And the Grammys Go to… Disney, After 50 Years on CBS

In a major shakeup for the biggest night in music, the Grammys are leaving their longtime home on CBS — where they’ve aired for over 50 years — and will soon move to Disney.

Starting in 2027, the Grammys will air on ABC and be simulcast on Hulu and Disney+. Disney will have the rights to the Grammys for the next 10 years after that through the 2036 ceremony.

In the very first year of the deal, ABC will be airing not only the Oscars alongside the Grammys, but also Super Bowl LXI. Disney also has the CMA Awards and “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest,” and it’s yet another big push into live for Disney+ and Hulu, which just recently aired a live Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony event via livestream on Disney+.

As part of the deal, The Recording Academy will also produce other Grammy-related music specials and other new programming across Disney’s platforms. That could include other tribute concerts or documentary specials and beyond.

“As The Walt Disney Company combines forces with The Recording Academy to open this exciting
new chapter in the history of ‘The Grammys,’ we do so with pride and gratitude,” said Disney Entertainment co-chairman Dana Walden. “Live events have never been more important to our culture and industry, and we just acquired one of the crown jewels, adding to our portfolio of world-class programming across all genres.”

“We are completely thrilled to be bringing ‘The Grammys’ and other new music programming to the Disney ecosystem,” said Recording Academy president Harvey Mason Jr.. “We are grateful to our long-standing partners at CBS and now honored to be joining with Disney, an iconic company where creators have always been at the forefront. This partnership represents another important milestone in the Academy’s transformation and growth, and strengthens our ability to fulfill our mission of uplifting and serving music people around the world.”

The 66th Grammy Awards that aired in February had their largest audience since 2020, averaging 16.9 million viewers. The show featured a viral performance from Tracy Chapman in her first performance in years playing her hit “Fast Car” alongside Luke Combs, as well as the return of Joni Mitchell to the stage. Taylor Swift even surprise announced her latest album “The Tortured Poets Department” live during the awards ceremony.

The Recording Academy has also tried to overhaul some of its voting, including adding 3,000 new female voting members, it has expanded globally, and helped to enact over a dozen different laws at the state and federal levels designed to benefit artists.