BRITS
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Harry Styles, Lizzo and Sam Smith & Kim Petras, who all performed on the Grammy telecast on Feb. 5 (and also all walked off with awards), are scheduled to perform again on Saturday Feb. 11 at the Brit Awards, which will be held at the O2 arena in London.
They’ll barely have time to get over their jet lag before they’re in front of another arena filled with screaming fans (in the cheap seats) and more reserved industry types (closer to the stage).
Wet Leg, which won two Grammys in the alternative music field, but did not snag a performance slot on Sunday’s telecast, will perform on the Brits.
The Brits have not revealed which songs these stars will sing. Styles performed his megahit “As It Was” on the Grammys. Lizzo sang “About Damn Time” and “Special.” Smith and Petras performed “Unholy.” Smith and Petras are expected to perform that smash again. David Guetta, Becky Hill and Ella Henderson are expected to perform “Crazy What Love Can Do.”
The final performer announced for the Brits was Lewis Capaldi – who last performed at the Brits in 2020, when he sang his breakthrough smash “Someone You Loved.” Capaldi was characteristically self-effacing in a statement: “Last time I played The BRIT Awards I was so scared that I had a panic attack before I went on, and then got hammered afterwards. Looking forward to more of the same this year x.”
Comedian Mo Gilligan will host the BRIT Awards 2023 with Mastercard – the show’s official name – for the second year in a row.
For American fans accustomed to Grammy and Oscar telecasts that often drag on past 3-1/2 hours, the Brit Awards, which stick pretty close to their two-hour scheduled runtime, may seem positively fast-paced. (It’s worth noting that the Grammys were a two-hour show until the 25th anniversary edition on Feb. 23, 1983 when it expanded to three hours for the first time. It never went back.)
Styles and Wet Leg are the leading nominees for the 2023 Brit Awards, with four nods each. Other artists vying for multiple awards include Aitch, Arctic Monkeys, Beyoncé, Cat Burns, Dave, Ed Sheeran, Eliza Rose, Lizzo, Nova Twins, Sam Smith, Stormzy and Taylor Swift.
R&B girl group FLO have already been announced as winners of the 2023 Rising Star award.
This marks the first time the Brits have aired on a Saturday. The show will be broadcast exclusively on ITV1 and ITVX from 8.30pm GMT. Outside of the U.K., it’s available globally at youtube.com/BRITs
Clara Amfo, Maya Jama and Roman Kemp will return to host the BRIT Awards 2023: Red Carpet show on ITV2 and ITVX, which begins at 7.30pm GMT.
2023 will mark 30 years of ITV as the Brits’ broadcast partner, 25 years of Mastercard as headline sponsor and 13 years with the show at The O2.
Here’s the full list of performers for the 2023 Brit Awards:
Cat BurnsDavid Guetta & Becky Hill & Ella HendersonHarry StylesLewis CapaldiLizzoSam Smith & Kim PetrasStormzyWet Leg
Kojey Radical, Mimi Webb, Rina Sawayama, Sam Ryder and Wet Leg got the thrill of a lifetime on Thursday when they received 2023 Brit Awards nominations for best new artist.
Several of the nominees expressed their joy on hearing the news. Wet Leg exclaimed, “Somebody hold our horses while we get to grips with this wild news, being nominated for a BRIT award is too hard to comprehend, we never could have expected for our wee band to achieve this.”
Webb gave a shout-out to a previous winner in the category. “I remember seeing Dua Lipa win Best New Artist in 2018 and being in awe of her – that moment really inspired me to work hard and be the artist I am today.”
Ryder expressed his joy in a most vivid way: “I’m buzzing! I feel like a Golden Retriever that’s won a medal.”
Wet Leg, the female indie rock duo that tied Harry Styles for the most nominations by any artist this year (four), is the clear front-runner here, but the other four acts should not lose heart. Many future superstars have lost this award and gone on to do very well. The gifted singer whose photo accompanies this story is one of them.
It’s not that the Brits don’t know a talented new artist when they see one. The roster of winners in this category includes such heavyweights as Oasis, Arctic Monkeys, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Dua Lipa and Lewis Capaldi. It’s just that it’s not always easy to envision how an artist will develop and grow based on just their first year – and sometimes, less than a year – of success.
Note: The category has undergone several name changes over the years. When the Brits originated in 1977, they presented separate awards for British female newcomer and British male newcomer. When the show resumed in 1982 following a four-year hiatus, the Brits made the category gender-neutral and called it the Brit Award for British newcomer. In 2003, they changed it to the Brit Award for British breakthrough act. In 2020, they changed it again to the Brit Award for best new artist – mirroring the language the Grammys had used since they introduced the award in 1959.
