Sign up for our daily briefing
Make your busy days simpler with Axios AM/PM. Catch up on what's new and why it matters in just 5 minutes.
Catch up on the day's biggest business stories
Subscribe to Axios Closer for insights into the day’s business news and trends and why they matter
Stay on top of the latest market trends
Subscribe to Axios Markets for the latest market trends and economic insights. Sign up for free.
Sports news worthy of your time
Binge on the stats and stories that drive the sports world with Axios Sports. Sign up for free.
Tech news worthy of your time
Get our smart take on technology from the Valley and D.C. with Axios Login. Sign up for free.
Get the inside stories
Get an insider's guide to the new White House with Axios Sneak Peek. Sign up for free.
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Want a daily digest of the top Denver news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Denver
Want a daily digest of the top Des Moines news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Des Moines
Want a daily digest of the top Twin Cities news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Twin Cities
Want a daily digest of the top Tampa Bay news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Tampa Bay
Want a daily digest of the top Charlotte news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Charlotte
Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Foreign Press Association
The Golden Globes were viewed by just 6.9 million people this year, compared to 18.3 million in 2020, according to final ratings from Nielsen.
Why it matters: It's not just a historic low for the Globes. The ratings slump means Sunday's virtual event was one of the worst-performing awards shows in recent history.
The big picture: Viewership for live TV events, including other award shows, has plummeted during the pandemic.
- The audience for the Emmys in September dropped 11% year-over-year to just 6.1 million viewers, another record low.
- Last year, even before the pandemic-driven shutdowns, Academy Award viewership fell to a record low of 26.3 million viewers.
- The Grammy Awards hit a new low later that month in the key 18-49 advertising demographic.
Be smart: The Golden Globes typically serves as a litmus test for how ratings will fare for the remainder of the year. So far, 2021 ratings are a bad indicator for the Oscars, set to air in March, with the Emmys and Grammys later this year.
Yes, but: The show was full of awkward moments, which may have turned some viewers off. The pandemic has also upended the production schedules of Hollywood's biggest studios, reducing the number of hits that were able to debut last year.
Go deeper: Hollywood's big award shows are in trouble