Music Sound

Brit Award

The Brit Awards are the annual United Kingdom pop music awards founded by the British Phonographic Industry. The awards began in 1977 as the BPI Awards and were renamed The Britannia Awards, or Brit Awards, in 1989. MasterCard is the long-time sponsor of this annual event.

Brit is also a backronym for British Record Industry Trust which supports youngsters in the arts and education mainly at the BRIT School in Croydon, London.

Strong music industry sponsorship and involvement mean that awards are given without much democratic process and, many suspect, for strongly commercial reasons. These are awards given by the music industry to the music industry. Robbie Williams pointed this out accepting an award a few years back. More recently, the awards have more reflected the tastes of the record-buying public, with an artist needing to prove popular and chart-topping before they are rewarded.

The Brit Awards used to be broadcast live until 1989, when Samantha Fox and Mick Fleetwood hosted a shambolic show in which just about everything went wrong - lines were fluffed, bands mis-cued, and airtime filled with embarrassing silence. After this the show was recorded, and broadcast the following night, part of a revamp by Jonathan King for 1990 whose actions also included releasing a megamix of British dance acts including S'Express and A Guy Called Gerald called Brits 1990. King subsequently went on to revamp A Song for Europe.

Pre-recording proved to be a good idea when, during a Michael Jackson performance in 1996, Jarvis Cocker from the band Pulp invaded the stage in a comedic protest at Jackson's messianic performance. There have been many such notable instances, including several UK politicians presenting awards and being heckled (and, in the case of John Prescott, having water thrown over him, at the 1998 awards, by Chumbawamba vocalist Danbert Nobacon [1]) and a remarkable performance by The KLF in 1992.

In addition, an equivalent awards ceremony for classical music, called the Classical Brit Awards, is held each May.

Main Winners for Each Year

1977: The Beatles win 3 awards
1982: no clear winner
1983: Paul McCartney wins 2 awards
1984: Culture Club win 2 awards
1985: Prince wins 2 awards
1986: Eurythmics win 2 awards
1987: Peter Gabriel wins 2 awards
1988: no clear winner
1989: Phil Collins, Michael Jackson, Fairground Attraction and Tracy Chapman win 2 awards
1990: Neneh Cherry,Phil Collins and Fine Young Cannibals win 2 awards
1991: no clear winner
1992: Seal wins 3 awards
1993: Annie Lennox and Simply Red win 2 awards
1994: Björk,Take That and Stereo MC's win 2 awards
1995: Blur win 4 awards
1996: Oasis win 3 awards
1997: Manic Street Preachers and Spice Girls win 2 awards
1998: The Verve win 3 awards
1999: Robbie Williams wins 3 awards
2000: Travis,Robbie Williams and Macy Gray win 2 awards
2001: Robbie Williams wins 3 awards
2002: Dido and Kylie Minogue win 2 awards
2003: Coldplay and Ms Dynamite win 2 awards
2004: The Darkness win 3 awards
2005: Scissor Sisters win 3 awards
2006: Kaiser Chiefs win 3 awards

Selected Famous and Infamous Brit Award Incidents

Ronnie Wood vs Brandon Block (2000)

After consuming large amounts of alcohol (and allegedly drugs) dance DJ Brandon Block was told by his friends that he had won an award and had been summoned to the stage to collect it. Because of his advanced state of intoxication he believed them and walked onto the stage, eventually ending up next to a bemused Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood and actress Thora Birch who were about to present the award for best soundtrack album. Having been successfully bundled off the stage by security, Ronnie Wood aimed an insult in his direction at which Block broke free from his captors to square up to the guitarist. A series of insults were then traded between the two – both comically leaning into the microphone so that everyone could hear. Wood threw his drink into Block’s face and the DJ was eventually removed from the stage. Some time after the incident, Block claimed that he had subsequently apologised to Wood for his behaviour who had merely brushed it off.

