LOS ANGELES — The viewership for this year’s Grammy Awards saw a decline compared to the previous year, even with the dramatic anticipation surrounding Beyoncé’s potential win for album of the year and an unexpected appearance by The Weeknd.

On Sunday evening, CBS reported a total of 15.4 million viewers for the event, according to Nielsen ratings. This marks a drop from the 16.9 million who tuned in last year, which had already seen a significant increase of 34% from the year prior.

It’s important to note that these figures only reflect viewers on CBS, as the broadcast was also available for streaming through the Paramount+ With Showtime package. In light of the recent devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, the Grammy organizers reduced their marketing campaigns leading up to the event and canceled numerous pre-Grammy gatherings.

The three-hour program, hosted by Trevor Noah for another year, took place in a Los Angeles still coping with the consequences of the wildfires. The night celebrated the most renowned artists of the past year, featuring performances from Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, and Charli xcx.

In another highlight, the event managed to raise nearly $9 million to support wildfire relief initiatives.

Among the winners, Kendrick Lamar claimed both song and record of the year for his track “Not Like Us,” securing two of the evening’s top honors. Meanwhile, Shakira earned accolades for her Latin pop album “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran.”