The Grammy Awards have been delayed indefinitely due to concerns surrounding the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. One of the globe's biggest award ceremonies and perhaps the biggest to celebrate music, the Grammys, presented by the US Recording Academy, have been a staple on the award circuit since its inaugural outing in 1959. While not free of criticism regarding its representation over the years, the awards have adapted to become an inclusive celebration of all areas of the music spectrum, including Grammy categories that honor music in film.

But despite the excitement for the upcoming 64th ceremony, a statement released on the official Grammy Awards website states that the awards will be postponed in response to growing safety concerns surrounding Covid-19. The announcement, made jointly by the Recording Academy and show broadcasters CBS, confirms that the awards will be delayed to keep the safety of the "live audience, and the hundreds of people who work tirelessly to produce" the event the main priority. The statement also cites the "uncertainty surrounding the Omicron variant" as the main reason behind the delay. A return date for the event was not confirmed. Check out the full quote below:

“After careful consideration and analysis with city and state officials, health and safety experts, the artist community and our many partners, the Recording Academy and CBS have postponed the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards Show. The health and safety of those in our music community, the live audience, and the hundreds of people who work tirelessly to produce our show remains our top priority. Given the uncertainty surrounding the Omicron variant, holding the show on January 31st simply contains too many risks. We look forward to celebrating Music’s Biggest Night on a future date, which will be announced soon.”

The delay of this year's event marks the second year that the Grammy Awards have suffered setbacks due to the ongoing pandemic. Last year, the ceremony was pushed back from January to March to combat a spike in cases. It's the latest event to be directly affected by Covid-19 as the world once again adapts to challenges created by the ever-changing pandemic, with TV, movie, and live events suffering setbacks and delays. While frustrating, it's great to see the producers taking the pandemic seriously, especially after criticism of similar circumstances last year, including Seth Rogen's attack on the Emmy Awards. The Grammy Awards will hopefully return for the 64th time at some point later in the year.