Robbie Williams vs Liam Gallagher (2000)

Around the time of his departure from Take That, Robbie Williams had begun an unlikely friendship with the Gallagher brothers from Britpop band Oasis at the Glastonbury Festival. The friendship was short lived, however, and the two parties regularly traded insults in the press with Noel Gallagher once famously referring to Robbie as “the fat dancer from Take That”. Having won “Best British Single” and “Best Video” for “She’s The One”, Williams challenged Liam to a televised fight saying, ”So, anybody like to see me fight Liam? Would you pay to come and see it? Liam, a hundred grand of your money and a hundred grand of my money. We'll get in a ring and we'll have a fight and you can all watch it on TV.” Liam did not accept the challenge.

Belle and Sebastian beat Steps to best newcomer award (1999)

In 1999, indie band Belle & Sebastian were nominated for Best British Newcomers. The award was sponsored by Radio One and voted for online by their listeners. At the time, Steps were Britain's biggest boy/girl pop band and were also nominated. There was all round surprise, however, when the winners were announced as Belle & Sebastian. On the Saturday after the awards, a story appeared in the press alleging that Belle & Sebastian had rigged the vote in their favour, encouraging students from two universities to vote online. However, fans argued that the band had a predominantly student following and that band member Isobel Campbell had attended one of universities in question. The following year there was a Brit Award for Best Pop Act and Steps were presented with a special award.

Note: Belle & Sebastian were not the first act to have been accused of motivating all their fans to vote for them in a Brit's public vote, similar allegations were directed at Depeche Mode for winning Best British single with "Enjoy the Silence".

Chumbawamba throw water over John Prescott (1998)

In 1998, Danbert Nobacon of politically active band Chumbawamba threw a bucket of iced water over Labour cabinet minister John Prescott. Despite apologies on behalf of the band from EMI Europe, Chumbawamba were unrepentant claiming, ”If John Prescott has the nerve to turn up at events like the Brit Awards in a vain attempt to make Labour seem cool and trendy, then he deserves all we can throw at him".

Jarvis Cocker’s stage invasion during Michael Jackson’s Earth Song (1996)

The 1996 awards witnessed a special performance of Earth Song by Michael Jackson. Some found the grandiose presentation, which presented Jackson as some kind of redeemer of mankind surrounded by adoring children (first seen in the video to his earlier single Will You Be There), inappropriate and distasteful prompting a spur of the moment decision by Cocker (of the band Pulp) to invade the stage in protest. Once onstage, Jarvis ran around lifting his shirt and pointing his (clothed) bottom in Jackson’s direction. Cocker was subsequently questioned by the police but no criminal proceedings were forthcoming.

The KLF, a machine gun and a dead sheep (1992)

In 1992, dance / art band The KLF were awarded Best British Group (shared with Simply Red) and were booked to open the show. In an attempt to hijack the event the duo hooked up with Extreme Noise Terror to perform a death metal version of the dance song 3am Eternal that prompted composer Sir Georg Solti to walk out[2]. The performance ended with Bill Drummond firing blanks from a vintage machine gun into the audience and announcer Scott Piering stating ”Ladies and gentleman, The KLF have now left the music business”. Producers of the show then refused to let a motorcycle courier collect the award on behalf of the band. Later, guests arriving for an after show party witnessed KLF dump a dead sheep outside the venue with the message ”I died for ewe – bon appetite” tied around its waist. KLF disbanded three months later.

The Sam Fox and Mick Fleetwood Car Crash (1989)

Until 1989, the BPI Awards were a spectacularly lifeless affair usually presented by Noel Edmonds and brimming with industry types and ageing Radio 1 DJs. In 1989 all that changed. In an attempt to add some excitement and appeal to the proceedings organizers decided to rename the awards to 'The Brit Awards' and came up with the idea of having Fleetwood Mac’s Mick Fleetwood and former page 3 girl Sam Fox as co-hosts of the live show. The results were indeed spectacular. The inexperience of the hosts, a broken autocue and poor preparation combined to create one of the most shambolic performances ever aired on live British television. The hosts continually fluffed their lines, a pre-recorded message from Michael Jackson was never actually broadcast and several star guests arrived late. A classic moment included the appearance of Boy George of Culture Club and was along the lines of:

Sam Fox: (with a fixed beaming smile) …and the winner is...

