Grammy ratings are in: 9% fewer viewers bad omen for Oscars

The Grammy Awards saw a decline in viewership this year, drawing 15.4 million viewers on Sunday night, according to Nielsen.

The figure marks a nine percent drop from last year’s ceremony, which had nearly 17 million viewers.

End of a Ratings Comeback

The decline ends a three-year ratings rebound for the Grammys, which had been steadily recovering since 2021, when a scaled-down pandemic ceremony saw its audience dip to just nine million. Despite the drop, the awards show remains one of the most-watched entertainment events of 2025, with only a slight decline among viewers under 50.

Star Power and Memorable Moments

This year’s ceremony, which aired on CBS and streamed on Paramount+, featured high-profile performances and emotional moments. Taylor Swift presented Beyoncé with the award for Best Country Album, and Beyoncé later won Album of the Year for Cowboy Carter, marking a career first. Performers like Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX, Benson Boone, and Doechii delivered standout live sets, while Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars performed a duet of California Dreamin’ in a tribute to victims of the recent Los Angeles wildfires. The Recording Academy raised more than $24 million for wildfire relief during the event.

Critics praised the production, with Variety calling it the best Grammys in years.

Warning Signs for the Oscars?

Grammys producers had cautioned that they did not expect a ratings boost, in part because of the decision to scale back marketing efforts due to the impact of the wildfires. Still, the drop in viewership could be a signal for the upcoming Academy Awards, airing on ABC and streaming on Hulu on March 2.

While award show ratings have generally been rising since 2022, the Grammys is the second major ceremony to see a decline this year. The Golden Globes also slipped, drawing 9.3 million viewers—nearly a million fewer than in 2024.

The Oscars, traditionally the most-watched awards show, pulled in 19.5 million viewers last year and generated $80 million in advertising revenue for ABC. By comparison, the Grammys brought in $47 million. With recent ratings fluctuations, industry watchers will be keeping a close eye on whether the Academy Awards can continue its upward trend.