The Recording Academy will shift its broadcast partnership to Disney beginning in 2027, ending a decades-long relationship with CBS and Paramount+. The 68th Grammy Awards, held February 1 at Crypto.com Arena, marked the final ceremony under the previous agreement. ABC, Hulu, and Disney+ will carry the show for a ten-year term starting with the 2027 broadcast.
The deal, announced in October 2024, reflects a strategic move toward streaming and network integration that the music industry will monitor closely. Kendrick Lamar emerged as the night’s dominant figure, winning five awards.
He secured Record of the Year for “Luther” and Best Rap Album for GNX, sweeping all rap categories. This marks his second consecutive year as the ceremony’s top winner and his fourth time achieving five Grammy wins in a single night. With these victories, Lamar surpassed Jay-Z to become the most-awarded hip-hop artist in Grammy history, a milestone that represents a significant shift in the Recording Academy’s recognition patterns. Lamar’s repeated success highlights the academy’s growing preference for artists who combine lyrical depth, storytelling, and commercial appeal.
Bad Bunny won Album of the Year for Debí Tirar Más Fotos, making it the first Spanish-language album to receive the top honor. He becomes the third Latino artist to achieve this recognition.
The win continues a trend the academy has been developing over several years, acknowledging the global nature of the music market. Spanish-language music has moved from niche status to mainstream dominance, and Bad Bunny’s victory formalizes this shift in the Grammys’ official record. Trevor Noah hosted the ceremony for the sixth consecutive time and announced it would be his last.
The academy will need to select a new host for the ABC era, a decision that will signal the organization’s future direction. Noah’s tenure was characterized by steady, professional, and largely controversy-free hosting.
The 68th Grammys were the 23rd year the ceremony took place at Crypto.com Arena, which has been the venue since 1973. The move to Disney breaks this geographic continuity, though the ceremony will likely remain in Los Angeles. The more significant change involves distribution, as streaming becomes the primary delivery system for an increasing share of viewers.
The Hulu and Disney+ deal reflects this reality. Billie Eilish also received notable awards, though specific categories were not detailed.
Her success, alongside Lamar’s, reinforces the academy’s willingness to reward young, commercially dominant artists who also carry critical weight. The ten-year deal with Disney runs through 2037, locking in a partner before further media landscape shifts. CBS had carried the show for decades, and the switch acknowledges that the old broadcast model no longer aligns with contemporary viewing habits.
The 68th Grammys served as a transition point, featuring a new broadcast home, a new most-awarded hip-hop artist, and a historic Album of the Year winner.