Celebrity presenting the award: (looking panicked) aren’t you going to read out the nominations first?

Sam Fox: (with a determined look) …here they are … the FOUR TOPS...

Boy George appears from backstage looking self-conscious.

Boy George: (with an apologetic smile) I’m afraid I’m just the one top...

Ironically, the Sam Fox/Mick Fleetwood show proved to be the single most important event in BPI/Brit Awards history. It was just so disastrous that the British public’s interest was revived and the Brits became associated with risky live TV. The show’s organisers would successfully exploit this association to publicise future shows.

Awards

2006

Kaiser Chiefs collecing one of their three Brit Awards, 2006

British male solo artist: James Blunt
British female solo artist: KT Tunstall
British group: Kaiser Chiefs
MasterCard British album: Coldplay - "X&Y"
British single: Coldplay - "Speed Of Sound"
British breakthrough act: Arctic Monkeys
British urban act: Lemar
British rock act: Kaiser Chiefs
British live act: Kaiser Chiefs
Pop act: James Blunt
International male solo artist: Kanye West
International female solo artist: Madonna
International group: Green Day
International album: Green Day - "American Idiot"
International breakthrough act: Jack Johnson
Outstanding Contribution to Music: Paul Weller

2005

British male solo artist: The Streets
British female solo artist: Joss Stone
British group: Franz Ferdinand,
British album: Keane - Hopes and Fears
British single: Will Young - "Your Game"
British breakthrough act: Keane
British urban act: Joss Stone
British rock act: Franz Ferdinand
British live act: Muse
Pop act: McFly
International male solo artist: Eminem
International female solo artist: Gwen Stefani
International breakthrough act: Scissor Sisters
International group: Scissor Sisters
International album: Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters
Outstanding Contribution to Music: Bob Geldof

A Special BRITs 25 Award for the best single from the past 25 years was awarded to Robbie Williams Angels.

The producers added a fake film effect to the TV coverage of the 2005 awards show, which was criticised by some who thought ruined the immediacy of the awards show, and was dizzying when combined with fast camera movements.

2004

Beyoncé with her Brit Award in 2004.

British album – The Darkness - Permission to Land
British breakthrough act – Busted
British dance act – Basement Jaxx
British female solo artist – Dido
British group – The Darkness
British male solo artist – Daniel Bedingfield
British rock act - The Darkness
British single – Dido - "White Flag"
British urban act – Lemar
International album – Justin Timberlake - Justified
International breakthrough act – 50 Cent
International female solo artist - Beyoncé
International group – White Stripes
International male solo artist - Justin Timberlake
Outstanding contribution – Duran Duran
Pop act – Busted

2003

British album – Coldplay – A Rush of Blood to the Head
British breakthrough act – Will Young
British dance act – Sugababes
British female solo artist – Ms Dynamite
British group – Coldplay
British male solo artist – Robbie Williams
British single – Liberty X – "Just a Little"
British urban act – Ms Dynamite
International album – Eminem – The Eminem Show
International breakthrough act – Norah Jones
International female – Pink
International group – Red Hot Chilli Peppers
International male – Eminem
Outstanding contribution – Tom Jones
Pop act – Blue

2002

British album – Dido – No Angel
British breakthrough act – Blue
British dance act – Basement Jaxx
British female solo artist – Dido (singer)
British group – Travis
British male solo artist – Robbie Williams
British single –S Club 7 – "Don't Stop Movin'"
British video – So Solid Crew – "21 Seconds"
International album – Kylie Minogue – Fever
International breakthrough act – The Strokes
International female - Kylie Minogue
International group – Destiny's Child
International male – Shaggy
Outstanding contribution – Sting
Pop act – Westlife

