The Grammy Awards postponed amid Omicron cases

The Grammy Awards were postponed on Wednesday, weeks before the scheduled Los Angeles gala, due to "too many risks" from the omicron variant, potentially signalling the start of yet another year of pandemic turmoil for awards season.

A return to normalcy was supposed to happen on January 31 at the newly renamed Crypto.com Arena, with a live audience and entertainment, but no new date has been set.

After careful study and analysis with municipal and state officials, health and safety experts, the artist community, and our many partners, the Recording Academy decided to postpone the ceremony.

Given the uncertainties surrounding the omicron variant, the academy stated in a statement that hosting the event on January 31st poses too many dangers.

The Grammys were postponed last year, as were most big award presentations in early 2021, because to coronavirus worries. The performance was shifted from late January to mid-March, and it was held in and around the Los Angeles Convention Centre, next door to its customary home, the arena then known as Staples Center, with a sparse audience made up largely of nominees and their guests.

Beyonce and Taylor Swift had a great night, but the Grammys' live performances, which set them apart from other awards programmes, were held separately with no major crowds, and many of them were pre-taped.

The academy stated, "We look forward to enjoying Music's Biggest Night on a future date, which will be announced soon."

With two professional basketball teams and a hockey club occupying the arena, finding that date could be difficult. In its statement, the Recording Academy made no mention of a possible location change.

The decision was made about the same time that the Sundance Film Festival revealed that its in-person programming, which was due to begin on January 20, would be cancelled in favour of an online version.

Beyonce and Taylor Swift had a great night, but the Grammys' live performances, which set them apart from other awards programmes, were held separately with no major crowds, and many of them were pre-taped.

The academy stated, "We look forward to enjoying Music's Biggest Night on a future date, which will be announced soon."

With two professional basketball teams and a hockey club occupying the arena, finding that date could be difficult. In its statement, the Recording Academy made no mention of a possible location change.

The decision was made about the same time that the Sundance Film Festival revealed that its in-person programming, which was due to begin on January 20, would be cancelled in favour of an online version.