diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/api/api_alertmanager_guards.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/api/api_alertmanager_guards.go
index d619b22b8d5..735b823a6f5 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/api/api_alertmanager_guards.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/api/api_alertmanager_guards.go
@@ -1,15 +1,17 @@
 package api
 
 import (
+	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 
 	"github.com/google/go-cmp/cmp"
 	"github.com/google/go-cmp/cmp/cmpopts"
+	amConfig "github.com/prometheus/alertmanager/config"
+	"github.com/prometheus/alertmanager/pkg/labels"
+
 	apimodels "github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/ngalert/api/tooling/definitions"
 	ngmodels "github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/ngalert/models"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/util/cmputil"
-	amConfig "github.com/prometheus/alertmanager/config"
-	"github.com/prometheus/alertmanager/pkg/labels"
 )
 
 func (srv AlertmanagerSrv) provenanceGuard(currentConfig apimodels.GettableUserConfig, newConfig apimodels.PostableUserConfig) error {
@@ -96,11 +98,16 @@ func checkContactPoints(currReceivers []*apimodels.GettableApiReceiver, newRecei
 					return editErr
 				}
 			}
-			existingSettings, err := contactPoint.Settings.Map()
+			existingSettings := map[string]interface{}{}
+			err := json.Unmarshal(contactPoint.Settings, &existingSettings)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			newSettings := map[string]interface{}{}
+			err = json.Unmarshal(contactPoint.Settings, &newSettings)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
-			newSettings, err := postedContactPoint.Settings.Map()
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/api/api_alertmanager_guards_test.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/api/api_alertmanager_guards_test.go
index a87733d1c3a..a4a43b01182 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/api/api_alertmanager_guards_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/api/api_alertmanager_guards_test.go
@@ -3,14 +3,14 @@ package api
 import (
 	"testing"
 
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/components/simplejson"
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/ngalert/api/tooling/definitions"
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/ngalert/models"
 	amConfig "github.com/prometheus/alertmanager/config"
 	"github.com/prometheus/alertmanager/pkg/labels"
 	"github.com/prometheus/alertmanager/timeinterval"
 	"github.com/prometheus/common/model"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/ngalert/api/tooling/definitions"
+	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/ngalert/models"
 )
 
 func TestCheckRoute(t *testing.T) {
@@ -319,9 +319,9 @@ func defaultGettableReceiver(t *testing.T, uid string, provenance models.Provena
 					SecureFields: map[string]bool{
 						"url": true,
 					},
-					Settings: simplejson.NewFromAny(map[string]interface{}{
-						"hello": "world",
-					}),
+					Settings: definitions.RawMessage(`{
+						"hello": "world"
+					}`),
 				},
 			},
 		},
@@ -338,9 +338,9 @@ func defaultPostableReceiver(t *testing.T, uid string) *definitions.PostableApiR
 					Name:                  "yeah",
 					Type:                  "slack",
 					DisableResolveMessage: true,
-					Settings: simplejson.NewFromAny(map[string]interface{}{
-						"hello": "world",
-					}),
+					Settings: definitions.RawMessage(`{
+						"hello": "world"
+					}`),
 				},
 			},
 		},
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/api/tooling/definitions/alertmanager.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/api/tooling/definitions/alertmanager.go
index d0ffd5c4cae..cb2d12c08f3 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/api/tooling/definitions/alertmanager.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/api/tooling/definitions/alertmanager.go
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/prometheus/common/model"
 	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/components/simplejson"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/ngalert/models"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/secrets"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/util"
@@ -964,12 +963,54 @@ func AllReceivers(route *config.Route) (res []string) {
 	return res
 }
 
