Recording Academy Announces Date, Deadlines for 2019 Grammy Awards
By Jem Aswad
LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) – The 61st annual Grammy Awards will air live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, the Recording Academy and CBS, the show’s longtime home network, announced today. The show will air live on CBS from 8-11:30 p.m. ET/ 5-8:30 p.m. PT.
Nominations will be announced in all 84 categories on Wednesday, Dec. 5 and will honor recordings released between Oct. 1, 2017 and Sept. 30, 2018.
“We are delighted to host the world’s premier music event back in our hometown and look forward to celebrating the remarkable musical contributions made by songwriters, producers, engineers, mixers and recording artists,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the . “As always, Grammy season will kick off with a series of events that showcase various genres of music, educational programs and our charitable initiatives. We look forward to working with our Los Angeles partners to produce some remarkable and unforgettable events.”
“It is exciting that ‘Music’s Biggest Night’ will be back at the Staples Center in the heart of the City of Angels,” said Jack Sussman, Executive Vice President, Specials, Music and Live Events, CBS Entertainment. “We look forward to showcasing musicians across multiple musical genres on the world’s biggest stage.”
As previously announced, the show and Grammy Week will return to Los Angeles after being held in New York earlier this year for the first time since 2003 — a visit that met logistical , financial and other challenges that the Academy is still navigating. The show will be Portnow’s last as chairman and CEO, as he announced in May that he is stepping down in 2019.
In a controversial move, the Academy recently announced that the number of nominees for the four top categories — Best New Artist and Album, Song and Record of the Year — will be expanded from five to eight. Bruno Mars swept three out of the four major categories at the 2018 awards.
Key dates and deadlines for the process and Grammy Week events are as follows:
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
Online Entry Process Closes
Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018
First Round of Voting Opens
Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018
First Round of Voting Closes
Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018
Nominees Announced
Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018
Final Round of Voting Opens
Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019
Final Round of Voting Closes
Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019
Producers & Engineers Wing celebration
Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019
Music Educator Award Presentation
Grammy In The Schools Live!
Friday, Feb. 8, 2019
Entertainment Law Initiative Event & Scholarship Presentation
MusiCares Person of the Year
Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019
Grammy Nominees Reception
Clive Davis’ and the Recording Academy’s Pre-Grammy Gala
Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019
Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony
61st Annual Grammy Awards
Grammy Celebration
