For nearly a century now, the biggest part of each week of the Grammys (the days leading up to the biggest musical night, which are filled with events) has been organized through Clive Davis. The famed musical director brings together many of the biggest names in the industry in one room, adding up to a few who don’t even regularly attend the Grammys. The Beverly Hilton, also home of the Golden Globes, is full of new abilities and living legends.
Davis, now 91, is still here and seems to have no intention of slowing down. The 2024 event, held last night (February 3) at the same venue as always, was not only a celebrity-packed event, but also overloaded with perfect performances, and a moment or two that reminded all attendees how global music is, as well as the significant adjustments taking place in the industry and within the Recording Academy itself.
In his short and sweet speech, Harvey Mason Jr. , executive director of the Grammy organization, explained that when he started in the position, he didn’t have it easy. He spoke of the many criticisms that had been leveled at the Recording Academy over the years. makes, in relation to outgoing CEO Neil Portnow’s unfortunate comments about women and considerations about representation and the duration of the awards. “I had been at work, I think, for a week, and I was making headlines,” Mason Jr. said. He commented on issues beyond and added honestly, “But the fact is, I didn’t really disagree. “
The new executive director of the Recording Academy, who has been in charge for several years, has never hesitated to admit that the band has problems. Thankfully, he noted that while the Grammys are still incredibly prestigious, a lot of tweaking needed to be made. — and they still are. ” The Academy needed to make big adjustments, and that’s why I worried in the first place,” he said.
Mason Jr. talked about some positive tweaks that have been made and highlighted some issues that the Recording Academy is still keeping a close eye on, such as the use of synthetic intelligence in the music industry. But what it turns out he’s promoting to the fullest is how the organization, and music in general, is rapidly going global. “None of these issues unless the Academy is as it should be represented through the mirror image of the music landscape,” he shared, commenting on some of the nonprofit’s recent victories and how music is evolving. Because this landscape is becoming more and more, we too have to constantly adapt. “
“Everyone here sees the K-pop wave and how Latin music is exploding,” Mason Jr. said, highlighting not only the pop and hip-hop superstars in the room, but also those still on the rise. “Afrobeats turns out to be the next step. Middle East. “The North African region is the fastest developing music market in the world,” the CEO said.
He insisted that African music has come in a primal way and stated that on this year’s TV show “you will see the first performance by an Afrobeats artist on our Grammy stage. “He added: “We will also be offering the first “Once again a new award for the best African performance”, which was received with applause from the crowd.
Throughout the six-plus hour evening, Davis addressed the crowd between musical performances to point out all the notable personalities in the audience. This year’s lineup included Nancy Pelosi and her husband Smokey Robinson, Meryl Streep, Motown legend Berry Gordy and Jon Bon. Jovi, and most of them were sitting at the same table.
(From left to right) Mike Dirnt, Billie Joe Armstrong and Tre Cool, members of the band Green Day, arrive for the recording. . . [ ] Academy Pre-Grammy Gala and Clive Davis’ salute to industry icons at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, February 3, 2024. (Photo by Rothroughn BECK/AFP) (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP Getty Images)
This year’s Pre-Grammy Gala, as it’s officially called, opened with Green Day, who directed “American Idiot” and “Welcome to Paradise,” and even turned the well-known “redneck America” line from the old song to “MAGA” for Best New Artist nominees. who had no problem twerking in front of the crowd, in addition to Pelosi.
Mark Ronson directed his Oscar- and Grammy-nominated song “I’m Just Ken” by Barbie, but instead of Ryan Gosling, recent Grammy nominee Lainey Wilson stepped in to replace the genres and make it more country than rock. Legends Public Enemy (who must have been vampirized by the time their sound died down), The Isley Brothers and Gladys Knight – joined by Dionne Warwick – also sang in front of the crowd.
American singer-songwriter Lainey Wilson and British musician Mark Ronson perform on the same level at the Recording Academy’s Pre-Grammy Gala and Clive Davis’ Salute to Industry Icons at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. , on Feb. 3, 2024. Photo via Frederic J. Brown/AFP) (Photo via FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP Getty Images)
The best show of the night came from Josh Groban. After singing two Broadway numbers from Into the Woods and Sweeney Todd–but not a song he got to sing when he was in the show–he switched things up. Groban sat down at the piano and played Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” which quickly turned into a massive production. The backing vocalists, as well as Michael Trotter, Jr., one-half of current Best New Artist Grammy nominee The War and Treaty, made it a near-religious experience and proved the power of the song once again.
American musician Josh Groban performs at the level of the Recording Academy and greets industry icons at the pre-Grammy gala. . . [ ] via Clive Davis at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on February 3, 2024. (Photo via Frederic J. Brown / AFP) (Photo via FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP Getty Images)
Davis’s party, introduced in the 1970s, is more potent than ever. It attracts not only a crowd but also one of the most enviable in music. From speeches to performances to simply seeing Cher and Streep in the same room, the pre-Grammy party gala can’t be beat.