The Grammy Awards were postponed Wednesday weeks before the planned Los Angeles ceremony over what organisers called `too many risks` from the omicron variant, signalling what could be the start of another year of pandemic upheaval for awards season. The attempt at a back-to-normal show had been scheduled for Jan 31 at the newly renamed Crypto.com Arena with a live audience and performances, but no new date is on the books.

The Recording Academy said it made the decision to postpone the ceremony `after careful consideration and analysis with city and state officials, health and safety experts, the artist community and our many partners. `Given the uncertainty surrounding the omicron variant, holding the show on January 31st simply contains too many risks,` the academy said in a statement.