THE 67TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS® SET TO TAKE PLACE SUN, FEB. 2, 2025
(Historic wins marred by structural dysfunction and runtime bloat.)
In the night’s biggest surprise, André 3000 took home the top prize for New Blue Sun , his instrumental, ambient flute album. It marked the first time a largely instrumental, non-rap, non-pop album won the category since Herbie Hancock’s River: The Joni Letters in 2008. The win was seen as a bold, genre-blind statement by the Recording Academy. The 67th Annual Grammy Awards -2025-2025
The trophy (awarded to songwriters) went to Billie Eilish for “What Was I Made For?” , though the song was technically released in 2023, its cultural tailwind stretched deep into 2024 thanks to its use in Barbie ’s home video release and a viral orchestral rendition at the Paris Olympics. Eilish and her brother Finneas accepted gracefully, noting that this was their third win in the category, tying a record set by Paul McCartney and Lionel Richie.
While presenting Record of the Year, the legendary Cher mistakenly announced the winner as "Luther Vandross"—who died in 2005. The error was corrected almost immediately, but the moment had the audience raising eyebrows. (The actual winner, appropriately, was Kendrick Lamar and SZA's "Luther," which sampled a Vandross and Cheryl Lynn duet.) THE 67TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS® SET TO TAKE PLACE SUN, FEB
Producers opted for raw, unplugged moments over elaborate staging this year.
On Sunday, February 2, 2025, the music industry turned its eyes to the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles for the 67th Annual Grammy Awards. While the gold gramophones were handed out for artistic excellence, the night told a bigger story: one of a music industry grappling with technology, legacy, and a changing definition of “success.” The win was seen as a bold, genre-blind
The 67th Grammys officially abandoned the term “World Music” five years ago, and the results were on full display. The went to a stunning collaboration between Nigerian Afrobeats star Rema , Korean group NewJeans , and Brazilian DJ Anna for the track Movement 4 . The song had no single language, no traditional verse-chorus-bridge structure, and yet dominated global streaming. The win formalized what fans have known for years: the Western pop monopoly is over. The telecast capitalized on this by replacing the traditional “In Memoriam” medley with a “Global Pulse” set, though critics noted the omission of several legacy rock artists in favor of younger international acts.
The telecast featured over 20 performances, many of which paid homage to the city of Los Angeles:
The music industry is abuzz with excitement as the 67th Annual Grammy Awards approach, scheduled to take place on January 28, 2025. The Grammys, considered one of the most prestigious music awards in the world, will once again bring together the biggest names in music for a night of celebration, performances, and recognition of outstanding achievements in the industry.