Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group Call Off Grammy Week Events as Cancellations Mount Following Deadly L.A. Wildfires

Golden Grammy statuettes elegantly displayed on a modern, geometric backdrop at the Grammy Awards venue, set against a classic red carpet.

By  NEWS BLEND 360

Updated 12:08 PM EST, January 16, 2025

LOS ANGELES (NB360) - Though the 2025 Grammy Awards are still scheduled for early February, the three major record labels have decided to cancel their Grammy week events due to the devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area.

Universal Music Group, which represents artists like Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, and Kendrick Lamar, announced on Monday that all its Grammy-related events, including its annual artist showcase and after-party, would be canceled. The Santa Monica-based company, whose employees in nearby Palisades were significantly affected, will instead allocate resources to support wildfire relief efforts.

Sony Music Entertainment, which includes Columbia, RCA, and Epic Records, also canceled its Grammy afterparty. The sought-after event has previously hosted guests such as Adele, Harry Styles, and Doja Cat at venues like the Bel Air Hotel and Hollywood’s Mother Wolf. The company will redirect funds to local relief efforts in L.A.

Warner Music Group, with artists like Dua Lipa, Bruno Mars, and Benson Boone, followed suit.

The Clive Davis pre-Grammy gala, celebrating its 50th year, is still expected to proceed, according to sources.

The 2025 Grammy Awards will be broadcast live on CBS from the Crypto.com Arena in downtown L.A. Beyoncé leads the nominations with 11, while Kendrick Lamar, Charli XCX, and Billie Eilish each have seven, and Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, and Chappell Roan have six nominations each.

Below is a list of additional Grammy week events affected by the wildfires:

MusiCares Person of the Year: The Grateful Dead will still be honored at the pre-Grammy event on Jan. 31 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, but the evening will feature "a special appeal for donations to support wildfire relief efforts," the Recording Academy informed members in an email on Tuesday.

BMG Pre-Grammy Party: The music company has canceled its annual event set for Jan. 28. "Our thoughts are with everyone affected, and we extend our deepest gratitude to the firefighters and first responders in Los Angeles County who are working tirelessly to contain the fires," BMG said in a statement.

The Resonator Awards: Originally scheduled for Jan. 28, this event celebrating pioneering women in music production and engineering has been postponed. The nonprofit parent organization We Are Moving the Needle has launched a wildfire relief fund offering micro-grants.

Milk & Honey/Reservoir Music Pre-Grammy Celebration: This Pre-Grammy celebration has been postponed to 2026 following discussions with sponsor partners.

Billboard: The music magazine announced on Tuesday that it will cancel all its Grammy week activities, including its Managers to Watch and Power 100 events. “Many members of our staff and community have been personally affected, and our core focus at this time is allocating the resources we have to support long-term recovery for the city we call home,” Billboard said in a statement on social media. The company will also donate to California Community Foundation, Pasadena Community Foundation, and Baby2Baby.

Clio Music Awards: The award show, which focuses on creative marketing, advertising, and communication work in music, initially scheduled for Jan. 30, has been canceled. A portion of the proceeds from this year’s program will be donated to Music Cares and It’s Bigger Than Us L.A. “When the time is right, we will announce the Grand Clio Music and Of The Year winners on Clios.com and MuseByClios.com and look forward to celebrating the incredible work from 27 countries around the world that has earned this year’s accolades,” the company stated.

ASCAP Grammy Brunch in the Garden: ASCAP, the association for songwriters, composers, and music publishers, has canceled its 2025 Grammy brunch, the association announced on Wednesday. “To support our LA Community, ASCAP has created an emergency relief fund of $1 million for ASCAP songwriter and composer members in the Los Angeles area who have suffered loss or damage to their homes or studios, or been evacuated due to the LA fires,” ASCAP said in a statement.

Femme It Forward High Tea: The female-led music and entertainment company canceled its High Tea Grammy event on Wednesday because of the wildfires, stating on Instagram, “While we won’t be gathering over tea as planned, let’s hold space for healing, community, and gratitude. Thank you all for understanding. Stay safe, take care of each other, and let’s keep the love going.”