Grammys Shocker: Awards Moving to Disney From CBS

The Grammys are getting a new home after more than 50 years on CBS.

In a major shakeup of the TV awards landscape, the Grammy Awards will move to Disney outlets beginning in 2027. ABC, Hulu and Disney+ will simulcast the music industry honors under a 10-year deal that runs through 2036. The move will also make Disney the home of what are traditionally the two most watched awards telecasts in any given year, with the Grammys joining the Oscars.

CBS will have the Grammys in 2025 and 2026, with the final year marking the end of more than half a century of broadcasting the awards. The network first aired the Grammys in 1973 — George Harrison’s The Concert for Bangladesh won album of the year — and has partnered with The Recording Academy on the show ever since. 

“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 in a statement. “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.”

Added Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr., “We are completely thrilled to be bringing the Grammys and other new music programming to the Disney ecosystem. 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.”

In the first year of Disney’s Grammy deal, ABC will feature three of the biggest TV events of the year in quick succession: the 2027 Super Bowl, the Grammys and the Oscars.

The 66th Grammy Awards in February brought in 17.09 million viewers for CBS, a 36 percent jump from the previous year’s telecast. In the key advertiser demographic of adults 18-49, the show’s 4.05 rating (equivalent to about 5.4 million people in that age range) outdrew the Oscars (3.82 rating/about 5.1 million viewers).

Along with the Oscars and the NFL, Disney’s live event portfolio also includes the annual New Year’s Rockin’ Eve special, the CMA Awards, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, the NBA Finals and the College Football Playoff.