Here are 10 artists who lost the award for best new artist, but (thankfully) didn’t let that stop them.
Harry Styles and Wet Leg tied as the most-nominated artists for the 2023 Brit Awards, with four nods each. Styles is nominated for artist of the year, Mastercard album of the year, song of the year and pop/R&B act.
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Wet Leg is nominated for Mastercard album of the year, group of the year, best new artist and alternative/rock act. The duo will perform at the Feb. 11 Brit Awards ceremony, as will Sam Smith & Kim Petras, whose “Unholy” is up for song of the year.
In a statement, Wet Leg said, “Somebody hold our horses while we get to grips with this wild news, being nominated for a BRIT award is too hard to comprehend, we never could have expected for our wee band to achieve this.”
Styles will face off against Central Cee, Fred again…, George Ezra and Stormzy for artist of the year — which was won by Adele last year in its inaugural year.
The nominees for Mastercard album of the year are The 1975’s Being Funny in a Foreign Language, Wet Leg’s Wet Leg, Styles’ Harry’s House, Stormzy’s This Is What I Mean and Fred again…’s Actual Life 3 (January 1- September 9 2022). The 1975 won in that category four years ago for A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships. Stormzy won five years ago for Gang Signs & Prayer.
Styles’ “As It Was” and Lewis Capaldi’s “Forget Me” are among the 10 nominees for song of the year. Styles won in that category two years ago for “Watermelon Sugar” (and, with One Direction, 11 years ago for “What Makes You Beautiful”). Capaldi won three years ago for “Someone You Loved.” In a funny (and probably prophetic) statement, Capaldi said, “It’s an honour to be nominated for British Song Of The Year. I very much look forward to seeing Harry Styles accept the award for ‘As It Was’.”
Several of the Brit nominees are nominated for Grammys in equivalent categories. Styles, nominated here for Mastercard album of the year and song of the year, is up for album, record and song of the year at the Grammys. Wet Leg, nominated here for best new artist, is up in that same category at the Grammys. Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul” and Lizzo’s “About Damn Time,” nominated here for international song of the year, are nominated for record and song of the year at the Grammys. Gayle’s “abcdefu,” also nominated here for international song of the year, is up for song of the year at the Grammys.
2023 will see the return of the four public-voted genre awards for alternative/rock act, dance act, hip hop/grime/rap act and pop/R&B act, which were introduced last year. Three of last year’s winners in these four categories are back to defend their titles – Dua Lipa in pop/R&B, Becky Hill in dance and Dave in hip-hop, grime, rap. This year’s winners will be determined by a public vote via TikTok, which will open at midday on Thursday Jan. 19.
In a statement, Hill said, “I am astounded that I am nominated for Best Dance Act for a second year in a row. I am so honoured to be recognised again for my contribution in dance music which is held so closely to my heart…”
In December, The Brits announced FLO as the winner of this year’s Rising Star award. FLO is the first group to win this award.
The nominations for British producer of the year (won last year by Inflo) and songwriter of the year (won last year by Ed Sheeran) will be announced later.
Sheeran is nominated for two different collaborations this year. “Merry Christmas,” his teaming with Elton John, is up for song of the year. “Peru,” his pairing with Fireboy DML, is up for international song of the year.
Winners will be revealed at The Brit Awards on Saturday Feb. 11 at The O2 arena, broadcast on ITV and ITVX, and hosted by Mo Gilligan.
Here’s the complete list of 2023 Brit Awards nominations.
