brit awards
Myles Smith has been announced as the winner of the BRITs Rising Star Award for 2025.
The award caps off a banner year for the Luton-born singer-songwriter, who saw off competition from soul vocalist Elmiene and indie-pop duo Good Neighbours to claim the accolade. The winner was announced Thursday (Dec. 5) on BBC Radio 1’s New Music Show With Jack Saunders.
“Winning the BRIT award for Rising Star is such a surreal moment,” he said in a statement. “Music has always been about connecting with people, and to see it resonate on this level is incredible. I’m so grateful to my team, my family, and especially the fans who’ve supported me every step of the way. Your belief in me means everything. This is just the beginning, and I’m so excited for what’s to come — thank you for being part of this journey.”
Smith is the first male artist to win in the category since Sam Fender in 2019. In the last five years, the award – formerly known as Critics’ Choice – has gone to three female solo artists (Celeste, Griff and Holly Humberstone) and two groups consisting of all female and non-binary performers (FLO and The Last Dinner Party).
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The award was first presented at the BRIT Awards in 2008, and is annually handed out to the British act that the voting academy believes will make the biggest impact on music in the coming year. Other previous winners include Adele, Sam Smith and Florence + the Machine.
The shortlist is selected by a panel of music industry experts, including editors, critics, songwriters, producers and live bookers. Eligibility criteria deems that nominees cannot have had a top 20 placing on the Official Albums Chart or more than one top 20 single on Official Singles Chart in the U.K. as of Oct. 31, 2024.
Smith was also recently included in the longlist for another new music prize, BBC Radio 1 Sound of 2025, with the winner set to be revealed in January. The 26-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough moment in the summer with his global hit “Stargazing,” which reached No. 4 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart and No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Speaking to Billboard in July, he explained that his main ambition is to be “seen as an album artist,” adding that “there’s only so much you can say in an EP or single.” Smith also discussed the years he spent covering chart hits on TikTok before landing a deal with RCA Records and in turn started penning his own original music. “Covers [were] an opportunity to find an audience that I thought would match with the music I would eventually create,” he added.
The 2025 BRIT Awards will take place on March 1, and will be broadcast live on ITV 1 from London’s O2 Arena.
The BRIT Awards has announced the three shortlisted artists for its Rising Star Award. Elmiene (Polydor/Def Jam US), Good Neighbours (Polydor) and Myles Smith (RCA) comprise the all-male field of contenders. The winner will be announced on Dec. 5 on BBC Radio 1’s New Music Show With Jack Saunders.
This is only the second time that the field of contenders has consisted entirely of male artists or groups. James Bay, George the Poet and Years & Years were the 2015 finalists.
The award is voted on by a panel of music journalists, heads of music at radio and music TV stations, songwriters, producers and live bookers. The award is open to British artists who have not yet achieved a top 20 placement on the Official Albums Chart, or achieved more than one top 20 single on the Official Singles Chart before Oct. 31 of this year.
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The Rising Star Award (previously called Critics’ Choice) originated in 2008 and was most recently collected by baroque-pop group The Last Dinner Party. Previous winners include Adele, Sam Smith, Sam Fender, Ellie Goulding, Florence + The Machine, Griff and FLO, while Dua Lipa, Anne-Marie, Lewis Capaldi, Cat Burns, Michael Kiwanuka, Mabel and Years & Years have also all been finalists.
Elmiene released his most recent EP, Anyway I Can, in October, fusing his love of R&B, jazz and pop. He has performed at Glastonbury and collaborated with Stormzy, Syd, Sampha, BADBADNOTGOOD, A$AP Ferg and more, and recently headlined a 3,000-capacity show at London’s Troxy.
Speaking on his nomination, Elmiene said, “If I could put the feeling of being nominated into words, I would say it’s like being completely satisfied with a meal you bought and then finding out it comes with dessert and a drink. Didn’t know it could get any better.”
Myles Smith’s single “Stargazing” has had considerable success in the U.K. and abroad this year. The pop song, first released in May, peaked at No. 4 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart and reached No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. Smith recently released his second EP, A Minute…, and had a debut U.S. TV performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
In a press release, Smith said, “Growing up in Luton, I started playing pubs and open mic nights when I was just 12 and music quickly became my way of understanding the world and connecting with others. This recognition feels like a reflection of that journey – the highs, the challenges and the incredible people who’ve supported me along the way.”