+type RawMessage json.RawMessage // This type alias adds YAML marshaling to the json.RawMessage.
+
+// MarshalJSON returns m as the JSON encoding of m.
+func (r RawMessage) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
+	return json.Marshal(json.RawMessage(r))
+}
+
+func (r *RawMessage) UnmarshalJSON(data []byte) error {
+	var raw json.RawMessage
+	err := json.Unmarshal(data, &raw)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	*r = RawMessage(raw)
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (r *RawMessage) UnmarshalYAML(unmarshal func(interface{}) error) error {
+	var data interface{}
+	if err := unmarshal(&data); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	bytes, err := json.Marshal(data)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	*r = bytes
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (r RawMessage) MarshalYAML() (interface{}, error) {
+	if r == nil {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	var d interface{}
+	err := json.Unmarshal(r, &d)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return d, nil
+}
+
 type GettableGrafanaReceiver struct {
 	UID                   string            `json:"uid"`
 	Name                  string            `json:"name"`
 	Type                  string            `json:"type"`
 	DisableResolveMessage bool              `json:"disableResolveMessage"`
-	Settings              *simplejson.Json  `json:"settings"`
+	Settings              RawMessage        `json:"settings,omitempty"`
 	SecureFields          map[string]bool   `json:"secureFields"`
 	Provenance            models.Provenance `json:"provenance,omitempty"`
 }
@@ -979,7 +1020,7 @@ type PostableGrafanaReceiver struct {
 	Name                  string            `json:"name"`
 	Type                  string            `json:"type"`
 	DisableResolveMessage bool              `json:"disableResolveMessage"`
-	Settings              *simplejson.Json  `json:"settings"`
+	Settings              RawMessage        `json:"settings,omitempty"`
 	SecureSettings        map[string]string `json:"secureSettings"`
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/api/tooling/definitions/alertmanager_test.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/api/tooling/definitions/alertmanager_test.go
index 03c8a1ca627..2b6f1a14319 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/api/tooling/definitions/alertmanager_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/api/tooling/definitions/alertmanager_test.go
@@ -1040,3 +1040,49 @@ func Test_Marshaling_Validation(t *testing.T) {
 	expected := []model.LabelName{"alertname"}
 	require.Equal(t, expected, tmp.AlertmanagerConfig.Config.Route.GroupBy)
 }
+
+func Test_RawMessageMarshaling(t *testing.T) {
+	type Data struct {
+		Field RawMessage `json:"field" yaml:"field"`
+	}
+
+	t.Run("should unmarshal nil", func(t *testing.T) {
+		v := Data{
+			Field: nil,
+		}
+		data, err := json.Marshal(v)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.JSONEq(t, `{ "field": null }`, string(data))
+
+		var n Data
+		require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal(data, &n))
+		assert.Equal(t, RawMessage("null"), n.Field)
+
+		data, err = yaml.Marshal(&v)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, "field: null\n", string(data))
+
+		require.NoError(t, yaml.Unmarshal(data, &n))
+		assert.Nil(t, n.Field)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("should unmarshal value", func(t *testing.T) {
+		v := Data{
+			Field: RawMessage(`{ "data": "test"}`),
+		}
+		data, err := json.Marshal(v)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.JSONEq(t, `{"field":{"data":"test"}}`, string(data))
+
+		var n Data
+		require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal(data, &n))
+		assert.Equal(t, RawMessage(`{"data":"test"}`), n.Field)
+
+		data, err = yaml.Marshal(&v)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, "field:\n    data: test\n", string(data))
+
+		require.NoError(t, yaml.Unmarshal(data, &n))
+		assert.Equal(t, RawMessage(`{"data":"test"}`), n.Field)
+	})
+}
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/api/tooling/definitions/provisioning_contactpoints.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/api/tooling/definitions/provisioning_contactpoints.go
index 51eca266cd1..f8decca6afd 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/api/tooling/definitions/provisioning_contactpoints.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/api/tooling/definitions/provisioning_contactpoints.go
@@ -108,8 +108,12 @@ func (e *EmbeddedContactPoint) Valid(decryptFunc channels.GetDecryptedValueFn) e
 	if !exists {
 		return fmt.Errorf("unknown type '%s'", e.Type)
 	}
+	jsonBytes, err := e.Settings.MarshalJSON()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	cfg, _ := channels.NewFactoryConfig(&channels.NotificationChannelConfig{
-		Settings: e.Settings,
+		Settings: jsonBytes,
 		Type:     e.Type,
 	}, nil, decryptFunc, nil, nil, func(ctx ...interface{}) channels.Logger {
 		return &channels.FakeLogger{}
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/alertmanager.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/alertmanager.go
index 07ccc2ba35b..d0e3fc01ba0 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/alertmanager.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/alertmanager.go
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@ func (am *Alertmanager) buildReceiverIntegration(r *apimodels.PostableGrafanaRec
 			Name:                  r.Name,
 			Type:                  r.Type,
 			DisableResolveMessage: r.DisableResolveMessage,
-			Settings:              r.Settings,
+			Settings:              json.RawMessage(r.Settings),
 			SecureSettings:        secureSettings,
 		}
 	)
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/alertmanager.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/alertmanager.go
index 82426c19a14..80be1663e26 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/alertmanager.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/alertmanager.go
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/prometheus/alertmanager/template"
 	"github.com/prometheus/alertmanager/types"
 	"github.com/prometheus/common/model"
+
+	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/components/simplejson"
 )
 
 // GetDecryptedValueFn is a function that returns the decrypted value of
@@ -25,7 +27,11 @@ type AlertmanagerConfig struct {
 }
 
 func NewAlertmanagerConfig(config *NotificationChannelConfig, fn GetDecryptedValueFn) (*AlertmanagerConfig, error) {
-	urlStr := config.Settings.Get("url").MustString()
+	simpleConfig, err := simplejson.NewJson(config.Settings)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	urlStr := simpleConfig.Get("url").MustString()
 	if urlStr == "" {
 		return nil, errors.New("could not find url property in settings")
 	}
@@ -48,8 +54,8 @@ func NewAlertmanagerConfig(config *NotificationChannelConfig, fn GetDecryptedVal
 	return &AlertmanagerConfig{
 		NotificationChannelConfig: config,
 		URLs:                      urls,
-		BasicAuthUser:             config.Settings.Get("basicAuthUser").MustString(),
-		BasicAuthPassword:         fn(context.Background(), config.SecureSettings, "basicAuthPassword", config.Settings.Get("basicAuthPassword").MustString()),
+		BasicAuthUser:             simpleConfig.Get("basicAuthUser").MustString(),
+		BasicAuthPassword:         fn(context.Background(), config.SecureSettings, "basicAuthPassword", simpleConfig.Get("basicAuthPassword").MustString()),
 	}, nil
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/alertmanager_test.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/alertmanager_test.go
index cd1cef1040d..c61a147afff 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/alertmanager_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/alertmanager_test.go
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import (
 	"net/url"
 	"testing"
 
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/components/simplejson"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/secrets/fakes"
 	secretsManager "github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/secrets/manager"
 
@@ -46,14 +45,12 @@ func TestNewAlertmanagerNotifier(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	for _, c := range cases {
 		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			settingsJSON, err := simplejson.NewJson([]byte(c.settings))
-			require.NoError(t, err)
 			secureSettings := make(map[string][]byte)
 
 			m := &NotificationChannelConfig{
 				Name:           c.receiverName,
 				Type:           "prometheus-alertmanager",
-				Settings:       settingsJSON,
+				Settings:       json.RawMessage(c.settings),
 				SecureSettings: secureSettings,
 			}
 
@@ -143,7 +140,7 @@ func TestAlertmanagerNotifier_Notify(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	for _, c := range cases {
 		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			settingsJSON, err := simplejson.NewJson([]byte(c.settings))
+			settingsJSON := json.RawMessage(c.settings)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			secureSettings := make(map[string][]byte)
 
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/dingding.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/dingding.go
index 12b00ca2067..af4648d99c6 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/dingding.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/dingding.go
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/prometheus/alertmanager/template"
 	"github.com/prometheus/alertmanager/types"
+
+	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/components/simplejson"
 )
 
 const defaultDingdingMsgType = "link"
@@ -21,15 +23,19 @@ type dingDingSettings struct {
 }
 
 func buildDingDingSettings(fc FactoryConfig) (*dingDingSettings, error) {
-	URL := fc.Config.Settings.Get("url").MustString()
+	settings, err := simplejson.NewJson(fc.Config.Settings)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	URL := settings.Get("url").MustString()
 	if URL == "" {
 		return nil, errors.New("could not find url property in settings")
 	}
 	return &dingDingSettings{
 		URL:         URL,
-		MessageType: fc.Config.Settings.Get("msgType").MustString(defaultDingdingMsgType),
-		Title:       fc.Config.Settings.Get("title").MustString(DefaultMessageTitleEmbed),
-		Message:     fc.Config.Settings.Get("message").MustString(DefaultMessageEmbed),
+		MessageType: settings.Get("msgType").MustString(defaultDingdingMsgType),
+		Title:       settings.Get("title").MustString(DefaultMessageTitleEmbed),
+		Message:     settings.Get("message").MustString(DefaultMessageEmbed),
 	}, nil
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/dingding_test.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/dingding_test.go
index efbb4e140e2..f0618cf61a1 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/dingding_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/dingding_test.go
@@ -10,8 +10,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/prometheus/alertmanager/types"
 	"github.com/prometheus/common/model"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/components/simplejson"
 )
 
 func TestDingdingNotifier(t *testing.T) {
@@ -166,15 +164,12 @@ func TestDingdingNotifier(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, c := range cases {
 		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			settingsJSON, err := simplejson.NewJson([]byte(c.settings))
-			require.NoError(t, err)
-
 			webhookSender := mockNotificationService()
 			fc := FactoryConfig{
 				Config: &NotificationChannelConfig{
 					Name:     "dingding_testing",
 					Type:     "dingding",
-					Settings: settingsJSON,
+					Settings: json.RawMessage(c.settings),
 				},
 				// TODO: allow changing the associated values for different tests.
 				NotificationService: webhookSender,
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/discord.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/discord.go
index 2b87c5b4e84..8840e340a01 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/discord.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/discord.go
@@ -59,7 +59,11 @@ func DiscordFactory(fc FactoryConfig) (NotificationChannel, error) {
 }
 
 func newDiscordNotifier(fc FactoryConfig) (*DiscordNotifier, error) {
-	dUrl := fc.Config.Settings.Get("url").MustString()
+	settings, err := simplejson.NewJson(fc.Config.Settings)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	dUrl := settings.Get("url").MustString()
 	if dUrl == "" {
 		return nil, errors.New("could not find webhook url property in settings")
 	}
@@ -71,11 +75,11 @@ func newDiscordNotifier(fc FactoryConfig) (*DiscordNotifier, error) {
 		images: fc.ImageStore,
 		tmpl:   fc.Template,
 		settings: discordSettings{
-			Title:              fc.Config.Settings.Get("title").MustString(DefaultMessageTitleEmbed),
-			Content:            fc.Config.Settings.Get("message").MustString(DefaultMessageEmbed),
-			AvatarURL:          fc.Config.Settings.Get("avatar_url").MustString(),
+			Title:              settings.Get("title").MustString(DefaultMessageTitleEmbed),
+			Content:            settings.Get("message").MustString(DefaultMessageEmbed),
+			AvatarURL:          settings.Get("avatar_url").MustString(),
 			WebhookURL:         dUrl,
-			UseDiscordUsername: fc.Config.Settings.Get("use_discord_username").MustBool(false),
+			UseDiscordUsername: settings.Get("use_discord_username").MustBool(false),
 		},
 	}, nil
 }
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/discord_test.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/discord_test.go
index 8e068a5bb37..e2972182a4c 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/discord_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/discord_test.go
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/prometheus/common/model"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/components/simplejson"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/setting"
 )
 
@@ -287,8 +286,6 @@ func TestDiscordNotifier(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, c := range cases {
 		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			settingsJson, err := simplejson.NewJson([]byte(c.settings))
-			require.NoError(t, err)
 			webhookSender := mockNotificationService()
 			imageStore := &UnavailableImageStore{}
 
@@ -296,7 +293,7 @@ func TestDiscordNotifier(t *testing.T) {
 				Config: &NotificationChannelConfig{
 					Name:     "discord_testing",
 					Type:     "discord",
-					Settings: settingsJson,
+					Settings: json.RawMessage(c.settings),
 				},
 				ImageStore: imageStore,
 				// TODO: allow changing the associated values for different tests.
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/email.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/email.go
index 697da0ac0db..6249eaa047f 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/email.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/email.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/prometheus/alertmanager/template"
 	"github.com/prometheus/alertmanager/types"
 
