Gotham looking like repeat Grammy winner
The use of Madison Square Garden as the location for the Grammy Awards earlier this year was apparently deemed such a success that it has earned a repeat performance.
Mike Greene, prexy/CEO of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences and Hizzoner are expected to announce at Gotham City Hall on Monday that the 40th annual ceremony will return to the Big Apple for the 1998 telecast.
The decision isn't really much of a surprise as the recording acad reached an accord in mid-1996 with city fathers to hold the event in New York for two consecutive years. (The yearly location selection --- either L.A. or N.Y. --- is typically a joint decision between the acad's TV board, led by Pierre Cossette, and the Greene-led contingent).
And following last year's telecast, Greene told reporters who weren't busy packing up their laptops or picking their first stop on the post-Grammy party circuit that MSG "was an unqualified success" and that he couldn't see "any reason why we wouldn't be back." Greene did suggest that locales like Atlanta and Nashville might also be considered.
The move from the 6,000-plus seat Radio City Music Hall to the 12,500 seat MSG also allowed more industry types and fans to attend.
By the way, Giuliani's considerable influence seemed extended to the weather as well. He succeeded in keeping the city snow-free for the entire week of Grammy events.
The flakes didn't start falling until Friday night.
