Editorials

Award Shows: To Watch or Not To Watch?

Addison Wall, Staff Writer

March 4, 2026

Are awards shows as we know them a thing of the past? Original image created in Canva

When a majority of our population thinks about award shows, they see them merely as just another long, boring segment of television. However, another significant portion of the population, including myself, views them as some of the most anticipated nights of the year.

Throughout each year, many award shows are streamed on television. From honoring television to theatre, many actors and singers are given awards and a chance to showcase their talent. Most recently, the SAG Awards, newly renamed as Actor’s Awards, were televised on March 1st, and upcoming are the Oscars on March 15th, which is deemed one of the four major annual American award shows, along with the Emmys, Tonys, and the most anticipated for music lovers, the Grammys.

The Grammys are perceived as the most esteemed, anticipated, and most-watched yearly award show in the world. Since May 4th, 1959, musicians have been dazzling the Grammy stage and receiving recognition for their artistic flair. The Grammys, along with many other award shows such as the VMAs and the Billboard Music Awards, contain music performances, award presentations, and often honor those in the industry who have passed. Each year, the artists who attend and perform fluctuate depending on the popularity and relevance of themselves and their work. Though music award shows continue to change, and anticipated artists continue to attend each year, the audience has decided that the ceremonies are not worth their time anymore.

Viewership for award shows on television has plummeted as years have gone on. In 1971, the Grammys first hit our television screens and drew in 3 million viewers, which was a significant amount considering it was the first time the show had been aired. The viewership continued to rise as the years went on, until 2020, when the views reached a record low. From 2012 to the mid 2020’s, the viewership has dropped by nearly 26 million. Along with the Grammys, the MTV VMAs viewership has lessened year by year, with 2021 being their record low of 3.7 million viewers.

While there may be multiple reasons for this, the main cause of decline is due to the shift toward digital streaming. With social media apps like Instagram, twitter/X, and especially TikTok, most of the audience scrolls to find the latest information surrounding award shows. With streaming services like Peacock, Disney+, and even YouTube, performances and acceptance speeches are able to be viewed for days after the actual event has happened.

“When I was growing up, we always watched the Grammys and other award shows. My family loves award shows, and so we would have a party and even try to guess who would win each award with our own ballots,” said Shannon Wall, a long time viewer of awards shows. “I was raised in a musical family, and we all worked at the Capitol Theatre in downtown Wheeling, so live music has always played an important part in my life, which is why I always look forward to the Grammys,” Wall continued. “Today, I honestly don’t watch the Grammys live. I just catch the performances or parts I want to see on TikTok. This is actually more enjoyable for me because I don’t have to sit through commercials or parts that I really don’t want to watch.”

With social media becoming many people’s main source of news, it is not shocking that the decline of live TV is caused by this.

“A lot of younger consumers are conditioned to receive content in social media format, which can be quick or short forms of entertainment media. The idea of watching a 3 hour tv show is not desirable,” said Wheeling Parks marketing teacher Mr. Turbanic. “Social media will continue to take over live television because of the algorithms that streaming platforms can use to create new and engaging content for the consumer. Again, it creates real-time interactive content that fits the lifestyle better than waiting for a specific time-slot on television to watch.”

To bring viewers back to watching award shows on live television, those who are in control have every opportunity to take action and find a way to bring the audience back on demand.

“Being creative and involving the consumers who are watching live can help with viewership. Having live voting polls and fan pages that show live feeds on social media platforms. For example, the tv show Survivor created a season that was solely decided on by fans of the show. Fans of the show could write in and make decisions for the show, and then watch the outcome. Very creative idea for content creation. Especially for a show that has been on tv for 25 years,” said Mr. Turbanic.

On the other hand, those who continue to watch award shows have usually been doing so for years, or maybe have even had the chance to attend in the past, such as Grammy nominee Rick Pijanowksi and his wife Jennifer:

“We both grew up watching the Grammys every year, and music has always been an important part of our lives. Attending the Grammy Awards felt surreal from the moment we arrived. We never realized that there was an entire awards show earlier in the day for the alternative genres that are not a part of the broadcast show. At that event, we got to be up close and personal with many musicians because it is a more laid-back vibe with everyone just seated together in a smaller venue.Once the evening arrived, the energy outside the venue was breathtaking— flashing cameras, cheering fans, and artists stepping onto the red carpet, it was like walking into a live broadcast. We got to be front and center for so many incredible performances by Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, U2, Paul McCartney, Justin Timberlake, and many others. The glamour of the event was surreal, including the pre-parties and after-parties that showcased extravagant decor, food, and entertainment, but our favorite part was witnessing the heartfelt speeches of the award winners. Acceptance speeches weren’t just thank-yous; they were stories of struggle, gratitude, and dreams realized. “For those who have attended, the show may hold a place in their heart. Being surrounded by music and artists that they admire can create memories that allow the show to be special. Because of that connection, they may continue to watch the Grammys every year, reliving the experience of a moment that will always feel special to them.

“We continue to watch each year. The Grammys are a celebration of music, art, and the hard work that goes into creating songs that will impact the memories of the individuals they touch. There is nothing that brings people together like the gift of music, and we love that the Grammys celebrate this each year by rewarding the very best. The 3-hour show is always worth our time,” said Rick Pijanowski and wife Jennifer.

As the entertainment industry evolves and the way we consume media changes, award shows now stand at a crossroads: either becoming an echo of nostalgia or reinventing themselves as a shared moment in the newly progressing digital world. So, how do you view award shows?

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About the Contributor

Addison Wall, Staff Writer

Addison Wall is a junior staff writer for the Park Press. She has tried out many extracurricular activities in her life, such as soccer, volleyball, cheer, and theatre…but there is nothing she enjoys more than fangirling over her favorite celebrities. Addison is a lover of many music artists, including Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Ariana Grande, and many more. Some of her other favorite activities include driving on back roads while listening to music, playing guitar, Facetiming her friends, traveling (specifically to NYC), and shopping. Addison hopes to bring her love for consuming large amounts of information about random things into her writing this year at the Park Press.