+	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/components/simplejson"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/util"
 )
 
@@ -48,7 +49,11 @@ func EmailFactory(fc FactoryConfig) (NotificationChannel, error) {
 }
 
 func NewEmailConfig(config *NotificationChannelConfig) (*EmailConfig, error) {
-	addressesString := config.Settings.Get("addresses").MustString()
+	settings, err := simplejson.NewJson(config.Settings)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	addressesString := settings.Get("addresses").MustString()
 	if addressesString == "" {
 		return nil, errors.New("could not find addresses in settings")
 	}
@@ -56,9 +61,9 @@ func NewEmailConfig(config *NotificationChannelConfig) (*EmailConfig, error) {
 	addresses := util.SplitEmails(addressesString)
 	return &EmailConfig{
 		NotificationChannelConfig: config,
-		SingleEmail:               config.Settings.Get("singleEmail").MustBool(false),
-		Message:                   config.Settings.Get("message").MustString(),
-		Subject:                   config.Settings.Get("subject").MustString(DefaultMessageTitleEmbed),
+		SingleEmail:               settings.Get("singleEmail").MustBool(false),
+		Message:                   settings.Get("message").MustString(),
+		Subject:                   settings.Get("subject").MustString(DefaultMessageTitleEmbed),
 		Addresses:                 addresses,
 	}, nil
 }
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/email_test.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/email_test.go
index 767a928e3df..f4a02aad302 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/email_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/email_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package channels
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"net/url"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -10,7 +11,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/prometheus/common/model"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/components/simplejson"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/notifications"
 )
 
@@ -22,9 +22,8 @@ func TestEmailNotifier(t *testing.T) {
 	tmpl.ExternalURL = externalURL
 
 	t.Run("empty settings should return error", func(t *testing.T) {
-		json := `{ }`
-
-		settingsJSON, _ := simplejson.NewJson([]byte(json))
+		jsonData := `{ }`
+		settingsJSON := json.RawMessage(jsonData)
 		model := &NotificationChannelConfig{
 			Name:     "ops",
 			Type:     "email",
@@ -36,18 +35,16 @@ func TestEmailNotifier(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	t.Run("with the correct settings it should not fail and produce the expected command", func(t *testing.T) {
-		json := `{
+		jsonData := `{
 			"addresses": "someops@example.com;somedev@example.com",
 			"message": "{{ template \"default.title\" . }}"
 		}`
-		settingsJSON, err := simplejson.NewJson([]byte(json))
-		require.NoError(t, err)
 
 		emailSender := mockNotificationService()
 		cfg, err := NewEmailConfig(&NotificationChannelConfig{
 			Name:     "ops",
 			Type:     "email",
-			Settings: settingsJSON,
+			Settings: json.RawMessage(jsonData),
 		})
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		emailNotifier := NewEmailNotifier(cfg, &FakeLogger{}, emailSender, &UnavailableImageStore{}, tmpl)
@@ -270,24 +267,23 @@ func TestEmailNotifierIntegration(t *testing.T) {
 func createSut(t *testing.T, messageTmpl string, subjectTmpl string, emailTmpl *template.Template, ns *emailSender) *EmailNotifier {
 	t.Helper()
 
-	json := `{
-		"addresses": "someops@example.com;somedev@example.com",
-		"singleEmail": true
-	}`
-	settingsJSON, err := simplejson.NewJson([]byte(json))
+	jsonData := map[string]interface{}{
+		"addresses":   "someops@example.com;somedev@example.com",
+		"singleEmail": true,
+	}
 	if messageTmpl != "" {
-		settingsJSON.Set("message", messageTmpl)
+		jsonData["message"] = messageTmpl
 	}
 
 	if subjectTmpl != "" {
-		settingsJSON.Set("subject", subjectTmpl)
+		jsonData["subject"] = subjectTmpl
 	}
-
+	bytes, err := json.Marshal(jsonData)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	cfg, err := NewEmailConfig(&NotificationChannelConfig{
 		Name:     "ops",
 		Type:     "email",
-		Settings: settingsJSON,
+		Settings: bytes,
 	})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	emailNotifier := NewEmailNotifier(cfg, &FakeLogger{}, ns, &UnavailableImageStore{}, emailTmpl)
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/googlechat.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/googlechat.go
index 1cda3c58210..da8d5fb0880 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/googlechat.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/googlechat.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/prometheus/alertmanager/template"
 	"github.com/prometheus/alertmanager/types"
 
+	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/components/simplejson"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/setting"
 )
 
@@ -49,7 +50,11 @@ func newGoogleChatNotifier(fc FactoryConfig) (*GoogleChatNotifier, error) {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to unmarshal settings: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	URL := fc.Config.Settings.Get("url").MustString()
+	rawsettings, err := simplejson.NewJson(fc.Config.Settings)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	URL := rawsettings.Get("url").MustString()
 	if URL == "" {
 		return nil, errors.New("could not find url property in settings")
 	}
@@ -62,8 +67,8 @@ func newGoogleChatNotifier(fc FactoryConfig) (*GoogleChatNotifier, error) {
 		tmpl:   fc.Template,
 		settings: googleChatSettings{
 			URL:     URL,
-			Title:   fc.Config.Settings.Get("title").MustString(DefaultMessageTitleEmbed),
-			Content: fc.Config.Settings.Get("message").MustString(DefaultMessageEmbed),
+			Title:   rawsettings.Get("title").MustString(DefaultMessageTitleEmbed),
+			Content: rawsettings.Get("message").MustString(DefaultMessageEmbed),
 		},
 	}, nil
 }
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/googlechat_test.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/googlechat_test.go
index 81e571de386..adae8138140 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/googlechat_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/googlechat_test.go
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/prometheus/common/model"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/components/simplejson"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/setting"
 )
 