Indie-pop duo Good Neighbours have had a triumphant year following their TikTok hit “Home,” which has topped 322 million streams on Spotify alone. The song peaked at No. 26 in the U.K., and rode the Hot 100 for 11 weeks, reaching No. 77.
The pair said of the nomination: “The BRITs have always been a huge dream for both of us growing up. We started Good Neighbours purely for the fun of it, so to be up for an actual BRIT award at this stage in our career is the biggest honour. Thank you.”
The winner will be recognised at the BRITs ceremony on March 1 at London’s O2 Arena. The ceremony will be broadcast on ITV and ITV X.
The 2025 Brit Awards will be held on Saturday, March 1. This will mark the third year in a row the show has been held on a Saturday, and the second year in a row it has aired in March. The show will be held at The O2 arena in London and will be broadcast […]
Amy Winehouse has posthumously received a BRIT Billion Award celebrating one billion streams in the U.K.
Her parents, Mitch and Janis, accepted the award, saying, “We of course wish that Amy was here today accepting this award in person, but it’s amazing that she is still winning awards for her incredible talent and achievements. It’s wonderful that her music is being discovered by new audiences of young people who love it just as much as her contemporaries. We are so proud of Amy. Thank you.”
The award was presented following the U.K. release of the biopic Back to Black. Sam Taylor-Johnson directed the film, which stars Marisa Abela as the gifted but troubled singer who died in July 2011 at age 27. The film is due for release in the U.S. on May 17.
Released in October 2006, “Back to Black” is Winehouse’s most streamed song in the U.K., with more than 150 million streams. It is followed closely by “Valerie,” with more than 135 million streams in the U.K. “Tears Dry on Their Own,” “Rehab,” “You Know I’m No Good” and “Love Is a Losing Game” — all taken from Winehouse’s sophomore album Back to Black — each stand at more than 50 million U.K. streams.
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More than 25 artists have been recognized with a BRIT Billion award since the program launched in 2023, including global icons such as The Rolling Stones, Queen, ABBA and Whitney Houston, pioneering rap and hip-hop artists including AJ Tracey and Headie One and chart-dominating pop artists and singer-songwriters, with the likes of Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Lewis Capaldi and BRIT Award record-breaker Raye all having received the award.
The BRIT Billion award reflects the extent to which streaming has transformed the music landscape over the past decade. BPI, which administers the BRIT Billion award program, reports that more than 85% of the U.K.’s recorded music consumption now occurs through streaming. In 2023 there were a record 180 billion audio streams in the U.K. In the U.K., more than 2,000 artists now annually amass at least 10 million audio streams of their music, while more than 10,000 artists are streamed more than a million times.
Though Winehouse released just two albums in her lifetime, she made an indelible mark on the global pop scene. She won six Grammy Awards, including best pop vocal album for Back to Black, which reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200. She also won record and song of the year for “Rehab,” which was a No. 9 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
The 2024 Brit Awards – the U.K.’s equivalent of the Grammys – are unfolding at The O2 Arena in London. Dua Lipa was set to open the show, just as she opened the Grammy telecast on Feb. 4. Kylie Minogue, who will receive the Global Icon Award, is set to close the show.
RAYE led the nominations for this year’s Brits with seven nods, which made her the most nominated artist in a single year since the Brits began in 1977. Central Cee and J Hus each received four nods. Lipa received three. 2024 also saw the first Brit nomination for The Rolling Stones in more than a decade. The legendary band is nominated for alternative/rock act.
Clara Amfo, Maya Jama and Roman Kemp are co-hosting the ceremony, which is being broadcast in the U.K. on ITV1, STV, ITVX and STV Player. Fans outside the U.K. can watch the show via an exclusive YouTube livestream.
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For 2024, The Brits increased the number of nominees for both artist of the year and international artist of the year from five to 10, a change aimed at improving representation and inclusion. The Brits have a whopping 15 nominations in two categories – song of the year and international song of the year.
The British pop/R&B act category was split in two this year — British pop act and British R&B act. Winners in both categories, as well as the three other genre categories – alternative/rock, dance and hip-hop/grime/rap – were decided by a public vote via Instagram from Feb. 1-15.