Mastercard album of the year
The 1975, Being Funny in a Foreign Language, Dirty Hit
Wet Leg, Wet Leg, Domino Recordings
Harry Styles, Harry’s House, Columbia, Sony Music
Stormzy, This Is What I Mean, 0207/Merky, Universal Music
Fred Again..,, Actual Life 3 (January 1-September 9 2022), Atlantic Warner Music
Song of the year
Aitch/Ashanti, “Baby,” Capitol, Universal Music
Cat Burns, “Go,” RCA/Since 93, Sony Music
Dave, “Starlight,” Dave/Neighbourhood, Universal Music
Ed Sheeran & Elton John, “Merry Christmas,” Atlantic/EMI, Warner Music, Universal Music
Eliza Rose/Interplanetary Criminal, “B.O.T.A. (Baddest of Them All),” Warner Records/One House/Warner Music
George Ezra, “Green Green Grass,” Columbia, Sony Music
Harry Styles, “As It Was,” Columbia, Sony Music
Lewis Capaldi, “Forget Me,” EMI, Universal Music
LF System, “Afraid to Feel,” Warner Records, Warner Music
Sam Smith & Kim Petras, “Unholy,” Capitol, Universal Music
Artist of the year
Central Cee, Central Cee
Fred Again…, Atlantic, Warner Music
George Ezra, Columbia/Sony Music
Harry Styles, Columbia/Sony Music
Stormzy, 0207/Merky, Universal Music
Group of the year
The 1975, Dirty Hit
Arctic Monkeys, Domino Recordings
Bad Boy Chiller Crew, Relentless, Sony Music
Nova Twins, Marshall Records, Blue Raincoat Music
Wet Leg, Domino Recordings
Best new artist
Kojey Radical, Asylum/Atlantic, Warner Music
Mimi Webb, Epic/RCA, Sony Music
Rina Sawayama, Dirty Hit
Sam Ryder, Parlophone, Warner Music
Wet Leg, Domino Recordings
Rising star
Cat Burns, RCA/Since;93, Sony Music
Winner: FLO, Island, Universal Music
Nia Archives, Island/Universal Music
Alternative/rock act
The 1975, Dirty Hit
Arctic Monkeys, Domino Recordings
Nova Twins, Marshall Records, Blue Raincoat Music
Tom Grennan, Insanity, Sony Music
Wet Leg, Domino Recordings
Hip Hop, grime, rap act
Aitch, Capitol, Universal Music
Central Cee, Central Cee
Dave, Dave/Neighbourhood, Universal Music
Loyle Carner, EMI, Universal Music
Stormzy, 0207/Merky, Universal Music
Dance act
Becky Hill, Polydor, Universal Music
Bonobo, Ninja Tune
Calvin Harris, Columbia, Sony Music
Eliza Rose, Warner Records/One House, Warner Music
Fred again…, Atlantic, Warner Music
Pop/R&B act
Cat Burns, RCA/Since’93, Sony Music
Charli XCX, Asylum/Atlantic, Warner Music
Dua Lipa, Warner Records, Warner Music
Harry Styles, Columbia, Sony Music
Sam Smith, Capitol, Universal Music
International artist of the year
Beyoncé, Columbia/Parkwood/RCA, Sony Music
Burna Boy, Atlantic, Warner Music
Kendrick Lamar, Polydor/Interscope, Universal Music
Lizzo, Atlantic, Warner Music
Taylor Swift, EMI/Republic, Universal Music
International group of the year
Blackpink, Polydor/Interscope, Universal Music
Drake & 21 Savage, Island/OVO/Republic, Epic/Columbia, Universal Music, Sony Music
First Aid Kit, Columbia/Sony Music
Fontaines D.C., Partisan Records
Gabriels, Parlophone, Warner Music
International song of the year
Beyoncé, “Break My Soul,” Columbia/Parkwood/RCA, Sony Music
David Guetta & Bebe Rexha, “I’m Good (Blue),” Parlophone, Warner Music
Fireboy DML & Ed Sheeran, “Peru,” Island/Atlantic, Universal/Warner
Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz and cast of Encanto, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” Universal Music Recordings, Walt Disney, Universal Music
Gayle, “abcdefu,” Atlantic, Warner Music
Jack Harlow, “First Class,” Atlantic, Warner Music
Lizzo’s “About Damn Time,” Atlantic, Warner Music
Lost Frequencies/Calum Scott, “Where Are You Now,” Capitol/Insanity, Sony Music/Universal Music
One Republic, “I Ain’t Worried,” Polydor/Insanity, Sony Music/Universal Music
Taylor Swift, “Anti-Hero,” EMI/Republic, Universal Music
Want to be among the first to know just how many Brit Awards nominations Harry Styles receives for his hit album Harry’s House and his global smash “As It Was”? You can tune into a livestream on Thursday (Jan. 12) at 11 a.m. ET during which the nominations will be announced.
The 30-minute livestream, titled “Bring on The Brits With Mastercard: The 2023 Nominations,” will stream on the official Brits channels on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. In the livestream, viewers will see reactions from artists as they learn the happy news and get the latest updates on the 2023 Brit Awards. The show is set for Saturday, Feb. 11, at the O2 arena in London, with comedian Mo Gilligan hosting for the second year in a row.
Broadcaster Vick Hope will host the livestream. He will be joined by radio broadcaster Jack Saunders as well as various celebrities who will reveal the nominations across their own social media channels. They include Olympian Tom Daley, YouTube’s Yung Filly, World Cup winner Jill Scott and Gogglebox’s Joe and George Baggs.
Styles has won two Brit Awards as a solo artist – British single of the year two years ago for “Watermelon Sugar” and British video of the year five years ago for “Sign of the Times.” At the upcoming Grammy Awards, Styles is nominated for six awards – including album, record and song of the year.
Adele is nominated for seven Grammys – including album, record and song of the year – but don’t look for her in the marquee categories at the Brits. She won last year for British album of the year, British artist of the year and best British single. (The Brits and the Grammys have different eligibility periods.)
Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres, which is also Grammy-nominated for album of the year, will likewise not be a factor in the Brit nods. It was released in October 2021, a month before Adele’s album. Coldplay was nominated for Brits last year for best British group and best rock/alternative artist.
But British indie rock band Wet Leg, which is Grammy-nominated for best new artist, may well get some attention from the Brits. Their eponymous debut album was released in April 2022. The band is set to open for Styles when he plays four nights at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles later this month.
The Brits announced their first winner last month. R&B girl group FLO is the winner of the 2023 Rising Star award.
Saunders will open this year’s TikTok voting for the four genre awards later this month. Those awards, introduced last year, are best pop/R&B act, best dance act, best rock/alternative act and best hip-hop/grime/rap act.
This will mark the first time the Brit Awards, which will broadcast live on ITV1 and ITVX, will be held on a Saturday. This year marks the Brits’ 30th year years with ITV as its broadcast partner; its 25th year with Mastercard as its headline sponsor; and its 13th year at The O2 arena.
A year ago, the Brits’ nominations special was titled The Brits Are Coming. Hosted by Maya Jama and Clara Amfo, the show aired on Dec. 18, 2021.
The buzzy British R&B group FLO were named the winners of the Brit Awards’ Rising Star award on Thursday (Dec. 8). They are the first girl group to win in the category and the first group of any type to win since Florence + the Machine in 2009. Other previous winners of the award (formerly called Critics’ Choice) include Adele, Ellie Goulding, Sam Smith and Celeste.
The news was revealed by Clara Amfo on her BBC Radio 1 Future Sounds show.
“From growing up watching the BRITs, to finding each other and forming FLO, releasing our first body of work in 2022 and winning a BRIT award in the same year!!,” the members of FLO exulted in a statement. “We are so shocked and grateful. We are the first group to win the BRITs Rising Star! We’ve just made history and couldn’t have done it without our wonderful fans and supportive families. It’s truly a dream come true. We feel so empowered creating the music we love and we hope others feel that too.”
The group – Renée, Jorja and Stella – released their debut single “Cardboard Box” just seven months ago. They have also released a debut EP, The Lead. George Griffiths of The Official U.K. Charts site says “they have quickly become the de facto heirs to the British girlband crown left vacant by Little Mix.”
FLO have was also nominated for best newcomer at the MOBO Awards (but lost to BRU-C). FLO have performed “Cardboard Box” on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and the U.K.’s Later…With Jools Holland.
The song ranked No. 85 on Billboard’s just-published 100 Best Songs of 2022: Staff List. Writing about the song, Glenn Rowley observed, “From the opening notes of their debut single, British trio FLO makes it clear they’re channeling the spirit — and chill-inducing harmonies — of late ‘90s/early ‘00s R&B. Taking inspiration in equal measures from the likes of 702, Blaque and Destiny’s Child, ‘Cardboard Box’ is something of a little sister to Beyoncé’s classic 2006 kiss-off ‘Irreplaceable.’ By the time the threesome finish kicking a cheating beau to the curb, they’ve proved they might just have the charisma and vocal chops to be crowned those girl groups’ latest heir apparents.”
Cat Burns and Nia Archives were also shortlisted for the Brits’ Rising Star award. The shortlist is selected by an invited 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.
The BRIT Awards 2023 with Mastercard – as the show is formally known – will take place on Saturday Feb. 11, 2023, at The O2 arena in London. This marks the first time the show will be held on a Saturday. It will be broadcast live on ITV and ITVX.
Here’s a full list of BRIT Awards’ Critics’ Choice/Rising Star winners (with other nominees shown in parentheses):
2008: Adele (Duffy, Foals)
2009: Florence + The Machine (Little Boots, White Lies)
2010: Ellie Goulding (Delphic, Marina and the Diamonds)
2011: Jessie J (James Blake, The Vaccines)
2012: Emeli Sandé (Michael Kiwanuka, Maverick Sabre)
2013: Tom Odell (AlunaGeorge, Laura Mvula)
2014: Sam Smith (Ella Eyre, Chlöe Howl)
2015: James Bay (George The Poet, Years & Years)
2016: Jack Garratt (Izzy Bizu, Frances)
2017: Rag ’n’ Bone Man (Anne Marie, Dua Lipa)
2018: Jorja Smith (Stefflon Don, Mabel)
2019: Sam Fender (Lewis Capaldi, Mahalia)
2020: Celeste (Beabadoobee, Joy Crookes)
2021: Griff (Pa Salieu, Rina Sawayama)
2022: Holly Humberstone (Bree Runway, Lola Young)
2023: FLO (Cat Burns, Nia Archives)