@@ -462,9 +461,6 @@ func TestGoogleChatNotifier(t *testing.T) {
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			tmpl.ExternalURL = externalURL
 
-			settingsJSON, err := simplejson.NewJson([]byte(c.settings))
-			require.NoError(t, err)
-
 			webhookSender := mockNotificationService()
 			imageStore := &UnavailableImageStore{}
 
@@ -472,7 +468,7 @@ func TestGoogleChatNotifier(t *testing.T) {
 				Config: &NotificationChannelConfig{
 					Name:     "googlechat_testing",
 					Type:     "googlechat",
-					Settings: settingsJSON,
+					Settings: json.RawMessage(c.settings),
 				},
 				ImageStore:          imageStore,
 				NotificationService: webhookSender,
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/kafka.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/kafka.go
index babfb42598c..6dad1bec1d0 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/kafka.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/kafka.go
@@ -45,16 +45,20 @@ func KafkaFactory(fc FactoryConfig) (NotificationChannel, error) {
 
 // newKafkaNotifier is the constructor function for the Kafka notifier.
 func newKafkaNotifier(fc FactoryConfig) (*KafkaNotifier, error) {
-	endpoint := fc.Config.Settings.Get("kafkaRestProxy").MustString()
+	settings, err := simplejson.NewJson(fc.Config.Settings)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	endpoint := settings.Get("kafkaRestProxy").MustString()
 	if endpoint == "" {
 		return nil, errors.New("could not find kafka rest proxy endpoint property in settings")
 	}
-	topic := fc.Config.Settings.Get("kafkaTopic").MustString()
+	topic := settings.Get("kafkaTopic").MustString()
 	if topic == "" {
 		return nil, errors.New("could not find kafka topic property in settings")
 	}
-	description := fc.Config.Settings.Get("description").MustString(DefaultMessageTitleEmbed)
-	details := fc.Config.Settings.Get("details").MustString(DefaultMessageEmbed)
+	description := settings.Get("description").MustString(DefaultMessageTitleEmbed)
+	details := settings.Get("details").MustString(DefaultMessageEmbed)
 
 	return &KafkaNotifier{
 		Base:     NewBase(fc.Config),
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/kafka_test.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/kafka_test.go
index 32bf108b19a..a7bbd15adf4 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/kafka_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/kafka_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package channels
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"net/url"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -9,8 +10,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/prometheus/alertmanager/types"
 	"github.com/prometheus/common/model"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/components/simplejson"
 )
 
 func TestKafkaNotifier(t *testing.T) {
@@ -112,16 +111,13 @@ func TestKafkaNotifier(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, c := range cases {
 		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			settingsJSON, err := simplejson.NewJson([]byte(c.settings))
-			require.NoError(t, err)
-
 			webhookSender := mockNotificationService()
 
 			fc := FactoryConfig{
 				Config: &NotificationChannelConfig{
 					Name:     "kafka_testing",
 					Type:     "kafka",
-					Settings: settingsJSON,
+					Settings: json.RawMessage(c.settings),
 				},
 				ImageStore: images,
 				// TODO: allow changing the associated values for different tests.
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/line.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/line.go
index 46ffcc31ff8..7c9a9a7c9eb 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/line.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/line.go
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/prometheus/alertmanager/template"
 	"github.com/prometheus/alertmanager/types"
+
+	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/components/simplejson"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -44,12 +46,16 @@ func LineFactory(fc FactoryConfig) (NotificationChannel, error) {
 
 // newLineNotifier is the constructor for the LINE notifier
 func newLineNotifier(fc FactoryConfig) (*LineNotifier, error) {
-	token := fc.DecryptFunc(context.Background(), fc.Config.SecureSettings, "token", fc.Config.Settings.Get("token").MustString())
+	settings, err := simplejson.NewJson(fc.Config.Settings)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	token := fc.DecryptFunc(context.Background(), fc.Config.SecureSettings, "token", settings.Get("token").MustString())
 	if token == "" {
 		return nil, errors.New("could not find token in settings")
 	}
-	title := fc.Config.Settings.Get("title").MustString(DefaultMessageTitleEmbed)
-	description := fc.Config.Settings.Get("description").MustString(DefaultMessageEmbed)
+	title := settings.Get("title").MustString(DefaultMessageTitleEmbed)
+	description := settings.Get("description").MustString(DefaultMessageEmbed)
 
 	return &LineNotifier{
 		Base:     NewBase(fc.Config),
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/line_test.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/line_test.go
index 5bbe0d2381f..0f509d6fdd9 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/line_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/line_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package channels
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"net/url"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -10,7 +11,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/prometheus/common/model"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/components/simplejson"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/secrets/fakes"
 	secretsManager "github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/secrets/manager"
 )
@@ -96,8 +96,7 @@ func TestLineNotifier(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, c := range cases {
 		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			settingsJSON, err := simplejson.NewJson([]byte(c.settings))
-			require.NoError(t, err)
+			settingsJSON := json.RawMessage(c.settings)
 			secureSettings := make(map[string][]byte)
 			webhookSender := mockNotificationService()
 			secretsService := secretsManager.SetupTestService(t, fakes.NewFakeSecretsStore())
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/opsgenie_test.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/opsgenie_test.go
index bca54178e5d..dc40be38455 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/opsgenie_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/opsgenie_test.go
@@ -2,11 +2,11 @@ package channels
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"net/url"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/components/simplejson"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/secrets/fakes"
 	secretsManager "github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/secrets/manager"
 