In December, The Brits announced The Last Dinner Party as the winner of the 2024 Rising Star award.
RAYE won Songwriter of the Year. The two previous winners of that award are Ed Sheeran and Kid Harpoon, which makes RAYE the first woman to receive the honor.
Chase & Status are this year’s Producer of the Year winners. The electronic music duo, consisting of Saul Milton (Chase) and Will Kennard (Status), is also nominated for group of the year. They have produced not only their own releases, but the works of such other acts as Becky Hill, Rihanna, Rita Ora and Tinie Tempah. Chase & Status are the fourth multi-person production team to win Producer of the Year, following Stock Aitken Waterman (1988), Chris Potter, The Verve & Youth (1998) and Alan Moulder & Flood (2014).
Here’s the complete list of 2024 Brit Awards nominees, with winners marked as they are announced.
Mastercard album of the year
Blur, The Ballad of Darren, Parlophone/Warner Music
J Hus, Beautiful and Brutal Yard, Black Butter/Sony Music
Little Simz, NO THANK YOU, Forever Living Originals/AWAL
RAYE, My 21st Century Blues, Human Re Sources/The Orchard
Young Fathers, Heavy Heavy, Ninja Tune
Artist of the year
Arlo Parks, Transgressive
Central Cee, Columbia Records/Sony Music
Dave, Neighbourhood/Live Yours
Dua Lipa, Warner Records/Warner Music
Fred Again.., Atlantic/Warner Music
J Hus, Black Butter/Sony Music
Jessie Ware, EMI / Universal Music UK
Little Simz, Forever Living Originals/AWAL
Olivia Dean, EMI/Universal Music UK
RAYE, Human Re Sources/The Orchard
Group of the year
Blur, Parlophone/Warner Music
Chase & Status, EMI/Universal Music UK
Headie One & K-Trap, One Records & Thousand8/The Orchard
Jungle, Caiola/AWAL
Young Fathers, Ninja Tune
Best new artist
Mahalia, Asylum/Atlantic Records/Warner Music
Olivia Dean, EMI/Universal Music UK
PinkPantheress, Warner Records/Warner Music
RAYE, Human Re Sources/The Orchard
Yussef Dayes, Brownswood Records/ADA/Warner Music
Song of the year
“Miracle,” Calvin Harris/Ellie Goulding, Sony Music/Universal Music UK
“Prada,” cassö/RAYE/D-Block Europe, Ministry Of Sound/Sony Music
“Let Go,” Central Cee, Columbia Records/Sony Music
“Sprinter,” Dave & Central Cee, Neighbourhood/Live Yours
“Dance the Night,” Dua Lipa, Atlantic Records/Warner Music
“Eyes Closed,” Ed Sheeran, Asylum/Atlantic Records/Warner Music
“Who Told You,” J Hus Ft Drake, Sony Music/Universal Music
“Strangers,” Kenya Grace, Warner Music
“Wish You the Best,” Lewis Capaldi, EMI/Universal Music Group
“Boy’s a Liar,” PinkPantheress, Warner Records/Warner Music
“Escapism.,” RAYE ft 070 Shake, Human Re Sources/The Orchard
“Dancing Is Healing,” Rudimental/Charlotte Plank/Vibe Chemistry, Columbia/Sony Music
“Firebabe,” Stormzy Ft Debbie, #Merky Records/0207 Records/Universal Music UK
“REACT,” Switch Disco & Ella Henderson, Relentless Records/Sony Music
“Messy in Heaven,” Venbee & Goddard, Room 2/Columbia Records/Sony Music
International artist of the year
Asake, YBNL Nation/Pri.me
Burna Boy, Spaceship/Bad Habit/Atlantic Records
Caroline Polachek, Perpetual Novice/The Orchard
CMAT, CMATBABY/AWAL
Kylie Minogue, BMG Records
Lana Del Rey, Polydor/Universal Music UK
Miley Cyrus, Columbia/Sony Music
Olivia Rodrigo, Polydor/Geffen/Universal Music Group
SZA, RCA/Sony Music
Taylor Swift, EMI/Republic/Universal Music Group
International group of the year
Blink-182, Columbia/Sony Music
Boygenius, Polydor/Interscope/Universal Music Group
Foo Fighters, Columbia/Sony Music
Gabriels, Parlophone/Warner Music
Paramore, Atlantic/Warner Music
