State Champ Radio Awards
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We Are Moving the Needle, a nonprofit dedicated to closing the gender gap in the music industry, has announced the return of the Resonator Awards on Jan. 27 at Henson Studios in Los Angeles. The inaugural edition of the event was held in 2024, but the planned 2025 edition was not held due to the Los Angeles-area wildfires.
A kickoff to Grammy week, the 2026 Resonator Awards will showcase the contributions of women producers, engineers, and creators behind-the-board and will include an awards ceremony and live performances.
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Funds raised from the event will go to We Are Moving The Needle, a nonprofit founded by Grammy-winning mastering engineer Emily Lazar. The organization seeks to empower women and non-binary producers, engineers, and creators to succeed through scholarships and grants, mentorship, research, advocacy, and community events.
“When I founded We Are Moving The Needle, it was born from a simple belief: music should sound like the world we live in,” Lazar said in a statement. “Every voice, every story, every sound. The Resonator Awards honor the ones who’ve kicked that door down and challenge us all to keep it open.”
Lazar made history in 2019 as the first female mastering engineer to win a Grammy for best engineered album, non-classical for Beck’s Colors. Two years later, she made history again as the first mastering engineer to land three album of the year nominations in the same year for her contributions to HAIM’s Women in Music, Vol. III, Coldplay’s Everyday Life and Jacob Collier’s Djesse Vol. 3. She has also received Grammy nods over the years for work with Foo Fighters, Vampire Weekend, Sia and The Bird and the Bee, as well as on Collier’s follow-up album, Djesse Vol. 4.
Lazar founded We Are Moving The Needle in 2021. The organization has awarded more than $875,000 in scholarships to creators to attend audio education programs globally and supports more than 20 chapters on college campuses. Every scholarship recipient receives tools, gear, guidance, and mentorship from their soundboard, a community of top artists, producers, engineers and industry leaders, including HAIM, Brittany Howard, Leslie Ann Jones, Brandi Carlile, Shirley Halperin, Jenna Andrews and Molly Neuman.
Jenny Eliscu hosted the inaugural Resonator Awards, which were held during Grammy Week 2024. Honorees in attendance included Alanis Morissette, Corinne Bailey Rae, Caroline Polachek, Catherine Marks, Laura Sisk, Jennifer Decilveo, Michael Goldstone and Christine Thomas. Inaugural Hall of Fame inductees included Alicia Keys and Linda Perry.
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Artist David Banner, Pastor Shirley Caesar and business entrepreneur Janice Bryant Howroyd will be saluted at the 2025 HBCU Honors. BET returns as presenting partner of the third annual celebration, which will premiere Thanksgiving weekend on BET and BET Her (Nov. 30, 8 p.m. ET/PT).
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Grammy-nominated rapper-producer-activist Banner, an alumnus of Southern University, will be presented with the Cultural Impact Award. Also an actor (BET’s The Family Business), Banner is being recognized for his multi-faceted pursuits as an artist, founder/CEO of full-service music and production agency A Banner Vision, and humanitarian, stemming from his organizing of relief efforts during Hurricane Katrina.
Shirley “The First Lady of Gospel” Caesar, senior pastor of Mount Calvary Word of Faith Church in Durham, North Carolina, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. The Shaw University graduate’s six-decade career encompasses more than 40 albums, 11 Grammy Awards and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. The Visionary Founder Award will go to Howroyd, founder/CEO of The ActOne Group, a global enterprise that provides employment, workforce management and other services to a diverse range of industries and businesses. Howroyd is an alumna of North Carolina A&T State University.
Being taped at a new location — the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C. — HBCU Honors is also implementing two new initiatives this year focused on discovering and developing next-gen creative talent. The HBCU Honors Rising Star National Talent Search is open to HBCU students who will be vying for the chance to perform live on the HBCU Honors stage. Judging the competition will be Tony Award–winning actor and Bowie State University alum Myles Frost; American Idol finalist Gabby Samone; GRAMMY-nominated artist Raheem Devaughn, who attended Coppin State University; and HBCU Honors music director Shawn Williams.
The second initiative, HBCU Honors Media Futures Fellowship, was created by The HBCU Honors Foundation as a workforce development and mentorship program. The 2025 participating cohort includes students from Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Missouri, and Spelman College.
