Family Foundation Social Justice Fund.

Then on Tuesday morning (Jan. 14), Billboard learned that Sony Music Group had also decided to cancel its Grammy Week party and the plans and will redirect the funds toward local relief efforts.

Later that day, BMG followed suit, canceling its pre-Grammy party. “It is with heavy hearts that we announce BMG will no longer host its Pre-Grammy Party on Tuesday, Jan. 28. Our thoughts are with everyone affected, and we extend our deepest gratitude to the firefighters and first responders in Los Angeles County who are working tirelessly to contain the fires.”

Recording Academy and MusiCares CEO Harvey Mason jr. and Tammy Hurt, chair of the board of trustees, expressed similar sentiments in a statement released on Monday. “Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. This city is our home, and we mourn the loss of life and destruction that have come to it in recent days.”

But then they announced their intention to go on with the show. “In close coordination with local authorities to ensure public safety and responsible use of area resources, the 67th Grammy Awards telecast on CBS on Feb. 2 will proceed as planned,” they continued. “This year’s show, however, will carry a renewed sense of purpose: raising additional funds to support wildfire relief efforts and honoring the bravery and dedication of first responders who risk their lives to protect ours.”

Those local authorities reportedly include the office of Mayor Karen Bass, public safety agencies and fire marshals.

While the Recording Academy’s current plan is to go ahead with the telecast, it has made no decision about other Grammy Week events, such as the MusiCares Person of the Year event (which this year is set to honor the Grateful Dead) and the Recording Academy’s Special Merit Awards.

A major ancillary Grammy event, the Milk & Honey party, was canceled on Sunday (Jan. 12) with a pointed message on founder Lucas Keller‘s Instagram Story. “I regret that we will be canceling our annual award season pre-Grammy event in partnership with Reservoir and others. … It would be tone deaf to celebrate and I hope all other companies will follow suit,” he wrote. “Don’t come to town for the Grammy’s and take up hotels that people need desperately. Release your hotel blocks or donate them. In the meantime, if you can, please give money to MusiCares at this link to support wildlife relief. Everything counts.”

The Recording Academy and MusiCares launched the Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort last week with an initial $1 million donation to support music creatives and professionals. “Thanks to additional contributions, we have already distributed over $2 million in emergency aid to those most in need — and we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing ongoing assistance,” Mason and Hurt said in their statement.

UPDATE: This story was updated on Jan. 13 and Jan. 14 to add that Warner, Sony and BMG all canceled their Grammy Week events.