International song of the year
“What Was I Made For?,” Billie Eilish, Darkroom/Interscope/Polydor/Universal Music Group
“Daylight,” David Kushner, Miserable Music/Virgin Music Group/Universal Music Group
“Paint the Town Red,” Doja Cat, RCA/Sony Music
“Giving Me,” Jazzy, CHAOS/Polydor/Universal Music UK
“People,” Libianca,5k Records/Sony Music
“Made You Look,” Meghan Trainor, Epic Records/Sony Music
“Flowers,” Miley Cyrus, Columbia Records/Sony Music
“Stick Season,” Noah Kahan, Mercury Records/Republic Records/Island UK/Universal Music Group
“Miss You,” Oliver Tree & Robin Schulz, Atlantic Records / Warner Music
“vampire,” Olivia Rodrigo, Polydor/Geffen/Universal Music Group
“(It Goes Like) Nanana,” Peggy Gou, XL Recordings
“Calm Down,” Rema, Mavin Records/Jonzing World/Virgin Music Group/Universal Music Group
“Kill Bill,” SZA, RCA/Sony Music
“greedy,” Tate McRae, RCA/Sony Music
“Water,” Tyla, Epic Records/Sony Music
Alternative/rock act
Promoted by Radio X
Blur, Parlophone/Warner Music
Bring Me The Horizon, RCA/Sony Music
The Rolling Stones, Polydor/Universal Music UK
Young Fathers, Ninja Tune
Yussef Dayes, Brownswood Records/ADA/Warner Music
Hip-hop/grime/rap act
Promoted by KISS Fresh
CASISDEAD, XL Recordings
Central Cee, Columbia Records/Sony Music
Dave, Neighbourhood/Live Yours
J Hus, Black Butter/Sony Music
Little Simz, Forever Living Originals/AWAL
Dance act
Promoted by Capital Dance
Barry Can’t Swim, Ninja Tune
Becky Hill, Polydor/Universal Music UK
Calvin Harris, Columbia/Sony Music
Fred again.., Atlantic/Warner
Romy, Young Recordings
Pop act
Promoted by HITS Radio
Calvin Harris, Columbia/Sony Music
Charli XCX, Atlantic/Warner Music
Dua Lipa, Warner Records/Warner Music
Olivia Dean, EMI / Universal Music UK
RAYE, Human Re Sources/The Orchard
R&B act
Promoted by Capital XTRA
Cleo Sol, Forever Living Originals
Jorja Smith, FAMM/The Orchard
Mahalia, Atlantic/Warner Music
RAYE, Human Re Sources/The Orchard
SAULT, Forever Living Originals
Brits rising star
Caity Baser, EMI / Universal Music UK
Sekou, Island / Universal Music UK
WINNER: The Last Dinner Party, Island / Universal Music UK
Producer of the Year
Winner: Chase & Status
Songwriter of the Year
Winner: RAYE
Global Icon Award
Winner: Kylie Minogue
RAYE — who set a new record last month for the most Brit Awards nominations by an artist in any one year — is this year’s recipient of the Brit Award for songwriter of the year. The Brits will be held Saturday at 8.30 p.m. local time at The O2 arena in London. The show will broadcast on ITV1 and ITVX in the U.K. and will stream globally on YouTube.
The winner of the songwriter of the year award, which was introduced in 2022, is determined by a panel of expert judges. The two previous winners are Ed Sheeran and Kid Harpoon, which makes RAYE the first woman to receive the honor. The Brits added this category one year before the Grammys added songwriter of the year, non-classical. To date, no woman has won in that Grammy category.
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RAYE’s “Escapism” (featuring 070 Shake) reached No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 2023 and logged 23 weeks on the chart.
RAYE is set to also perform on this year’s Brits, along with Becky Hill together with Chase & Status, Calvin Harris & Ellie Goulding, Dua Lipa, Jungle, Kylie Minogue, Rema and Tate McRae. Lipa opened this year’s Grammys on Feb. 4 with a performance of “Training Season” and “Houdini.” The Brits will be hosted by Clara Amfo, Maya Jama and Roman Kemp.