Emmy-nominated actress, comedian and podcaster Kym Whitley is returning as host. About her return engagement, the Fisk University alumna commented in the press announcement, “Hosting HBCU Honors again feels like coming home. This show is a joyful reminder of everything our schools represent — faith, excellence, community and legacy.”
HBCU Honors was established by Michelle M. Bailey. Doubling as an executive producer of the event, Bailey said in a statement, “We’re in a defining moment where the legacy of HBCUs deserves not only to be preserved but amplified. Our return to BET celebrates the unity, pride and progress that define HBCU excellence — the same excellence that nurtured me at my beloved alma mater, Spelman College. Thanksgiving weekend is the perfect time to honor the institutions that continue to educate, empower and shape generations of trailblazers.”
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Actress and producer Dame Helen Mirren has been named the 2026 Cecil B. DeMille Award recipient. The award will be presented on the new annual primetime special Golden Eve, airing Thursday, Jan. 8, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
The special will also honor the recipient of the 2026 Carol Burnett Award, who has yet to be named.
The Golden Eve special will feature curated career retrospectives, never-before-seen footage, and in-depth conversations with the honorees. It will air during what the Golden Globes organization is calling Golden Week, a weeklong experience across Paramount platforms as well as celebratory kick-off events ahead of the 83rd annual Golden Globes. That show, hosted by comedian and actress Nikki Glaser, is set to air live on Sunday, Jan. 11.
“Helen Mirren is a force of nature and her career is nothing short of extraordinary,” Helen Hoehne, president, Golden Globes, said in a statement. “Her transcendent performances and commitment to her craft continue to inspire generations of artists and audiences alike.”
Mirren’s accolades include three Golden Globes, an Academy Award, five Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, a BAFTA Film Award, three BAFTA Television Awards, and a Laurence Olivier Award. She has also received the BAFTA Fellowship, Honorary Golden Bear, and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award. Mirren was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003.
Mirren will become the first British recipient of the Cecil B. DeMille Award since Anthony Hopkins in 2006. Other recipients who were born in Britain are Alfred Hitchcock (1972), Laurence Olivier (1983), Elizabeth Taylor (1985), Audrey Hepburn (1990) and Sean Connery (1996).
First created in 1952 and honoring the eponymous director, the Cecil B. DeMille Award has been bestowed upon 69 honorees. The Carol Burnett Award, created in 2019 and initially awarded to its namesake, is presented to an honoree who has made outstanding contributions to television on or off screen.
The Golden Globes, which likes to call itself Hollywood’s Party of the Year, is the largest awards show in the world to celebrate the best of film, television and now podcasting. Dick Clark Productions will plan, host and produce the annual Golden Globes.
The Golden Globes are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Billboard parent company Penske Media.
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We’re just days away from the announcement of the nominations for the 68th annual Grammy Awards. The big reveal is set for Friday Nov. 7 at 11 a.m. ET/ 8 a.m. PT. In recent days, we’ve predicted the eight most likely nominees for best new artist and album of the year. Today, we turn our attention to record of the year, where we could see some history-making nominations.
HUNTR/X and ROSÉ could become the first K-pop artists to receive record of the year nods. HUNTR/X is competing with “Golden,” the globe-conquering hit from KPop Demon Hunters; ROSÉ with “APT.,” her smash collab with Bruno Mars.
Kendrick Lamar and SZA are vying to become the first occasional duet partners to receive two record of the year nominations. They were nominated seven years ago for “All the Stars” and are strong contenders this year for “Luther.”
Doechii’s “Anxiety” could become the first single that prominently samples a previous record of the year winner to be nominated in the category. Doechii’s hit samples “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye featuring Kimbra, which won the prize in 2013.
Leon Thomas’ “Mutt (Live From NPR’s Tiny Desk)” and Myles Smith’ “Stargazing (Live at Eventim Apollo)” could become the first alternative versions of hits to receive record of the year nominations. (The original versions of those hits were released in the previous eligibility year and weren’t eligible.)
To be sure, all of these things are not likely to happen. Some voters may dock “Anxiety” for leaning so heavily on a very well-known hit from the recent past.
And voters tend to bypass alternative versions of songs in this category. If the studio version of “Mutt” had been eligible, it would almost certainly be nominated. Silk Sonic’s “Leave the Door Open” won in this category (as well as song of the year) in 2022, showing the love many Grammy voters have for hits that evoke the glory of 1970s R&B. But many voters probably haven’t heard the live version of “Mutt,” and they may be reluctant to vote for something for record of the year that they haven’t even heard.
