The Golden Globes: From a Journalists' Association to a Corporate-Owned Awards Powerhouse

Art · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Born in 1944 to honor international cinema, the Golden Globes have survived scandals, boycotts, and lawsuits. Once managed by a small group of foreign journalists, the awards are now a for-profit entity owned by Dick Clark Productions, navigating a complex history of broadcast disputes, amateurish management, and shifting industry influence.

Founded in 1943 as the Hollywood Foreign Correspondent Association, the organization originally sought to better distribute cinema news to non-U.S. markets. By January 1944, they held their first ceremony at 20th Century-Fox studios. Over the decades, the group—later renamed the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA)—expanded its scope to include television achievements by 1956. However, the organization frequently faced internal turmoil and external criticism, including a 1968 FCC admonishment for misleading the public about how winners were determined.

The awards' relationship with television was often fraught. In 1993, the HFPA signed a contract with Dick Clark Productions (DCP) that granted the firm producer status in perpetuity, provided they maintained a broadcast deal with NBC. This arrangement led to legal battles when the HFPA felt sidelined by DCP's independent negotiations. In 2012, a federal judge ruled against the HFPA, describing their internal conduct as amateurish and prone to personal feuds, while praising DCP's professional approach.

The modern era brought existential threats. In 2021, the HFPA faced a massive boycott from major studios like Netflix and Amazon, alongside PR firms, due to a lack of diversity and accountability. This prompted a total restructuring. By June 2023, the Golden Globes were acquired by DCP and Eldridge Industries, transitioning the awards into a for-profit entity. The HFPA’s philanthropic work was moved to a new non-profit, the Golden Globe Foundation. By July 2026, the HFPA sued their former partner, alleging that the acquisition was an antitrust violation designed to manipulate awards season races, seeking $150 million in damages.

Today, the voting body has grown to 310 individuals from 76 countries. The awards remain a major fixture of the industry, ranking as the third most-watched ceremony annually. Despite the corporate shift and legal challenges, the process remains rigorous, requiring films and TV programs to be uploaded to a dedicated screening platform for voters, who rank their choices to determine the final nominees.

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