RAYE is the fourth Brits winner to be announced ahead of the show.
Chase & Status are this year’s producer of the year winners. The electronic music duo, consisting of Saul Milton (Chase) and Will Kennard (Status), is also nominated for group of the year. They have produced not only their own releases, but the works of such other acts as Becky Hill, Paloma Faith, Rihanna, Rita Ora and Tinie Tempah. Chase & Status are the fourth multi-person production team to win producer of the year, following Stock Aitken Waterman (1988); Chris Potter, The Verve & Youth (1998); and Alan Moulder & Flood (2014).
Minogue will be presented with the Brits’ Global Icon award. Taylor Swift won that award three years ago.
The Last Dinner Party are the winners of the Brits Rising Star award.
The Brit Awards 2024 with Mastercard – the show’s official name – will take place Saturday, March 2, broadcast live from 8:30 p.m. local time on ITV1, STV, ITVX and STV Player.
Yinka Bokinni and Jack Saunders will present The Brits’ Red Carpet for ITV2 and The Brits’ Aftershow for ITVX.
01/24/2024
Here’s every artist who has earned at least five BRIT Awards nominations in a single year.
01/24/2024
RAYE leads the nominations for the 2024 Brit Awards with seven nods – artist of the year, best new artist, pop act, R&B act, Mastercard album of the year for My 21st Century Blues and two nods for song of the year for “Escapism.,” a collab with 070 Shake, and “Prada,” a collab with cassö and D-Block Europe.
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This makes RAYE the most nominated artist in a single year since the Brits began in 1977. She eclipses the record of six nods jointly held by Gorillaz (2002), Craig David (2001) and Robbie Williams (1999).
“I am completely floored to be recognized seven times this year,” RAYE said in a statement. “I was a BRIT school student and I remember how deeply I dreamed of one day being recognized at the BRITs. I am currently a mess of overwhelming emotions and confusion as to how this even happened, to be honest.”
“From the moment RAYE joined the Human Re Sources roster, we believed that she had the music and vision of a generational talent,” Julius Erving III, the label’s founder and CEO said in a statement. “It’s exciting to see the voters and fans respond with such acclaim to the music and art RAYE has been creating and sharing.”
RAYE, 26, achieved global success with “Escapism.” The collab reached No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her album My 21st Century Blues reached No. 58 on the Billboard 200.
Central Cee and J Hus each received four nods. Dua Lipa received three – artist of the year, pop act and song of the year with Mastercard. In addition, Lipa, who has won six Brits, is the first artist confirmed to perform on the Brits on March 2. The superstar last performed on the show in 2021. Lipa was also one of the first three artists confirmed to perform on the Grammys on Feb. 4.
2024 also sees the first Brit nomination for The Rolling Stones in more than a decade. The legendary band is nominated for alternative/rock act. The Stones were nominated four times previously in 1977, 1995, 1996 and 2013.
For 2024, The Brits increased the number of nominees for both artist of the year and international artist of the year from five to 10, a change aimed at improving representation and inclusion. More than half (55%) of the 2024 Brits nominations feature women – either as a solo artist or as part of an all-woman group. This figure rises to 57% when including women in mixed-gender groups.
The British pop/R&B act category was split in two this year — British pop act and British R&B act. Winners in both categories, as well as the three other genre categories – alternative/rock, dance and hip-hop/grime/rap – will be decided by a public vote via Instagram. (Nominees were decided by the Brits’ “voting academy.”) Voting will open on Thursday, Feb. 1, at noon, and close on Thursday, Feb. 15, at 6 p.m.
The Brits have a whopping 15 nominations in two categories – song of the year and international song of the years, which surpasses even the Oscars (10 nominees for best picture) and the Grammys (eight nominees in each of their Big Four categories – album, record and song of the year plus best new artist).
In December, The Brits announced The Last Dinner Party as the winner of the 2024 Rising Star award.
The winners of songwriter of the year and producer of the year will be revealed over the coming weeks.
The awards are scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 2, at The 02 Arena in London. This will mark the second year in a row that the show has been held on a weekend. The show will be broadcast live on ITV1 and ITVX.
Here’s the complete list of 2024 Brit Awards nominees.