@@ -230,8 +230,7 @@ func TestOpsgenieNotifier(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, c := range cases {
 		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			settingsJSON, err := simplejson.NewJson([]byte(c.settings))
-			require.NoError(t, err)
+			settingsJSON := json.RawMessage(c.settings)
 			secureSettings := make(map[string][]byte)
 
 			webhookSender := mockNotificationService()
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/pagerduty_test.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/pagerduty_test.go
index 811a5f493bc..cdc094be1f7 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/pagerduty_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/pagerduty_test.go
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/prometheus/common/model"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/components/simplejson"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/secrets/fakes"
 	secretsManager "github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/secrets/manager"
 )
@@ -276,8 +275,7 @@ func TestPagerdutyNotifier(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, c := range cases {
 		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			settingsJSON, err := simplejson.NewJson([]byte(c.settings))
-			require.NoError(t, err)
+			settingsJSON := json.RawMessage(c.settings)
 			secureSettings := make(map[string][]byte)
 			webhookSender := mockNotificationService()
 			secretsService := secretsManager.SetupTestService(t, fakes.NewFakeSecretsStore())
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/pushover_test.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/pushover_test.go
index 7cd5b6b1e18..16c5e1d81e1 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/pushover_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/pushover_test.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package channels
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
@@ -11,7 +12,6 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/components/simplejson"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/secrets/fakes"
 	secretsManager "github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/secrets/manager"
 
@@ -210,8 +210,7 @@ func TestPushoverNotifier(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 
 		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			settingsJSON, err := simplejson.NewJson([]byte(c.settings))
-			require.NoError(t, err)
+			settingsJSON := json.RawMessage(c.settings)
 			secureSettings := make(map[string][]byte)
 
 			webhookSender := mockNotificationService()
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/sensugo_test.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/sensugo_test.go
index f032b49c9e4..7bc3b47d8a0 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/sensugo_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/sensugo_test.go
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/components/simplejson"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/secrets/fakes"
 	secretsManager "github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/secrets/manager"
 
@@ -137,8 +136,7 @@ func TestSensuGoNotifier(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, c := range cases {
 		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			settingsJSON, err := simplejson.NewJson([]byte(c.settings))
-			require.NoError(t, err)
+			settingsJSON := json.RawMessage(c.settings)
 			secureSettings := make(map[string][]byte)
 
 			m := &NotificationChannelConfig{
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/slack_test.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/slack_test.go
index fb09cdd57e5..ebbaee10342 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/slack_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/slack_test.go
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/components/simplejson"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/secrets/fakes"
 	secretsManager "github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/secrets/manager"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/setting"
@@ -422,10 +421,6 @@ func setupSlackForTests(t *testing.T, settings string) (*SlackNotifier, *slackRe
 			URL:   "https://www.example.com/test.png",
 		}},
 	}
-
-	settingsJSON, err := simplejson.NewJson([]byte(settings))
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
 	secretsService := secretsManager.SetupTestService(t, fakes.NewFakeSecretsStore())
 	notificationService := mockNotificationService()
 
@@ -433,7 +428,7 @@ func setupSlackForTests(t *testing.T, settings string) (*SlackNotifier, *slackRe
 		Config: &NotificationChannelConfig{
 			Name:           "slack_testing",
 			Type:           "slack",
-			Settings:       settingsJSON,
+			Settings:       json.RawMessage(settings),
 			SecureSettings: make(map[string][]byte),
 		},
 		ImageStore:          images,
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/teams_test.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/teams_test.go
index 4b544b73699..a9117911b21 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/teams_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/teams_test.go
@@ -11,8 +11,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/prometheus/alertmanager/types"
 	"github.com/prometheus/common/model"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/components/simplejson"
 )
 
 func TestTeamsNotifier(t *testing.T) {
@@ -249,8 +247,7 @@ func TestTeamsNotifier(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, c := range cases {
 		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			settingsJSON, err := simplejson.NewJson([]byte(c.settings))
-			require.NoError(t, err)
+			settingsJSON := json.RawMessage(c.settings)
 
 			m := &NotificationChannelConfig{
 				Name:     "teams_testing",
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/telegram_test.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/telegram_test.go
index d37fbca1b85..e59eeba1091 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/telegram_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/telegram_test.go
@@ -2,11 +2,11 @@ package channels
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"net/url"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/components/simplejson"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/secrets/fakes"
 	secretsManager "github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/secrets/manager"
 
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ func TestTelegramNotifier(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, c := range cases {
 		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			settingsJSON, err := simplejson.NewJson([]byte(c.settings))
+			settingsJSON := json.RawMessage(c.settings)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			secureSettings := make(map[string][]byte)
 
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/threema_test.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/threema_test.go
index 8452bb9131c..46e924677af 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/threema_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/threema_test.go
@@ -2,10 +2,10 @@ package channels
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"net/url"
 	"testing"
 
