Grammy Ratings Hit New Demo Low, Tick Up in Total Viewers
UPDATED: The Grammy Awards set another new low in adults 18-49 while seeing a small increase in total viewers compared to 2018.
In the time zone adjusted fast nationals, the Sunday awards telecast on CBS nabbed a 5.6 rating in adults 18-49 and 19.9 million viewers. That is compared to a 5.9 rating and 19.8 million viewers the awards show drew last year, which was the lowest key demo rating the show had ever drawn at that time.
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The 2019 Grammys also drew 12.8 rating in metered market households, up ever so slightly from the 12.7 rating the 2018 telecast drew.
This is the latest example of live awards show ratings fatigue, with recent telecasts of the Academy Awards and Emmys all seeing serious declines. The recent Golden Globe Awards proved to be an anomaly, seeing a small increase versus last year.
The 2018 Grammys opened to a 5.4 rating in adults 18-49 and 17.6 million viewers before adjusting up to a 5.9 rating and 19.8 million viewers. That was down approximately 24% in both measures from the 2017 Grammys.
Kacey Musgraves, Lady Gaga, Cardi B, and Childish Gambino all took home awards this year. Musgraves took home one of the four top awards of the night, album of the year, in addition to almost sweeping the country categories with three additional wins. Gambino’s “This Is America” made history, nabbing hip hop’s first-ever wins in the song of the year and record of the year categories.
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