Brits rising star
Caity Baser, EMI / Universal Music UK
Sekou, Island / Universal Music UK
WINNER: The Last Dinner Party, Island / Universal Music UK
Mastercard album of the year
Blur, The Ballad of Darren, Parlophone/Warner Music
J Hus, Beautiful and Brutal Yard, Black Butter/Sony Music
Little Simz, NO THANK YOU, Forever Living Originals/AWAL
RAYE, My 21st Century Blues, Human Re Sources/The Orchard
Young Fathers, Heavy Heavy, Ninja Tune
Artist of the year
Arlo Parks, Transgressive
Central Cee, Columbia Records/Sony Music
Dave, Neighbourhood/Live Yours
Dua Lipa, Warner Records/Warner Music
Fred Again.., Atlantic/Warner Music
J Hus, Black Butter/Sony Music
Jessie Ware, EMI / Universal Music UK
Little Simz, Forever Living Originals/AWAL
Olivia Dean, EMI/Universal Music UK
RAYE, Human Re Sources/The Orchard
Group of the year
Blur, Parlophone/Warner Music
Chase & Status, EMI/Universal Music UK
Headie One & K-Trap, One Records & Thousand8/The Orchard
Jungle, Caiola/AWAL
Young Fathers, Ninja Tune
Best new artist
Mahalia, Asylum/Atlantic Records/Warner Music
Olivia Dean, EMI/Universal Music UK
PinkPantheress, Warner Records/Warner Music
RAYE, Human Re Sources/The Orchard
Yussef Dayes, Brownswood Records/ADA/Warner Music
Song of the year
“Miracle,” Calvin Harris/Ellie Goulding, Sony Music/Universal Music UK
“Prada,” cassö/RAYE/D-Block Europe, Ministry Of Sound/Sony Music
“Let Go,” Central Cee, Columbia Records/Sony Music
“Sprinter,” Dave & Central Cee, Neighbourhood/Live Yours
“Dance the Night,” Dua Lipa, Atlantic Records/Warner Music
“Eyes Closed,” Ed Sheeran, Asylum/Atlantic Records/Warner Music
“Who Told You,” J Hus Ft Drake, Sony Music/Universal Music
“Strangers,” Kenya Grace, Warner Music
“Wish You the Best,” Lewis Capaldi, EMI/Universal Music Group
“Boy’s a Liar,” PinkPantheress, Warner Records/Warner Music
“Escapism.,” RAYE ft 070 Shake, Human Re Sources/The Orchard
“Dancing Is Healing,” Rudimental/Charlotte Plank/Vibe Chemistry, Columbia/Sony Music
“Firebabe,” Stormzy Ft Debbie, #Merky Records/0207 Records/Universal Music UK
“REACT,” Switch Disco & Ella Henderson, Relentless Records/Sony Music
“Messy in Heaven,” Venbee & Goddard, Room 2/Columbia Records/Sony Music
International artist of the year
Asake, YBNL Nation/Pri.me
Burna Boy, Spaceship/Bad Habit/Atlantic Records
Caroline Polachek, Perpetual Novice/The Orchard
CMAT, CMATBABY/AWAL
Kylie Minogue, BMG Records
Lana Del Rey, Polydor/Universal Music UK
Miley Cyrus, Columbia/Sony Music
Olivia Rodrigo, Polydor/Geffen/Universal Music Group
SZA, RCA/Sony Music
Taylor Swift, EMI/Republic/Universal Music Group
International group of the year
Blink-182, Columbia/Sony Music
Boygenius, Polydor/Interscope/Universal Music Group
Foo Fighters, Columbia/Sony Music
Gabriels, Parlophone/Warner Music
Paramore, Atlantic/Warner Music
International song of the year
“What Was I Made For?,” Billie Eilish, Darkroom/Interscope/Polydor/Universal Music Group
“Daylight,” David Kushner, Miserable Music/Virgin Music Group/Universal Music Group
“Paint the Town Red,” Doja Cat, RCA/Sony Music
“Giving Me,” Jazzy, CHAOS/Polydor/Universal Music UK
“People,” Libianca,5k Records/Sony Music
“Made You Look,” Meghan Trainor, Epic Records/Sony Music
“Flowers,” Miley Cyrus, Columbia Records/Sony Music
“Stick Season,” Noah Kahan, Mercury Records/Republic Records/Island UK/Universal Music Group
“Miss You,” Oliver Tree & Robin Schulz, Atlantic Records / Warner Music
