This shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise since record or CD or download sales are literally at a fraction of what they used to be: on Grammy night, the two biggest record companies are not having after parties. As of now, Universal Music–the leader–has nothing scheduled. It’s unclear where their artists-like Lady GaGa, Justin Bieber, and Eminem will go to celebrate. Of course, as one UMG insider pointed out, Bieber is nowhere drinking age and Monday is a school day. Right.
Meanwhile Sony Music–second in the business–is having a small gathering for what they say will be 150 people including execs, nominees, and people like Barbra Streisand and Tony Bennett. Sounds like fun. Exec wise, Sony is in a muddle over trying to get 72 year old Doug Morris extricated from his UMG contract to come run their company.
R&B artist NeYo has cancelled his annual late night brunch that usually starts at 2am on Sunday after Clive Davis’s Saturday night NARAS backed gala at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Also not happening: LA Reid’s annual party, even though the DefJam chief is celebrating his producer’s credit on the Justin Bieber 3D movie (which is not called Leave it to Biever).
 The Davis event is still on, honoring David Geffen, with rumors of a Dionne Warwick tribute featuring her cousin, Whitney Houston. The Davis night is one of two big soirees on a weekend that’s incredibly diminished from what it used to be. The other is Friday night’s MusiCares Person of the Year dinner honoring Barbra Streisand, a hot hot ticket at the Convention Center.
At the same time that Sony and UMG have skipped spending big bucks, there’s word that EMI–a company in financial jeopardy and recently seized by Citigroup–his having a “big” party in town. Well, they do have artists to entertain like Katy Perry and Lady Antebellum, so it’s not totally nuts. Past EMI parties have always been fun. And there’s a rumor of a Lyor Cohen after party hosted by the Warner Music exec.
There’s also the NARAS Governor’s Ball right after the show, although it’s not usually a place to see stars. But what a difference in a business that used to live on lavish parties. The heyday is really over.