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/components/simplejson"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/secrets/fakes"
 	secretsManager "github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/secrets/manager"
 
@@ -118,8 +118,7 @@ func TestThreemaNotifier(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, c := range cases {
 		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			settingsJSON, err := simplejson.NewJson([]byte(c.settings))
-			require.NoError(t, err)
+			settingsJSON := json.RawMessage(c.settings)
 			secureSettings := make(map[string][]byte)
 			webhookSender := mockNotificationService()
 			secretsService := secretsManager.SetupTestService(t, fakes.NewFakeSecretsStore())
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/util.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/util.go
index 07c97d45194..8959c8af16a 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/util.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/util.go
@@ -24,8 +24,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/ngalert/models"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/util"
-
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/components/simplejson"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -170,20 +168,12 @@ type NotificationChannelConfig struct {
 	Name                  string            `json:"name"`
 	Type                  string            `json:"type"`
 	DisableResolveMessage bool              `json:"disableResolveMessage"`
-	Settings              *simplejson.Json  `json:"settings"`
+	Settings              json.RawMessage   `json:"settings"`
 	SecureSettings        map[string][]byte `json:"secureSettings"`
 }
 
 func (c NotificationChannelConfig) unmarshalSettings(v interface{}) error {
-	ser, err := c.Settings.Encode()
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	err = json.Unmarshal(ser, v)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	return nil
+	return json.Unmarshal(c.Settings, v)
 }
 
 type httpCfg struct {
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/victorops_test.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/victorops_test.go
index eb90d43301b..c7c4f70a359 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/victorops_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/victorops_test.go
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/prometheus/common/model"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/components/simplejson"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/setting"
 )
 
@@ -188,8 +187,7 @@ func TestVictoropsNotifier(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, c := range cases {
 		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			settingsJSON, err := simplejson.NewJson([]byte(c.settings))
-			require.NoError(t, err)
+			settingsJSON := json.RawMessage(c.settings)
 
 			m := &NotificationChannelConfig{
 				Name:     "victorops_testing",
@@ -230,10 +228,11 @@ func TestVictoropsNotifier(t *testing.T) {
 			require.NotEmpty(t, webhookSender.Webhook.Url)
 
 			// Remove the non-constant timestamp
-			j, err := simplejson.NewJson([]byte(webhookSender.Webhook.Body))
+			data := make(map[string]interface{})
+			err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(webhookSender.Webhook.Body), &data)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
-			j.Del("timestamp")
-			b, err := j.MarshalJSON()
+			delete(data, "timestamp")
+			b, err := json.Marshal(data)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			body := string(b)
 
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/webex_test.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/webex_test.go
index c3806f422b2..ddccb105b99 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/webex_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/webex_test.go
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@ package channels
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"net/url"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/components/simplejson"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/secrets/fakes"
 	secretsManager "github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/secrets/manager"
 
@@ -105,8 +105,7 @@ func TestWebexNotifier(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, c := range cases {
 		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			settingsJSON, err := simplejson.NewJson([]byte(c.settings))
-			require.NoError(t, err)
+			settingsJSON := json.RawMessage(c.settings)
 			secureSettings := make(map[string][]byte)
 
 			secretsService := secretsManager.SetupTestService(t, fakes.NewFakeSecretsStore())
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/webhook_test.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/webhook_test.go
index 353fe566efd..5b6d131fc26 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/webhook_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/webhook_test.go
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import (
 	"net/url"
 	"testing"
 
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/components/simplejson"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/secrets/fakes"
 	secretsManager "github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/secrets/manager"
 
@@ -337,8 +336,7 @@ func TestWebhookNotifier(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, c := range cases {
 		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			settingsJSON, err := simplejson.NewJson([]byte(c.settings))
-			require.NoError(t, err)
+			settingsJSON := json.RawMessage(c.settings)
 			secureSettings := make(map[string][]byte)
 
 			m := &NotificationChannelConfig{
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/wecom_test.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/wecom_test.go
index fce2004fbd7..3f80838922e 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/wecom_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/notifier/channels/wecom_test.go
@@ -19,8 +19,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/prometheus/common/model"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/components/simplejson"
 )
 
 func TestWeComNotifier(t *testing.T) {
@@ -159,8 +157,7 @@ func TestWeComNotifier(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, c := range cases {
 		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			settingsJSON, err := simplejson.NewJson([]byte(c.settings))
-			require.NoError(t, err)
+			settingsJSON := json.RawMessage(c.settings)
 
 			m := &NotificationChannelConfig{
 				Name:     "wecom_testing",
@@ -345,13 +342,10 @@ func TestWeComNotifierAPIAPP(t *testing.T) {
 			}))
 			defer server.Close()
 
-			settingsJSON, err := simplejson.NewJson([]byte(tt.settings))
-			require.NoError(t, err)
-
 			m := &NotificationChannelConfig{
 				Name:     "wecom_testing",
 				Type:     "wecom",
-				Settings: settingsJSON,
+				Settings: json.RawMessage(tt.settings),
 			}
 
 			webhookSender := mockNotificationService()
@@ -532,13 +526,10 @@ func TestWeComFactory(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			settingsJSON, err := simplejson.NewJson([]byte(tt.settings))
-			require.NoError(t, err)
-
 			m := &NotificationChannelConfig{
 				Name:     "wecom_testing",
 				Type:     "wecom",
-				Settings: settingsJSON,
+				Settings: json.RawMessage(tt.settings),
 			}
 
 			webhookSender := mockNotificationService()
@@ -552,7 +543,7 @@ func TestWeComFactory(t *testing.T) {
 				Logger:              &FakeLogger{},
 			}
 
