section_path: Background
section_name: Background
paragraph_text: Background
  
  For the 2025 ceremony, the Recording Academy announced several changes for different categories and updates on eligibility rules. No new categories were introduced for the first time in four years. In an urgent letter to the 12,000 voting members of the Recording Academy, chief executive officer (CEO) Harvey Mason Jr. urged them to cast their votes with "purpose, intention, and integrity " and without "bias, grudge-holding, or careless voting".
  
  Discussions were held to either postpone the ceremony and all of its ancillary events or pivot the broadcast to a fundraiser due to the series of wildfires affecting Southern California. In a joint statement, Mason Jr. and Tammy Hurt, the chair of the Recording Academy's board of trustees, confirmed that the ceremony would proceed as planned "in close coordination with local authorities to ensure public safety and responsible use of area resources." This edition, however, carried a "renewed sense of purpose: raising additional funds to support wildfire relief efforts and honoring the bravery and dedication of first responders who risk their lives to protect ours."
  
  During the broadcast, some commercial airtime was donated to help small businesses affected by the wildfires. Host Trevor Noah announced this initiative and special guests appeared in the commercials. Featured businesses included Orla Floral Studio of Altadena with an appearance by Doja Cat, Two Dragons Martial Arts of Altadena with an appearance by Charlie Puth, Rhythms Of The Village of Altadena with an appearance by Anderson.Paak, Paliskates Skate Shop in Pacific Palisades with an appearance by Avril Lavigne, and the L.A. Lost Stuffy Project with an appearance by the Jonas Brothers.
  
  Additionally, high school choir students from Pasadena Waldorf School in Altadena and Palisades Charter High School in the Pacific Palisades, both of which were damaged in the wildfires, sang backup vocals during the Stevie Wonder and Herbie Hancock performance of " We Are the World."
  
  For the 2025 ceremony, the Recording Academy announced several changes for different categories and updates on eligibility rules. No new categories were introduced for the first time in four years. In an urgent letter to the 12,000 voting members of the Recording Academy, chief executive officer (CEO) Harvey Mason Jr. urged them to cast their votes with "purpose, intention, and integrity " and without "bias, grudge-holding, or careless voting".
  
  Discussions were held to either postpone the ceremony and all of its ancillary events or pivot the broadcast to a fundraiser due to the series of wildfires affecting Southern California. In a joint statement, Mason Jr. and Tammy Hurt, the chair of the Recording Academy's board of trustees, confirmed that the ceremony would proceed as planned "in close coordination with local authorities to ensure public safety and responsible use of area resources." This edition, however, carried a "renewed sense of purpose: raising additional funds to support wildfire relief efforts and honoring the bravery and dedication of first responders who risk their lives to protect ours."
  
  During the broadcast, some commercial airtime was donated to help small businesses affected by the wildfires. Host Trevor Noah announced this initiative and special guests appeared in the commercials. Featured businesses included Orla Floral Studio of Altadena with an appearance by Doja Cat, Two Dragons Martial Arts of Altadena with an appearance by Charlie Puth, Rhythms Of The Village of Altadena with an appearance by Anderson.Paak, Paliskates Skate Shop in Pacific Palisades with an appearance by Avril Lavigne, and the L.A. Lost Stuffy Project with an appearance by the Jonas Brothers.
  
  Additionally, high school choir students from Pasadena Waldorf School in Altadena and Palisades Charter High School in the Pacific Palisades, both of which were damaged in the wildfires, sang backup vocals during the Stevie Wonder and Herbie Hancock performance of " We Are the World."