(Lola Young’s “Messy” and Gigi Perez’s “Sailor Song” were also released in the previous eligibility year, yet those original studio versions are entered for record of the year.)
Billie Eilish may very well return to the finals with “Wildflower.” It would be her sixth nod in this category in the past seven years. Like Eilish’s previous single, “Birds of a Feather,” “Wildflower” was a fixture on the Hot 100 for more than a year. But “Wildflower” had a hard time emerging from the shadow of “Birds of a Feather,” which was nominated for record and song of the year and which Eilish and her brother/collaborator FINNEAS performed on the Grammys in February.
sombr is entered with “Back to Friends.” The 20-year-old is the sole writer and producer on this song, one of two concurrent hits from his debut album, I Barely Know Her. Such pros as Taylor Swift and Ryan Tedder have proclaimed that they are sombr fans.
Tyla’s “Push 2 Start” is entered for both record of the year and best African music performance, a category she in which the South African singer won two years ago with “Water.”
All eight likely album of the year nominees will get a close look in this category. Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga and Lamar (with SZA) are also expected to be nominated for record of the year. The other five likely album of the year nominees may fall short in record of the year – Elton John & Brandi Carlile for “Who Believes in Angels?,” Tyler the Creator for “Sticky” (featuring GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne); Clipse, Pusha T, Malice for “Birds Don’t Sing” (featuring John Legend and Voices of Fire); The Weeknd for “Timeless” (featuring Playboi Carti); and Bad Bunny for either “Baile Inolvidable” or “DtMF.” (The fact that two Bunny records are entered for record of the year may mean Bunny will split his votes here. C’mon, Team Bunny, that’s Grammy 101 – Don’t Compete With Yourself.)
Other singles, not already mentioned, that are strong record of the year contenders include Gracie Abrams‘ “That’s So True,” Chappell Roan‘s “The Subway,” Alex Warren‘s “Ordinary,” Tate McRae’s “Sports Car,” Justin Bieber’s “Daisies,” Ariana Grande’s “twilight zone,” Conan Gray’s “Vodka Cranberry,” Laufey’s “Lover Girl,” Jessie Murph’s “Blue Strips,” Shaboozey’s “Good News” and Teddy Swims’ “Bad Dreams.”
Here are the eight singles most likely to be nominated for record of the year. They are listed in alphabetical order by artist, as they will appear on the official Grammy nominations list. We show you how many record of the year nominations the artist has previously received and how high this record placed on the Billboard Hot 100.
Gracie Abrams, “That’s So True”
Image Credit: Heather Hazzan
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Bad Bunny, Karol G, CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso, Fuerza Regida, Marco Antonio Solís, and Chuwi have been added to the 2025 Latin Grammy Awards lineup, The Latin Recording Academy announced on Tuesday (Nov. 4).
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The new wave of performers join previously confirmed artists Pepe Aguilar, Aitana, Rauw Alejandro, Edgar Barrera, Ivan Cornejo, DannyLux, Gloria Estefan, Joaquina, Kakalo, Carín León, Liniker, Morat, Christian Nodal, Los Tigres del Norte, Nathy Peluso, Elena Rose, Alejandro Sanz, Grupo Frontera, Kacey Musgraves, Carlos Santana and the 2025 Person of the Year, Raphael.
Bad Bunny leads this year’s nominations, receiving 12 nods including for album of the year with Debí Tirar Más Fotos and double mentions in record of the year and song of the year, with “Baile Inolvidable” and “DTMF.” The Puerto Rican artist is closely followed by Mexican hitmaker Edgar Barrera and Argentine duo CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso, each with 10 nominations.
In addition to Raphael being honored as the 2025 Person of the Year, The Latin Recording Academy’s special awards recipients this year include Afro-Peruvian artist Susana Baca, Spanish rock icon Enrique Bunbury, Brazilian musician Ivan Lins and Mexican vocal trio Pandora. Meanwhile, Puerto Rican tropical star Olga Tañón will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award and Eric Schilling with the Trustees Award.
The 26th Annual Latin Grammy Awards will be broadcast live at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Nov. 13 from Las Vegas via TelevisaUnivision platforms. Prior to the live broadcast, the Latin Grammy Premiere, a non-televised event where the majority of winners are announced, will take place.
