Podcast Summary: Bloomberg Talks – The Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. Talks The Grammy Awards

Date: January 24, 2026
Guest: Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy
Host: Bloomberg

Episode Overview

This episode of Bloomberg Talks features an in-depth conversation with Harvey Mason Jr., the CEO of the Recording Academy. Drawing from the upcoming Grammy Awards and its broader cultural impact, the discussion moves through the significance of the Grammys, its economic and reputational effects on artists, and the evolution of the broadcast landscape for major televised events.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Grammys as a Live and Cultural Event (00:02–01:19)

• Challenges and Resilience:

  • The Grammys are unique year over year, often contending with unusual circumstances (fires, Covid, rain).
  • Harvey reflects on last year's difficulties following the devastating Los Angeles fires, emphasizing resilience and adaptability:

    "Last year was extra challenging, but we've not been short in challenges. We had Covid. We've had other issues. We've had fires. We've had rains." — Harvey Mason Jr. (00:40)

  • He highlights the considerable relief efforts undertaken:

    "We raised almost $25 million from music people who needed help around the fires and their loss. That money has all been distributed short of just a very small amount." (00:53)

• Focus for This Year:

  • The show will again be different but maintain a strong focus on music and community.
  • A tone of pride and optimism permeates his words about the program and its philanthropic impact:

    "Excited about this year's show. It's me very different and fun." (01:13)

2. Impact of the Grammys on Artists (01:19–02:28)

• Artist Recognition and Boost:

  • Not just winners, but even nominees see tangible economic and reputational benefits:

    "Just a nomination, to be honest, can create a really large boost for them on their streaming numbers, for the touring numbers." (01:34)

  • The Recording Academy has conducted studies that demonstrate these boosts, though Harvey avoids citing exact figures.

• Inclusivity Across Genres:

  • Harvey emphasizes the Grammys' reach across 95 categories and its role in elevating both stars and genre specialists:

    "We're honoring hundreds of people that are, and it's subjective, but they're being deemed the best in their class for any given year. All those people, classical, jazz, rock, pop, reggae, jazz. We have awards for all of them and they're all receiving the awards." (01:54)

  • He underlines the peer-voting nature as a distinguishing honor:

    "These are peer to peer voted awards." (02:22)

3. Diversity and Newcomers in the 2026 Grammy Nominations (02:28–03:42)

• Leading Nominees & Diversity:

  • Kendrick Lamar (9 nominations), Lady Gaga, and Bad Bunny are noted as strong contenders, highlighting the mix of household names and genre variety.

    "You're seeing a lot of really great diversity in the general field category... with Bad Bunny and others, there's a wide range of different styles of music." (02:50)

• Best New Artist Category:

  • The field of new artists is noted for its breadth and evolving diversity, including names like Addison Rae, Cat's Eye, Somber, and The Maria’s.
  • Harvey expresses enthusiasm for the mixture of styles and sees the future of music in these rising stars:

    "To me that's going to be a spectacular thing to see on our show and whoever wins this category will be so well deserving. But the other nominees I think are incredible stars going into the future." (03:27)

4. The Future of Award Show Broadcasting (03:42–04:35)

• Changing Distribution Models:
  • The conversation pivots to changes in how award shows are broadcast; specifically, the Oscars’ partnership with YouTube and the Grammys' approach.
  • Harvey reveals a new deal:

    "For us, we've just agreed to a new partnership with ABC, Disney and Disney plus that will start after this show. So our very next show... we are going to be at ABC Disney for the next 10 years." (04:02)

  • Flexible, future-oriented strategy:

    "We want to go to where music lovers and fans of music are consuming their content and we'll continue to look at that." (04:18)

  • He describes the landscape as evolving and audience-led, implying openness to innovation while securing legacy partnerships.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Overcoming Challenges:

  "Last year was extra challenging, but we've not been short in challenges... So proud of what we were able to do last year. Excited about this year's show." — Harvey Mason Jr. (00:40–01:13)

• On the Value of a Grammy:

  "Just a nomination, to be honest, can create a really large boost for them on their streaming numbers, for the touring numbers." — Harvey Mason Jr. (01:34)

• On Genre Diversity:

  "You're seeing a lot of really great diversity... a beautiful combination that's going to make for a great show." — Harvey Mason Jr. (02:50)

• On the Next Broadcast Era:

  "We've just agreed to a new partnership with ABC, Disney and Disney plus that will start after this show... for the next 10 years." — Harvey Mason Jr. (04:02)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:40 – Handling challenges and last year’s relief efforts
• 01:34 – Grammy nomination and its impact on artists
• 01:54 – Diversity of categories and peer-voting
• 02:50 – This year’s leading nominees and diversity
• 03:27 – Excitement about the Best New Artist field
• 04:02 – New 10-year broadcasting partnership with ABC/Disney

Tone & Final Impressions

The conversation is forward-looking and celebratory, with Harvey Mason Jr. speaking candidly about both the logistical realities behind the Grammys and their cultural significance. There is a clear emphasis on resilience, inclusivity, and industry evolution, while also highlighting the continued prestige—and practical value—of being recognized by the Recording Academy. The episode provides both behind-the-scenes insight and optimism about the future of music and broadcast entertainment.