2001

Best soundtrack - American Beauty
British album - Coldplay - Parachutes
British breakthrough act - a1
British dance act - Fatboy Slim
British female solo artist - Sonique
British group - Coldplay
British male solo artist - Robbie Williams
British single - Robbie Williams - "Rock DJ"
British video - Robbie Williams - "Rock DJ"
International breakthrough act - Kelis
International female - Madonna
International group - U2
International male - Eminem
Outstanding contribution - U2
Pop act - Westlife

2000

Best selling live act – Steps
Best soundtrack – Notting Hill
British album – Travis – The Man Who
British breakthrough act – S Club 7
British dance act – The Chemical Brothers
British female solo artist – Beth Orton
British group – Travis
British male solo artist – Tom Jones
British single – Robbie Williams – "She's the One"
British video – Robbie Williams – "She's the One"
International breakthrough act – Macy Gray
International female - Macy Gray
International group – TLC
International male – Beck
Outstanding contribution – Spice Girls
Pop act – Five

1999

Best soundtrack - Titanic
British album – Manic Street Preachers – This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours
British breakthrough act – Belle & Sebastian
British dance act – Fatboy Slim
British female solo artist – Des'ree
British group - Manic Street Preachers
British male solo artist - Robbie Williams
British single – Robbie Williams – "Angels"
British video – Robbie Williams – "Millennium"
International breakthrough act – Natalie Imbruglia
International female - Natalie Imbruglia
International group – The Corrs
International male – Beck
Outstanding contribution – Eurythmics

1998

Best British producer – The Verve, Chris Potter and Youth
Best selling British album act – Spice Girls
Best soundtrack – The Full Monty
British album – The Verve – Urban Hymns
British breakthrough act – Stereophonics
British dance act – The Prodigy
British female solo artist – Shola Ama
British Group – The Verve
British male solo artist – Finley Quaye
British single – All Saints – "Never Ever"
British Video - All Saints – "Never Ever"
Freddie Mercury award – Sir Elton John
International breakthrough act – Eels
International female – Björk
International group – U2
International male – Jon Bon Jovi
Outstanding contribution – Fleetwood Mac

1997

The Spice Girls collecting their awards for Best Single and Best Video at The Brit Awards 1997

Best British producer – John Leckie
Best soundtrack – Trainspotting
British album - Manic Street Preachers – Everything Must Go
British breakthrough act – Kula Shaker
British dance act – The Prodigy
British female solo artist – Gabrielle
British Group - Manic Street Preachers
British male solo artist – George Michael
British single – Spice Girls – "Wannabe"
British Video - Spice Girls – "Say You'll Be There"
International breakthrough act – Robert Miles
International female – Sheryl Crow
International group – The Fugees
International male – Beck
Outstanding contribution – Bee Gees

1996

Artist of a generation – Michael Jackson
Best British producer – Brian Eno
Best soundtrack – Batman Forever
British album – Oasis - (What's the Story) Morning Glory
British breakthrough act – Supergrass
British dance act – Massive Attack
British female solo artist – Annie Lennox
British group - Oasis
British male solo artist – Paul Weller
British single – Take That – "Back for Good"
British video - Oasis – "Wonderwall"
Freddie Mercury award - The Help Album for the Charity Warchild
International breakthrough act – Alanis Morissette
International female – Björk
International group – Bon Jovi
International male – Artist
Outstanding contribution – David Bowie

1995

Best British producer – Nellee Hooper
Best soundtrack – Pulp Fiction
British album – Blur - Parklife
British breakthrough act – Oasis
British dance act – M People
British female solo artist – Eddi Reader
British Group – Blur
British male solo artist – Paul Weller
British single – Blur - "Parklife"
British Video - Blur - "Parklife"
International breakthrough act – Lisa Loeb
International female – k.d. lang
International group – R.E.M.
International male – (a.k.a. Prince)
Outstanding contribution – Elton John

