The 2021 Grammy Awards has been postponed until March following a surge in coronavirus cases and deaths.
The award ceremony, which was set for February in Los Angeles will now be broadcasted in March.
Despite the disappointment, industry insiders say the measure was necessary as the pandemic continues to spiral.
“This is unfortunate but not unexpected because of the scale of the coronavirus pandemic in California. The votes have been cast already, it’s just left for those votes to be tallied and the winners announced, but it’s more important at this time to protect the public and postpone this high profile event where this pandemic is concerned,” industry insider Cabel Stephenson, former manager of Toots Hibbert and the Maytals.
“In March, I will be looking forward to seeing Toots Hibbert or Skip Marley coming out as winner,” he declared.
Co-incidentally Toots Hibbert, sadly passed away last year following complications from COVID-19. He is nominated for the Best Reggae Album for his project, Got to be Tough.
Meanwhile, Skip Marley, Bob Marley’s grandson is nominated for his EP, Higher Place.
The other nominees include; Buju Banton for Upside Down 2020, Maxi Priest with It All Comes Back To Love, and The Wailers for One World.
On Tuesday it was announced that the annual show would shift from its original Jan. 31 broadcast to an unspecified date in March. The Grammys will be held at the Staples Center, Los Angeles.
The announcement came amid concerns over the recent surges in COVID-19 cases and deaths in the state.
Los Angeles remains the epicenter of the crisis in California, surpassing over 10,000 COVID-19 deaths, 40% of the deaths in California. California is the third state to reach the 25,000 death count.