“vampire,” Olivia Rodrigo, Polydor/Geffen/Universal Music Group
“(It Goes Like) Nanana,” Peggy Gou, XL Recordings
“Calm Down,” Rema, Mavin Records/Jonzing World/Virgin Music Group/Universal Music Group
“Kill Bill,” SZA, RCA/Sony Music
“greedy,” Tate McRae, RCA/Sony Music
“Water,” Tyla, Epic Records/Sony Music
Alternative/rock act
Promoted by Radio X
Blur, Parlophone/Warner Music
Bring Me The Horizon, RCA/Sony Music
The Rolling Stones, Polydor/Universal Music UK
Young Fathers, Ninja Tune
Yussef Dayes, Brownswood Records/ADA/Warner Music
Hip-hop/grime/rap act
Promoted by KISS Fresh
CASISDEAD, XL Recordings
Central Cee, Columbia Records/Sony Music
Dave, Neighbourhood/Live Yours
J Hus, Black Butter/Sony Music
Little Simz, Forever Living Originals/AWAL
Dance act
Promoted by Capital Dance
Barry Can’t Swim, Ninja Tune
Becky Hill, Polydor/Universal Music UK
Calvin Harris, Columbia/Sony Music
Fred again.., Atlantic/Warner
Romy, Young Recordings
Pop act
Promoted by HITS Radio
Calvin Harris, Columbia/Sony Music
Charli XCX, Atlantic/Warner Music
Dua Lipa, Warner Records/Warner Music
Olivia Dean, EMI / Universal Music UK
RAYE, Human Re Sources/The Orchard
R&B act
Promoted by Capital XTRA
Cleo Sol, Forever Living Originals
Jorja Smith, FAMM/The Orchard
Mahalia, Atlantic/Warner Music
RAYE, Human Re Sources/The Orchard
SAULT, Forever Living Originals
Pop hitmaker Caity Baser, all-female indie rock band The Last Dinner Party and teen pop/soul singer Sekou are the three finalists for the Rising Star Award at the 2024 Brit Awards.
Baser’s “Pretty Boys” reached No. 26 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart in February. She has had three other entries on that chart: “X & Y”; “Feels This Good,” a Sigala feature which also featured Mae Muller and Stefflon Don; and “Dance Around It” with Joel Corry. Baser is also a member of Loud LDN.
The Last Dinner Party’s “Nothing Matters” reached No. 16 on the Official Singles Sales Chart in July. The band, which was formed in 2021, consists of Abigail Morris (vocals), Lizzie Mayland (vocals, guitar), Emily Roberts (lead guitar, mandolin, flute), Georgia Davies (bass) and Aurora Nishevci (keys, vocals).
Sekou was born in Leicester but is now based in London and Los Angeles. He attracted label interest after a video of him performing in a car park went viral. He lists his main influences as Beyoncé, Whitney Houston and Stevie Wonder.
Previous winners of The Rising Star award, which is now in its 16th year, include Adele, Sam Smith, Florence + The Machine, Ellie Goulding and last year’s recipient, FLO. The award is open to British artists who, as of Oct. 31, had not yet achieved a top 20 placement on the Official Album Charts or achieved more than one top 20 chart placement in the Official Singles Chart.
The shortlist and winner are determined by a panel of music editors and critics from the national press, online music editors, heads of music at major radio and music TV stations plus songwriters, producers and live bookers — those working with new rising talent on a regular basis.
While the roster of winners includes some of the biggest British talent of the past two decades, the show has also missed a few. Lewis Capaldi was nominated in 2019, but lost to Sam Fender. Dua Lipa was nominated in 2017, but lost to Rag ‘n Bone Man.
Here’s a full list of past winners and other finalists for The Brits’ Rising Star Award.