1994

Best soundtrack – The Bodyguard
Best British producer – Brian Eno
Best selling album & Single – Meat Loaf
British album – Stereo MC's - Connected
British breakthrough act – Gabrielle
British dance act – M People
British female solo artist – Dina Carroll
British group – Stereo MC's
British male solo artist – Sting
British single – Take That - "Pray"
British video - Take That - "Pray"
International breakthrough act – Björk
International female – Björk
International group – Crowded House
International male – Lenny Kravitz
Outstanding contribution – Van Morrison

1993

Best British producer – Peter Gabriel
Best International Solo Artist – (a.k.a. Prince)
Best soundtrack – Wayne's World
British album – Annie Lennox - Diva
British breakthrough act – Tasmin Archer
British female solo artist – Annie Lennox
British group – Simply Red
British male solo artist – Mick Hucknall
British single – Take That "Could it be Magic"
British video – Shakespear's Sister "Stay"
International breakthrough act – Nirvana
International group – R.E.M.
Outstanding contribution – Rod Stewart

1992

Best British producer – Trevor Horn
Best classical recording - Giuseppe Verdi - (Sir Georg Solti) - Otello
Best soundtrack – The Commitments
British album – Seal (musician) - Seal (1991)
British breakthrough act – Beverley Craven
British female solo artist – Lisa Stansfield
British group – The KLF and Simply Red (Joint Winners)
British male solo artist – Seal
British single – Queen "These Are The Days Of Our Lives"
British video – Seal - "Killer"
International breakthrough act – PM Dawn
International group – R.E.M.
Outstanding contribution – Freddie Mercury

1991

Best British producer – Chris Thomas
Best classical recording – José Carreras, Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti In Concert
Best soundtrack – Twin Peaks
British album – George Michael - Listen Without Prejudice
British breakthrough act – Betty Boo
British female solo artist – Lisa Stansfield
British group – The Cure
British male solo artist – Elton John
British single – Depeche Mode "Enjoy the Silence"
British video – The Beautiful South "A Little Time"
International breakthrough act – MC Hammer
International female - Sinéad O'Connor
International group – INXS
International male – Michael Hutchence
Outstanding contribution – Status Quo

1990

Best British producer – Dave Stewart
Best classical recording – Simon Rattle - George Gershwin’s - "Porgy And Bess
Best international artist – Neneh Cherry
Best music video – The Cure - "Lullaby"
Best soundtrack – Batman
British album – Fine Young Cannibals – The Raw and the Cooked
British breakthrough act – Lisa Stansfield
British female solo artist – Annie Lennox
British group – Fine Young Cannibals
British male solo artist – Phil Collins
British single – Phil Collins - "Another Day in Paradise"
International breakthrough act – Neneh Cherry
International group – U2
Outstanding contribution – Queen

1989

Best classical recording – George Frideric Handel’s - The Messiah
Best Music Video - Michael Jackson - "Smooth Criminal"
Best soundtrack – Buster
British album – Fairground Attraction - The First of a Million Kisses
British breakthrough act – Bros
British female solo artist – Annie Lennox
British group – Erasure
British male solo artist – Phil Collins
British single – Fairground Attraction - "Perfect"
International breakthrough act – Tracy Chapman
International female - Tracy Chapman
International group – U2
International male – Michael Jackson
Outstanding contribution – Cliff Richard

1988

Best British producer – Stock Aitken Waterman
Best classical recording – Ralph Vaughan Williams - Symphony No. 5
Best international solo artist - Michael Jackson
Best Music Video – New Order - "True Faith"
Best soundtrack – The Phantom of the Opera
British album – Sting - Nothing Like the Sun
British breakthrough act – Wet Wet Wet
British female solo artist – Alison Moyet
British group – Pet Shop Boys
British male solo artist – George Michael
British single – Rick Astley - "Never Gonna Give You Up"
International breakthrough act – Terence Trent D'Arby
International group – U2
Outstanding contribution – The Who