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A couple of recent news items from the Recording Academy may give us some hints about what to expect when the Grammy nominations are announced on Friday Nov. 7.
On Monday (Nov. 3), the academy announced that they have added approximately 2,900 new voting members this year as part of their years-long effort to diversify the voting body. Of the newly-admitted members, 49% are age 39 and under, 60% are people of color and 30% identify as women.
Also, for the first time, invitations to join the Recording Academy were extended to all voting members of the Latin Recording Academy. Many accepted the offer. That’s a strong indicator that Bad Bunny could be headed for his second album of the year nod for Debí Tirar Más Fotos. He was already a likely nominee in that category, especially since Sept. 28, when he was announced as next year’s Super Bowl halftime headliner. Now, he seemingly can’t miss. The influx of Latin Recording Academy members also puts Karol G, who is entered with Tropicoqueta, in the album of the year conversation.
Last Thursday, the academy announced the names of the celebrities who will participate in Friday’s nominations livestream, including several artists who are vying for nods – Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Brandi Carlile, Doechii, Jon Batiste and the aforementioned Karol G. Just because someone has been invited to announce some nominees on the livestream doesn’t automatically mean they’re going to be nominated, but if you’re looking for every conceivable hint and clue (and we are!), it’s a positive sign. Would the academy really ask an A-lister like Carpenter to participate in their livestream if she was shut out in the nominations? (That would be “Manchild” behavior.)
Kendrick Lamar (GNX) and Lady Gaga (MAYHEM) are probably this year’s surest bets for album of the year nods. It would be the fifth nomination in the category as lead (or co-lead) artists for both artists. Neither has ever won in the category. If Lamar is nominated, he’ll become the first solo artist in Grammy history to receive album of the year nods for five consecutive studio albums.
Elton John and Coldplay could be headed for their fourth nods in the category – John for his collab with Carlile, Who Believes in Angels?; Coldplay for Moon Music. Carlile, Batiste (Big Money) and Justin Bieber (Swag) could be headed for their third nods in the category.
We could see history made on Friday, if three rap albums are nominated for album of the year. There have never been more than two rap albums nominated in any one year. Lamar’s GNX seems a lock for a nomination. Clipse’s Let God Sort Em Out and Tyler, the Creator’s CHROMAKOPIA also have a good shot.
Two soundtracks are strong contenders – KPop Demon Hunters, which has been an inescapable pop-culture phenomenon, and Wicked, which stars a major pop star (Ariana Grande) as well as a near-EGOT (Cynthia Erivo). But in the last 30 years, just three soundtracks have been nominated for album of the year – and all three were linked to a top-name producer – Waiting to Exhale (Babyface), O Brother, Where Art Thou? (T Bone Burnett) and Black Panther (Kendrick Lamar).
Debut or breakthrough albums often make the album of the year finals. Leon Thomas’ second album, Mutt, and debut releases by Alex Warren (You’ll Be Alright, Kid) and sombr (I Barely Know Her) are contenders this year. Olivia Dean’s breakthrough album, The Art of Loving, was released after the end of the eligibility period (Aug. 31, 2024, to Aug. 30, 2025). It will be eligible here next year, though Dean is eligible for best new artist this year, and is among the front-runners in that category.
Other albums, not already mentioned, that are strong contenders include The Weeknd‘s Hurry Up Tomorrow, Tate McRae’s So Close to What, Laufey’s A Matter of Time, Bon Iver’s SABLE, fABLE, Jelly Roll’s Beautifully Broken, HAIM’s I Quit, Lorde’s Virgin and Kali Uchis’ Sincerely.
Here are the eight albums most likely to be nominated for album of the year. They are listed in alphabetical order by artist, as they will appear on the official Grammy nominations list. We show you how many album of the year nominations the artist has previously received as a lead artist and how high this album placed on the Billboard 200.
Bad Bunny, Debí Tirar Más Fotos
Image Credit: Eric Rojas
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The Recording Academy announced that more than 3,800 music creators and professionals have joined the academy as part of its 2025 New Member Class. This includes approximately 2,900 new voting members (who are eligible to vote in the upcoming 68th annual Grammy Awards) and approximately 900 new professional members.
Of those in the new class, 50% are age 39 and under, 58% are people of color and 35% identify as women. Looking only at voting members, 49% are age 39 and under, 60% are people of color and 30% identify as women.
