Categories: TV NewsTV Ratings

Grammy Ratings Peak for Taylor Swift, Imagine Dragons Performances

Television ratings junkies know this formula “All Too Well.” When Taylor Swift performs, people watch.

According to TV Media Insights, the 9-9:30PM portion of the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, which featured performances by Swift, John Legend, P!nk and Nate Ruess, drew the highest adults 18-49 and viewership marks of the show.

That half-hour, which also included the award celebrations for Best Rock Song and Best Pop Solo Performance, drew a 10.9 rating with 31.211 million viewers.

The 9:30-10PM section, which featured the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration reveal and performances by Ringo Starr, Imagine Dragons & Kendrick Lamar and Kacey Musgraves, followed closely with a 10.7 rating and 30.268 million viewers.

Featuring the Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Country Album reveals and performances by Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard & Blake Shelton and Daft Punk, Stevie Wonder, Pharrell and Nile Rodgers, drew a similar 10.6 with 30.83 million at 10PM.

The 8PM segment, which featured the Best New Artist award and performances by Beyonce & Jay Z, Lorde and Hunter Hayes, opened the show with a low 8.9 with 28.411 million. Because the 8PM half hour is routinely the least-watched portion of the night, the showing is not necessarily a negative reflection of the artists involved. It does, however, raise a question about why CBS and The Recording Academy did not formally promote the “Drunk in Love” collaboration.

The numbers jumped to a 10.1 with 30.046 million at 8:30PM. That half-hour included the Best Pop Group/Duo Performance award and performances by Katy Perry & Juicy J, Robin Thicke & Chicago and Keith Urban & Gary Clark, Jr.

The 10:30PM portion drew a 9.4 with 27.237 million for the Song of the Year award and performances by Sara Bareilles & Carole King and Metallica & Lang Lang.

Ratings for the 11-11:30PM and 11:30-11:45PM portions were not available at press time.

Brian Cantor

Brian Cantor is the editor-in-chief for Headline Planet. He has been a leading reporter in the music, movie, television and sporting spaces since 2002. Brian's reporting has been cited by major websites like BuzzFeed, Billboard, the New Yorker and The Fader -- and shared by celebrities like Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj. Contact Brian at brian.cantor[at]headlineplanet.com.

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