1987

Best British producer – Dave Stewart
Best classical recording – Julian Lloyd Webber/Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Elgar Cello Concerto
Best international solo artist – Paul Simon
Best soundtrack – Top Gun
British album – Dire Straits Brothers in Arms
British breakthrough act – The Housemartins
British female solo artist – Kate Bush
British group – Five Star
British male solo artist – Peter Gabriel
British single – Pet Shop Boys - "West End Girls"
British Video - Peter Gabriel - "Sledgehammer"
International group – The Bangles
Outstanding contribution – Eric Clapton

1986

Best British producer – Dave Stewart
Best international solo artist – Bruce Springsteen
British female solo artist – Annie Lennox
British group – Dire Straits
British male solo artist – Phil Collins
British Video – Paul Young - "Every Time You Go Away"
International group – Huey Lewis and The News
Outstanding contribution – Wham! and Elton John (Joint Winners)

1985

Best British comedy recording - Neil (a.k.a. Nigel Planer) - "Hole In My Shoe"
Best British producer – Trevor Horn
Best classical recording – Antonio Vivaldi’s - The Four Seasons
Best international artist – Prince & The Revolutions
Best soundtrack – Purple Rain
British album – Sade - Diamond Life
British female solo artist – Alison Moyet
British group – Wham!
British male solo artist – Paul Young
British single – Frankie Goes To Hollywood - "Relax"
British Video – Duran Duran - "The Wild Boys"
Outstanding contribution – The Police
Special Award - Bob Geldof and Midge Ure

1984

Best British producer – Steve Levine
Best classical recording – Kiri Te Kanawa - Songs of the Auvergne
Best international artist – Michael Jackson
British breakthrough act – Paul Young
British female solo artist – Annie Lennox
British group – Culture Club
British male solo artist – David Bowie
Best Selling Single- Culture Club - "Karma Chameleon"
Outstanding contribution – George Martin
The Sony award for technical excellence – Spandau Ballet

1983

Best British producer – Trevor Horn
Best classical recording – John Williams - Portrait
Best international artist – Kid Creole and the Coconuts
Best Live Act - U2
Best selling album – Barbra Streisand - Love Songs
British breakthrough act – Yazoo
British female solo artist – Kim Wilde
British group – Dire Straits
British male solo artist – Paul McCartney
British single – Dexy's Midnight Runners - "Come On Eileen"
Life achievement award – Pete Townshend
Outstanding contribution – The Beatles
Special Award - Chris Wright
The Sony award for technical excellence – Paul McCartney

1982

Best British producer – Martin Rushent
Best classical recording – Gustav Mahler's - Symphony No. 10
Best selling album – Adam and the Ants - Kings Of The Wild Frontier
British breakthrough act - Human League
British female solo artist – Randy Crawford
British group – The Police
British male solo artist – Cliff Richard
Outstanding contribution – John Lennon

1977

n.b. these awards were to mark the Queen's Silver Jubilee and were for the previous 25 years of her reign.

Best British non-musical record - Richard Burton and cast "Under Milkwood"
Best British producer – George Martin
Best classical soloist album – Jacqueline du Pre - Elgar, Cello Concerto
Best international album - Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water
Best orchestral album – Benjamin Britten - War Requiem
British album – The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
British breakthrough act – Julie Covington
British female solo artist – Shirley Bassey
British group – The Beatles
British male solo artist – Cliff Richard
British single – Queen - "Bohemian Rhapsody" & Procol Harum - "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" (Joint Winners)
Outstanding Contribution - L.G. Wood and The Beatles (Joint Winners)

Most successful acts

There have been numerous acts, both groups and individuals, that have won multiple awards. The table below shows those that have won more than three awards.

External link

• BRIT Awards, official page

Home | Up | American Music Award | Brit Award | Grammy Award | MTV Video Music Awards

Music Sound, v. 2.0, by MultiMedia

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.