The 63rd annual Grammy Awards slumped to less than half of last year's total, continuing a pandemic-fueled slump for live awards shows, once considered one of the few remnants of must-see broadcast television.

The three hour, 43 minute telecast averaged a record-low 9.2 million viewers on Sunday, according to final Nielsen figures. That's down 51% from 18.7 million for last year's telecast on Jan. 26, well before the pandemic had spread widely enough to force a lockdown and social distancing. (The new figure includes those who streamed the show on CBS.com or new streaming service Paramount+.)

The low ratings compared with just 6.9 million viewers for the Feb. 28 Golden Globes, another record low for a full ceremony, and 6.1 million for the Emmy Awards last September, enabling CBS to boast in a news release that the stunted Grammys were the "largest audience for an awards show this season."

By contrast, the Grammys notched a ratings peak of 39.9 million viewers in 2012, a day after singer Whitney Houston's death.