The first stop of the evening for many party-hoppers is the Recording Academy's official after-party, known as the Grammy Celebration. Held at the Los Angeles Convention Center immediately following Sunday’s award show, the 5,000-attendee event was produced by Branden Chapman, executive in charge of production and chief business development officer of the Recording Academy, along with Angel City Designs, which handled design, decor, and logistics.Photo: Sean Twomey/2me Studios
Not only had some of music’s biggest names (Taylor Swift, Drake, Beyoncé, and Lady Gaga, to name a few) planned to skip the January 26 event, but the Recording Academy was mired by its own tension: Just 10 days prior, C.E.O. Deborah Dugan was placed on administrative leave. Dugan, in turn, filed a discrimination claim alleging sexual harassment and a corrupt voting process.
Then on Sunday morning, the former Los Angeles Lakers star—who spent most of his 20-year career playing at the Staples Center, also home to the Grammys—passed away in a crash that also killed his daughter and seven others. Comparisons were made to Whitney Houston’s unexpected death the day before the 2012 ceremony, when producers scrambled to add a tribute to the six-time Grammy winner.
Bryant was honored at the start of the ceremony with a song from host Alicia Keys and Boyz II Men, and his jerseys were illuminated in the Staples Center throughout the evening. Many top artists skipped the red carpet entirely out of respect, and the venue’s surrounding areas were filled with thousands of fans who came out to mourn the athlete.
But the show, of course, went on. The broadcast—the final one from 40-year executive producer Ken Ehrlich—took a surprisingly nonpolitical tone, with presenters and winners largely avoiding addressing the Recording Academy controversy in favor of generic messages of unity and tributes to Bryant and the late L.A. rapper Nipsey Hussle. Teenage singer-songwriter Billie Eilish swept the night’s major categories, becoming the first artist to do so since Christopher Cross in 1981.
The after-parties, on the other hand, remained as glamorous as ever. Highlights included the Recording Academy’s own massive, North Africa-inspired bash, plus Steven Tyler’s star-studded viewing party that raised $2.4 million for his Janie’s Fund charity. Roc Nation, Warner Music Group, and Universal Music Group also hosted design-forward gatherings around town. Scroll down for a look inside these and other events from music's biggest week.
![The Recording Academy’s Grammy Celebration](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/01/20200126A_0215_HDR.5e2f3840bb8c1.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![This year's celebration was inspired by North Africa; it featured Moorish architectural details and a Morocco-inspired menu. Decor evolved throughout the evening, explained Chapman in a pre-event interview with BizBash. 'This year, we [started] with a more formal look and feel to the costuming and ambient performances inspired by the 1940s feel of Casablanca, then evolved into a more risqué nightlife as the evening progressed with more authentic present-day costumes and performers.'](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/01/20200126A_0179_HDR.5e2f3841192f2.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![The event's menu, which included four North Africa-inspired food stations, came from Top Chef winner Joe Flamm in partnership with Levy Restaurants. ShowPro handled lighting, audio, and video production, and Eggs&Bacon handled technical logistics.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/01/20200126A_0227_HDR.5e2f3840ebe0e.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Performances came from rock band Cheap Trick and Grammy-winner Gloria Gaynor; Grammy nominee Sara Gazarek and DJ Michelle Pesce also performed. E Plus Productions provided additional on-theme entertainment.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/01/20200126A_0516.5e2f3840ba846.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Roc Nation's The Brunch](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/01/_8__054A0477.5e3077d3b37d0.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Guests entered the party through a series of floral archways, which led to a living garden ceiling with a mirrored walkway. Decor came from Revelry Event Designers, and rentals from Bright Event Rentals.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/01/_14__054A0638.5e3077d3f056d.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Outside the main tent was a Spanish fan garden installation, which created a go-to photo backdrop. The Spanish-inspired design also influenced the food offerings, which included a charcuterie station with Spanish olives and cheeses, plus artisanal churros with dipping chocolate. Partners this year included Modern Fidelity, Puma, Super Coffee, American Express, Saks Fifth Avenue, and DLA Piper; Wally’s and Cadillac also sponsored.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/01/_5__054A0417.5e3077d3597de.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Steven Tyler's Grammy Awards Viewing Party](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/01/1202156470.5e2f3a88d0a36.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![In addition to a four-course meal from Crumble Catering, the night featured a live auction, produced by AAB Productions, featuring artwork from the likes of Mr. Brainwash, Unapologetic, and Emmanuelle Rybojad. Rentals came from Town & Country Event Rentals, while Senovva provided audio and video and draping came from Dazian. Jackson Shrub provided the evening’s greenery.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/01/1202200493.5e2f3a881f7c6.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![The night featured a surprise performance from singer Gavin DeGraw; other performers included mentalist Lior Suchard and the Youth Villages African Drumming Group, which included girls supported by Janie’s Fund. Steven Tyler joined the gala after performing on the Grammys telecast with Aerosmith and Run DMC; the rock band was also honored as the 2020 MusiCares Person of the Year on Friday night.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/01/1202216630.5e2f3a8544039.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Warner Music Group's Pre-Grammy Celebration](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/01/CF006169_2.5e2f3b3053e5c.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![The Warner Music Group logo was creatively displayed throughout the space, including in a wall of neutral florals.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/01/CF006165_2.5e2f3b3091fce.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![A “kaleidobooth” photo op also tied into the 1970s theme. Catering came from the NoMad Hotel, and Absolut Juice created specialty cocktails.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/01/CF006146_2.5e2f3b303b6f6.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Instagram’s Grammy Luncheon](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/01/1201725546.5e2f362779eb9.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![The colorful florals and Instagram branding continued throughout the space.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/01/1201725552.5e2f362691b70.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Mastercard's Sonic Carnival](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/01/20200125_CP_B4104.5e306d8ea7322.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Highlights included carnival-style games, a claw machine with prizes, a merry-go-round, an A.I. experience, fresh popcorn, and a palm reader.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/01/20200125_CP_B4118.5e306d8e85ff5.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Kristin Joy Public Relations handled PR and Polk Imaging handled content capture. An entire Mastercard album is due later this year.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/01/20200125_CP_B4156.5e306d8ea47e5.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Billboard's Power 100](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/01/052_P7III_1094a.5e3072077b5e7.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![The event included performances from Jac Ross (pictured), Zsela, Tobi Lou, and more.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/01/194_P7III_1714.5e3072063ef3a.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Citi Sound Vault](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/01/1201130039.5e2f3583ea5fa.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![The Vanity Group’s Pre-Grammy Awards Dinner](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/01/B26I2835_2020012360620494.5e3072a2f2172.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![The florals and greenery continued to the event’s step-and-repeat.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/01/B26I2773_2020012360620483.5e3072a2e00e1.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Mack Sennett After-Party](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/01/EDA2020_0126_210826_3878_GJB.5e307304c6414.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Spotify's Best New Artist Party](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/01/_FKH1554_20200123111120079.5e2f39b38e5a1.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Sir Lucian Grainge’s 2020 Artist Showcase](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/01/MVH29699.5e3073683567a.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Mastercard Presents “Designing a Better Music Industry for Women” Event](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2020/01/Joshua_Applegate___CP_A3418.5e2f37852c540.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)