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For the first time, invitations to join the Recording Academy were also extended to all voting members of the Latin Recording Academy. That explains why Latin leads all genres when new voting members were asked which genre they were most aligned with. Thirteen percent of new voting members said Latin, compared to pop and “other” (8% each); alternative, global music and rock (3% each); jazz, R&B and classical (2% each); dance/electronic, visual media, gospel/Christian, rap, contemporary instrumental, reggae, country, American roots and new age/ambient/chant (1% each); and musical theatre, children’s, spoken word and comedy (less than 1% each).
The influx of new members from the Latin Recording Academy voting body also explains why 28% of all new members (not just voting members) identify as Hispanic or Latin, second only to (and close behind) the percentage who identify as white or Caucasian (31%). These two groups were followed by Black or African American (20%), “I prefer not to disclose” (11%), Asian or Pacific Islander (5%), “I prefer to self-describe” (3%), Middle Eastern or Northern African and South Asian (1% each) and Indigenous or Alaska native (less than 1%).
“This year’s class reflects the vibrancy of today’s diverse music landscape,” Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, said in a statement. “The addition of many Latin Recording Academy voting members underscores that music has no borders and that our mission to serve music people, regardless of where they are from, is stronger than ever.”
The addition of many Latin Academy voting members could help Bad Bunny land his second album of the year nomination. He is a top contender in that category with Debí Tirar Más Fotos, having been nominated three years ago for Un Verano Sin Ti.
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Of the total new member class (voting and non-voting members combined), 59% are men, 35% are men, 4% responded “I prefer not to disclose”; 1% identify as “non-binary or gender non-conforming; and less than 1% say “I prefer to self-describe.”
In terms of age, 50% of all new members (voting and non-voting combined) are 39 and under; 43% are (gasp) over 40; and 7% responded “I prefer not to disclose” or their age is unknown.
Looking just at new voting members, songwriters and composers are the top creative disciplines. Thirty-six percent of all new voting members classify themselves that way, followed by producers (20%), engineers (13%), vocalists (10%), instrumentalists (8%), arrangers (5%), music video pros (2%), album packaging, album notes writers and “other” (1% each); and conductors, spoken word (poets, narrators, comedians) and music supervisors (less than 1% each).
There are two types of Recording Academy membership – voting membership for recording creators and professional membership for music business professionals. Both types of members may participate in the organization’s year-round initiatives, but only voting members — comprised of artists, songwriters, producers, engineers and others active in the music industry — are eligible to vote.
The nominations for the 2026 Grammy Awards will be unveiled at 11:00 a.m. ET / 8:00 a.m. PT on Friday, Nov. 7, during a livestream on live.Grammy.com and YouTube. The full list of nominees will be published on Grammy.com immediately following the presentation.
Back row: Lara Raj, Daniela Avanzini, Sophia Laforteza, Front row: Yoonchae Jeung, Manon Bannerman, Megan Meiyok Skiendiel of Katseye visit the Trü Frü backstage portrait studio at iHeartRadio’s 102.7 KIIS FM Wango Tango concert on May 10, 2025 in Huntington Beach, California.
Sara Jaye/Getty Images for Trü Frü
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Triple J has unveiled the nominees for the 2025 J Awards, recognizing standout achievements across Australian music and kicking off Ausmusic Month programming throughout November.
Now in its 21st year, the J Awards highlight excellence in recorded music, live performance and video, as well as emerging talent via triple j Unearthed. This year’s nominees span five categories: Australian Album of the Year, Unearthed Artist of the Year, Double J Artist of the Year, Australian Music Video of the Year (presented by rage and triple j), and Australian Live Act of the Year.
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The shortlist for Album of the Year includes DJANDJAY by Baker Boy, Deadbeat by Tame Impala, If That Makes Sense by Spacey Jane, Now Would Be A Good Time by Folk Bitch Trio, Look At Me Now by ONEFOUR, and Light hit my face like a straight right by Mallrat, among others. The list reflects a mix of charting acts and breakthrough names across hip-hop, indie rock, electronic and experimental pop.
In the Unearthed Artist of the Year category, Don West, Darcie Haven, Sam Alfred, Folk Bitch Trio, and PLAYLUNCH are all in the running. Meanwhile, punk outfit Amyl and the Sniffers lead the Double J Artist of the Year field alongside Paul Kelly, Gordi, Meg Washington, and Emily Wurramara.
