Television network CBS on Monday said 26.55 million
viewers tuned in to see country trio Lady Antebellum win song of the year and record
of the year with "Need You Now" and Canadian rockers Arcade Fire
claim best album for "The Suburbs." Total viewership was up 3 percent
from last year's 25.87 million, CBS said, as music fans watched Mick Jagger pay
tribute to the late Solomon Burke by singing "Everbody Needs
Somebody" and Justin Bieber in a duet with Jaden Smith.
The Grammys are
given out by the US-based Recording Academy. In recent years, organizers have
reduced the number of awards given away in the televised portion of the show
and emphasized performances as a way to keep audiences tuned in. This year's
honors included some of the biggest names in pop music, hip-hop and rap,
country and rock. Among the other singers were Lady Gaga and Eminem.