-			_, err = WeComFactory(fc)
+			_, err := WeComFactory(fc)
 			if !tt.wantErr(t, err, fmt.Sprintf("WeComFactory(%v)", fc)) {
 				return
 			}
diff --git a/pkg/services/ngalert/provisioning/contactpoints.go b/pkg/services/ngalert/provisioning/contactpoints.go
index f0143c7d049..8a647384fda 100644
--- a/pkg/services/ngalert/provisioning/contactpoints.go
+++ b/pkg/services/ngalert/provisioning/contactpoints.go
@@ -7,12 +7,14 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"sort"
 
+	"github.com/prometheus/alertmanager/config"
+
+	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/components/simplejson"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/infra/log"
 	apimodels "github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/ngalert/api/tooling/definitions"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/ngalert/models"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/secrets"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/util"
-	"github.com/prometheus/alertmanager/config"
 )
 
 type ContactPointService struct {
@@ -55,12 +57,16 @@ func (ecp *ContactPointService) GetContactPoints(ctx context.Context, q ContactP
 			continue
 		}
 
+		simpleJson, err := simplejson.NewJson(contactPoint.Settings)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
 		embeddedContactPoint := apimodels.EmbeddedContactPoint{
 			UID:                   contactPoint.UID,
 			Type:                  contactPoint.Type,
 			Name:                  contactPoint.Name,
 			DisableResolveMessage: contactPoint.DisableResolveMessage,
-			Settings:              contactPoint.Settings,
+			Settings:              simpleJson,
 		}
 		if val, exists := provenances[embeddedContactPoint.UID]; exists && val != "" {
 			embeddedContactPoint.Provenance = string(val)
@@ -96,12 +102,16 @@ func (ecp *ContactPointService) getContactPointDecrypted(ctx context.Context, or
 		if receiver.UID != uid {
 			continue
 		}
+		simpleJson, err := simplejson.NewJson(receiver.Settings)
+		if err != nil {
+			return apimodels.EmbeddedContactPoint{}, err
+		}
 		embeddedContactPoint := apimodels.EmbeddedContactPoint{
 			UID:                   receiver.UID,
 			Type:                  receiver.Type,
 			Name:                  receiver.Name,
 			DisableResolveMessage: receiver.DisableResolveMessage,
-			Settings:              receiver.Settings,
+			Settings:              simpleJson,
 		}
 		for k, v := range receiver.SecureSettings {
 			decryptedValue, err := ecp.decryptValue(v)
@@ -146,12 +156,18 @@ func (ecp *ContactPointService) CreateContactPoint(ctx context.Context, orgID in
 	if contactPoint.UID == "" {
 		contactPoint.UID = util.GenerateShortUID()
 	}
+
+	jsonData, err := contactPoint.Settings.MarshalJSON()
+	if err != nil {
+		return apimodels.EmbeddedContactPoint{}, err
+	}
+
 	grafanaReceiver := &apimodels.PostableGrafanaReceiver{
 		UID:                   contactPoint.UID,
 		Name:                  contactPoint.Name,
 		Type:                  contactPoint.Type,
 		DisableResolveMessage: contactPoint.DisableResolveMessage,
-		Settings:              contactPoint.Settings,
+		Settings:              jsonData,
 		SecureSettings:        extractedSecrets,
 	}
 
@@ -260,12 +276,17 @@ func (ecp *ContactPointService) UpdateContactPoint(ctx context.Context, orgID in
 		}
 		extractedSecrets[k] = encryptedValue
 	}
+
+	jsonData, err := contactPoint.Settings.MarshalJSON()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	mergedReceiver := &apimodels.PostableGrafanaReceiver{
 		UID:                   contactPoint.UID,
 		Name:                  contactPoint.Name,
 		Type:                  contactPoint.Type,
 		DisableResolveMessage: contactPoint.DisableResolveMessage,
-		Settings:              contactPoint.Settings,
+		Settings:              jsonData,
 		SecureSettings:        extractedSecrets,
 	}
 	// save to store
diff --git a/pkg/services/sqlstore/migrations/ualert/ualert.go b/pkg/services/sqlstore/migrations/ualert/ualert.go
index 8bf0f50f980..2a346a21d46 100644
--- a/pkg/services/sqlstore/migrations/ualert/ualert.go
+++ b/pkg/services/sqlstore/migrations/ualert/ualert.go
@@ -470,6 +470,10 @@ func (m *migration) validateAlertmanagerConfig(orgID int64, config *PostableUser
 				secureSettings[k] = d
 			}
 
+			data, err := gr.Settings.MarshalJSON()
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
 			var (
 				cfg = &channels.NotificationChannelConfig{
 					UID:                   gr.UID,
@@ -477,10 +481,9 @@ func (m *migration) validateAlertmanagerConfig(orgID int64, config *PostableUser
 					Name:                  gr.Name,
 					Type:                  gr.Type,
 					DisableResolveMessage: gr.DisableResolveMessage,
-					Settings:              gr.Settings,
+					Settings:              data,
 					SecureSettings:        secureSettings,
 				}
-				err error
 			)
 
 			// decryptFunc represents the legacy way of decrypting data. Before the migration, we don't need any new way,