2008: Adele; other finalists: Duffy, Foals
2009: Florence + the Machine; other finalists: Little Boots, White Lies
2010: Ellie Goulding; other finalists: Delphic, Marina and the Diamonds
2011: Jessie J; other finalists: James Blake, The Vaccines
2012: Emeli Sandé; other finalists: Michael Kiwanuka, Maverick Sabre
2013: Tom Odell; other finalists: AlunaGeorge, Laura Mvula
2014: Sam Smith; other finalists: Ella Eyre, Chlöe Howl
2015: James Bay; other finalists: George the Poet, Years & Years
2016: Jack Garratt; other finalists: Izzy Bizu, Frances
2017: Rag’n’Bone Man; other finalists: Anne-Marie, Dua Lipa
2018: Jorja Smith; other finalists: Stefflon Don, Mabel
2019: Sam Fender; other finalists: Lewis Capaldi, Mahalia
2020: Celeste; other finalists: Beabadoobee, Joy Crookes
2021: Griff; other finalists: Pa Salieu, Rina Sawayama
2022: Holly Humberstone; other finalists: Bree Runway, Lola Young
2023: FLO; other finalists: Cat Burns, Nia Archives
The 2024 Brit Awards is making two changes to boost the “representation and inclusion” of its nominees. It is adding a separate R&B category to its four genre awards, and it is increasing the number of nominees for both British artist of the year and international artist of the year from five to 10.
The show, officially dubbed BRIT Awards with Mastercard 2024, returns for its 44th edition on Saturday March 2, 2024.
The Brit Awards introduced four genre awards categories in 2022 — alternative/rock, dance, pop/R&B and hip hop/grime/rap. With the addition of a category focused solely on R&B, there will be five genre awards categories. Eligibility for the R&B award will cover a 24-month period as opposed to the usual 12 months.
At the 2023 Brits on Feb. 11, Harry Styles won the pop/R&B award, over Cat Burns, Charli XCX, Dua Lipa and Sam Smith. The previous year, Lipa won, beating Adele, Joy Crookes, Griff and Ed Sheeran.
For 2024, The Brits will also increase the number of nominees for both British artist of the year and international artist of the year from five to 10. This change, also aimed at improving representation and inclusion, follows extensive consultation within the BRITs organization and relevant industry and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) groups, including the BPI’s own Equity & Justice Advisory Group (EJAG).
“The BRITs is committed to making the show as inclusive and representative as possible,” Dr. Jo Twist OBE, BPI chief executive said in a statement, “The changes to this year’s categories are part of an ongoing process of evolution, and we will continue to review, listen and learn.”
With 10 nominees, British artist of the year and international artist of the year will now mirror song of the year and best international song, which also have 10 nominees. Most other Brits categories have five nominees, except for Rising Star, which has three.
At the 2023 Brit Awards, two of the five nominees for British artist of the year, and four of the five nominees for international artist of the year, were people of color. Styles won artist of the year over Central Cee, Fred Again, George Ezra and Stormzy. Beyoncé won international artist of the year over Burna Boy, Kendrick Lamar, Lizzo and Taylor Swift.
The Brits Voting Academy, responsible for determining the shortlists and the overall winners of the Brit Awards (except for the Rising Star award, which is voted on by a separate panel), is refreshed annually, drawing on updated member data, to ensure relevance and diversity across its participants. The Voting Academy is composed of approximately 1,200 individuals drawn from across the music industry, including artists, managers, media, producers, publishers, record labels and retailers.
In 2024, the Voting Academy will again have a balanced split of men and women and will include a number of members who identify as non-binary or who prefer not to specify their gender, while a quarter of its members identify as Black, Asian or ethnic minority background. The Academy and the voting process is overseen by Civica — an independent voting scrutineer.
Eligibility for the above categories (apart from Rising Star and the five genre awards) is achieved either by an artist album achieving a Top 40 placement on the Official U.K. Albums Chart during the 12-month eligibility period (Dec. 9, 2022–Dec. 8, 2023), or two Top 20 singles on the Official U.K. Singles Chart. To be eligible for one of the genre awards, an artist must have released a Top 40 album or single in the same eligibility period, with the R&B award eligibility achieved over a 24-month period.
For each awards category, Voting Academy members select from a longlist of eligible entries. They will be able to select up to 10 entries in the Artist of the Year categories (UK and International) and Song of the Year (UK and International), and up to five in all other categories.
Mastercard returns as headline partner of The Brit Awards for the 26th year.