The Grammys, which aired on CBS, is usually the second-most-watched awards show, behind
only the Academy Awards, which last year drew roughly 34 million viewers on ABC.
This is the third straight year that the Grammys ratings have held relatively
steady: In 2015 it had 25.3 million viewers; last year it notched 25 million.
Viewership for the Grammy Awards rose on Sunday night, with an average of about 26 million
viewers, about a million more than last year’s ceremony, according to Nielsen.
This year’s Grammys — which featured a showdown between Adele
and Beyoncé, including live performances from both — returned to Sunday night after broadcasting on a holiday Monday last year.
And nearly every awards show — from the Oscars to the Emmys to the American
Music Awards — has seen declines after several years of growing viewership.