Music

At the 1985 ceremony, Frankie Goes to Hollywood led the field with five nominations. The band’s haul consisted of citations in album of the year (Welcome to the Pleasuredome), single of the year (“Relax” and “Two Tribes”), breakthrough act and British group. By the end of the night they triumphed with “Relax” in single of the year, while also taking home the breakthrough act award.

Suede made a major splash at the 1994 BRITs, emerging as the ceremony’s most-nominated act with five nods. The band earned nods for breakthrough act and British group, while their hit single “Animal Nitrate” received bids for single of the year and video of the year. Their self-titled album also appeared in the final line-up for album of the year. Ultimately, the rockers went home empty-handed.

At the 2024 BRITs, Blur boasts three nominations, but this is far from their first rodeo. Back in 1995, the rock band scored five nominations, including album of the year (Parklife), video of the year (“Parklife”), single of the year (“Parklife” and “Girls & Boys”) and British group. In the most ideal turn of events, Blur triumphed in every category they were nominated in, taking home a total of four trophies that night.

Just one year after Blur swept the BRITs, Oasis tried their best to do the same. The rock band reaped five bids at the 1996 BRITs: album of the year ((What’s the Story) Morning Glory?), single of the year (“Wonderwall” and “Roll with It”), video of the year (“Wonderwall”) and British group. They ended up winning each of their races, except for single of the year, where Take That’s “Back for Good” came out on top.

Nonetheless, the near-clean sweep wasn’t completely smooth sailing. Rival Britpop group Blur repeated their success from the previous year, earning five bids at the 1996 ceremony. They directly competed against Oasis in each of their races, and lost every single one.

For a third consecutive year, a British group collected five BRITs nominations in a single year — and this time, the ladies had something to say. At the 1997 BRITS, Spice Girls entered the night with five nods, including single of the year (“Wannabe”), video of the year (“Say You’ll Be There” and “Wannabe”), British breakthrough act and British group. The quintet ultimately took home two awards — single of the year and video of the year (“Say You’ll Be There”) — tying with Manic Street Preachers as the night’s biggest winners.

Groups ruled the BRITs in the late ’90s. At the 1998 ceremony, The Verve reigned with five nominations, including album of the year (Urban Hymns), single of the year (“Bitter Sweet Symphony”), producer of the year (with Youth and Chris Potter), video of the year (“Bitter Sweet Symphony”) and British group. The rockers ultimately emerged as the night’s biggest winners, taking home album of the year, producer of the year and British group.

Back in 1999, Robbie Williams made history as the first artist to earn six BRITs nods in a single year. His nominations haul included bids for album of the year (I’ve Been Expecting You), single of the year (“Angels” and “Millenium”), video of the year (“Millenium” and “Let Me Entertain You”) and British male solo artist.

Naturally, the former Take That member was the night’s biggest winner, taking home each category he was nominated in except for album of the year, which he lost to Manic Street Preachers’ This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours.

Just two years after Robbie Williams made history, Craig David matched his feat with six bids at the 2001 BRITs. The R&B maestro earned citations in album of the year (Born to Do It), single of the year (“7 Days”), video of the year (“7 Days”), British breakthrough act, British dance act and British male solo artist.

David lost every last one of his nominations. Coldplay’s Parachutes took home album of the year, Fatboy Slim won British dance act and A1 triumphed in the British breakthrough act category. Robbie Williams, on the other hand, beat out David for British male solo artist and single and video of the year (“Rock DJ”).

Another year, more history. At the 2002 BRITs, Gorillaz became the first group to earn six nominations in a single year. They were recognized in album of the year (Gorillaz), single of the year (“Clint Eastwood”), video of the year (“Clint Eastwood”), British dance act, British breakthrough act, and British group.

Like Craig David the year prior, Gorillaz last each of their six bids. Basement Jaxx won British dance act, Travis won British group and Blue won British breakthrough act. The virtual band lost single of the year to S Club 7 (“Don’t Stop Movin’”), video of the year to So Solid Crew (“21 Seconds”) and album of the year to Dido (“No Angel”).

Scottish rockers Franz Ferdinand entered the 2005 ceremony as the night’s most-nominated act. They earned nods for album of the year (Franz Ferdinand), British group, British breakthrough act, British rock act and British live act.

They ultimately triumphed in British group and British rock act.

For the first time in exactly a decade, two acts earned at five nods each at a single BRITs ceremony.

Singer-songwriter James Blunt reaped bids for album of the year (Back to Bedlam), single of the year (“You’re Beautiful”), British breakthrough act, British male solo artist, and British pop act. He ended up taking home the latter two awards.

Leeds-bred indie rockers Kaiser Chiefs were recognized with nominations for album of the year (Unemployment), British breakthrough act, British group, British rock act and British live act. They walked away as the night’s biggest winners, triumphing in the latter three categories.

It would take eight years for another artist to earn at least five BRITs nods in a single year. Then again, who can deny Ellie Goulding? The “Lights” singer earned two bids for both video and single of the year (“Burn” and Calvin Harris’ “I Need Your Love”), as well as a nod for British female solo artist. The latter category was Goulding’s only win.

Rudimental and Ella Eyre’s “Waiting All Night” won single of the year, and One Direction’s “Best Song Ever” took home video of the year.

Sam Smith followed right in Ellie Goulding’s footsteps. The “Lay Me Down” singer earned five nods at the 2015 BRITs, including album of the year (In the Lonely Hour), single of the year (“Stay with Me”), video of the year (“Stay with Me”), British male solo artist, and British breakthrough act.

The Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper ultimately took home just one competitive award — British breakthrough act. Nonetheless, they were also awarded the Global Success Award that year.

Before she dominated the world with her Future Nostalgia and Barbie smashes, Dua Lipa was the most-nominated artist at the 2018 BRITs. The then-newcomer received nominations for album of the year (Dua Lipa), single of the year (“New Rules”), video of the year (“New Rules”), British female solo artist and British breakthrough act.

By the end of the night, Lipa took home two awards — British female solo artist and British breakthrough act — tying her with Stormzy as the night’s biggest winner.

And then there was RAYE. On Wednesday, Jan. 24, RAYE made history as the artist with most BRIT Awards bids in a single year (7). Here are all of her nominations: