How to keep your cool during the GRAMMYs
Staying so casual when running into Olivia Dean, Yungblud, Noah Kahan & KATSEYE
Back in January, we needed someone to cover real-time social content for UMG socials around the GRAMMYs and host the afterparty red carpet interviews for the launch of Universal Music Live. And see, we’ve got this Nashville-based employee Clare Fox.
Clare Fox is a 22 year old senior at Belmont University who already has unreal music industry work experience. She’s an °1824 Strategic Partnerships and Social Media Rep who has created content with millions of views for artist projects like Sabrina Carpenter, BTS, Role Model, Reneé Rapp and Lily Allen. She’s set up collaborations and activations for UMG labels like Interscope, Lost Highway, Republic and more.
Like, duh, it’s gonna be Clare who we tap in.
We debriefed with this absolute icon and future exec on how it all went down during music’s biggest night.
What was the coolest interaction you had, and also: how did you keep your cool?
One of the coolest parts of the week was getting to be around artists in more relaxed environments, like the UMG artist gifting suite. It felt a lot more casual than a red carpet, so artists were really able to be themselves around each other. I got to interact with some of my favorites like Olivia Dean, Noah Kahan, Lola Young, and KATSEYE, which was definitely a pinch-me moment!
The best way to keep my cool when I’m working is to put my inner “fangirl” on pause. I stay focused on the role I’m there to do, whether that’s capturing content or supporting the team, because the artists are there for their job too. I honestly do not fully process these kinds of moments until the event is over.
What is the most important skill you’ve developed through °1824 that felt most essential while working live at the GRAMMYs?
Two things really stood out: understanding the UMG ecosystem and being adaptable.
°1824 has given me a strong foundation for understanding UMG labels, artist rosters, and how different teams operate, which has made a huge difference in such fast-moving environments. You’re able to anticipate moments, know who you’re working with, and move with more confidence.
More than anything, it’s all about adaptability. So much of GRAMMY week is unpredictable, and you have to be comfortable not knowing exactly what’s coming next. Going in with a solid skill set, while also being ready to think on your feet and adjust in real time, was essential.
In an environment filled with high-level executives and artists, what was your approach to networking without it feeling transactional?
I always try to approach networking from a genuine place. Whether it’s with an artist, an executive, or someone on the team, I try to treat every interaction as a real conversation rather than “networking.”
Being present, listening, and showing genuine interest go a long way. People can tell when you’re engaged and curious versus when you’re trying to make a connection for the sake of it. For me, it’s really about building lasting relationships over quick interactions.
Looking back at the night, what was the most surprising thing you learned about the “behind-the-scenes” of the music industry’s biggest night?
How fast-paced everything is! Even at the highest level, things are constantly changing and moving in real time. You can prepare as much as possible, but unexpected moments will arise, and you have to be ready to pivot quickly. It really showed me how much trust and collaboration go into making everything run smoothly behind the scenes.
Was there a moment during the interviews where things didn’t go as planned? How did you use your social media instincts to pivot and keep the segment moving?
Definitely! I had prepared both general and artist-specific questions, but none of the artists I prepped for came down the carpet, so I had to pivot quickly.
We also received the final list of attendees only a few hours beforehand, so there wasn’t much time to fully prepare for who I’d be speaking with. On top of that, it was my first time interviewing on a red carpet, so I was learning how to pull artists, read the moment, and adjust in real time.
In those situations, I leaned into the more natural conversation rather than trying to stick to a script. Since it was an afterparty, the energy was more celebratory after the long week, so focusing on connecting with the artists and meeting them where they were made the conversations feel more authentic.
If you had to describe the energy of hosting a live show at the GRAMMYs in just three words, what would they be?
Electric, surreal, unforgettable.
Last question: why do we have to all caps the GRAMMYs?
Honestly I have no idea lol. The all caps makes it look super important though!