On the visual side, five acts are nominated for Music Video of the Year, including Ninajirachi’s “Fuck My Computer,” RONA.’s “Show Me” and Ecca Vandal’s “CRUISING TO SELF SOOTHE.”
Triple J also named four nominees for Australian Live Act of the Year: Amyl and the Sniffers, Ball Park Music, Miss Kaninna and hardcore group SPEED.
Winners will be revealed on Wednesday, Nov. 12, starting at 3:30 p.m. AEDT, following deliberation by music and on-air teams across triple j, Unearthed, Double J and rage.
In addition to the awards, triple j’s Ausmusic Month celebrations include the “triple j 50 tour,” which hits Hobart, Newcastle, Adelaide, the Gold Coast and Torquay with performances from Ninajirachi, Tkay Maidza, Mallrat and more. Local acts will also take over weekly segments like Like a Version, Live at the Wireless and Friday Mix, culminating with Ausmusic T-Shirt Day on Nov. 27.
2025 J Awards Nominees
triple j Australian Album of the Year
Baker Boy – DJANDJAY
Folk Bitch Trio – Now Would Be A Good Time
grentperez – Backflips in a Restaurant
Mallrat – Light hit my face like a straight right
Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer
ONEFOUR – Look At Me Now
Spacey Jane – If That Makes Sense
Tame Impala – Deadbeat
The Rions – Everything Every Single Day
Thornhill – BODIES
Unearthed Artist of the Year
Don West
Darcie Haven
Sam Alfred
Folk Bitch Trio
PLAYLUNCH
Double J Australian Artist of the Year
Amyl and The Sniffers
Emily Wurramara
Gordi
Meg Washington
Paul Kelly
rage and triple j Australian Music Video of the Year
Drifting Clouds – “Bawuypawuy” (dir. Matt Sav)
Ecca Vandal – “CRUISING TO SELF SOOTHE” (dirs. Ecca Vandal and Richie Buxton)
Ninajirachi – “Fuck My Computer” (dir. Ball Bass John)
PLAYLUNCH – “Keith” (dir. Riley Nimbs)
RONA. – “Show Me” (dir. Tyson Perkins)
triple j Australian Live Act of the Year
Amyl and The Sniffers
Ball Park Music
Miss Kaninna
SPEED
For more information and full Ausmusic Month programming, visit triple j’s official website.
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Stacey Tang, co-president of RCA Records UK, has been appointed chair of the BRIT Awards 2026 committee as the ceremony moves to Manchester’s Co-op Live for the next two years — marking the first time in nearly 50 years the BRITs will be held outside London.
Tang will oversee all aspects of the show’s creative direction, working alongside representatives from major and independent labels, BRITs TV and the BPI. Sony Music UK will lead the committee from 2026 to 2028, following Warner Music UK’s tenure under Damian Christian.
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Tang, a Billboard UK Power Players list honoree who was promoted to co-president of RCA UK in early 2023, has played a key role in the label’s recent success with artists such as Cat Burns and Myles Smith.
She joins a creative team including Misty Buckley, Phil Heyes, Sally Wood and Maggie Crowe. Speaking on the news, Tang said, “As a massive music fan I always watched the BRIT Awards growing up, but revisiting the shows through the lens of chair has given me a totally different perspective. Being inspired by the spectacle and show as a young person, now motivates me to create something that feels important nationally and globally, while capturing the brilliant and eccentric nuance of British music and culture.
Tang added, “The decision to move to Manchester has been met with amazing feedback from the local community and the industry. To oversee a show that’s doing something for the first time feels energising but ultimately, we also want to inject fun into the proceedings … and people in Manchester know how to have fun!”
The BRITs also announced several category updates: the Rising Star Award reverts to its original name, Critics’ Choice, and Best New Artist becomes Breakthrough Artist. Eligibility criteria have been tightened across major categories, requiring higher chart performance. Nominees must now have a top 30 album or two top 20 singles, while genre categories maintain existing standards. The Mastercard Album of the Year must also reach the top 30. These changes aim to better reflect artist impact and chart success.
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Nominees will be announced in January, with voting handled by a panel of industry professionals and, in recent years, the public for genre categories. The 2026 ceremony will take place on Feb. 28 at Co-op Live, a 23,500-capacity venue opened in 2024, signaling a new chapter for the BRITs and its commitment to celebrating British music across the country.
Check out a full rundown of this week’s staffing news below.
Veep x5 (BMG)
Image Credit: Colleen Hayes
