It may not carry the gravitas of The Grammys, the indie-level respect of The Mercury Prize or the celebrated diversity of the MOBO awards but the British Phonographic Industry’s annual pop music awards - The Brits - represent the annual opportunity for the industry to let its hair down and award 2023’s main players from Britain’s music industry and beyond.
But, before any drinks flow, backs are slapped, or the [now] annual controversy arises, we need some nominees!
Covering all the usual categories, 2024’s Brit awards feature many new faces with many old records being broken (pun entirely intended). At the front of the pack we have pop sensation Raye, who - after years of major label limbo - becomes the first artist to score seven nominations in a single year. And, after a big year for female music acts, it should come as no surprise that solo women and all-female groups make up more than 50% of the overall nominees in 2024.
However, there were a few major snubs in the nominations, with the recently resurgent Rolling Stones and male big-hitters Ed Sheeran, Stormzy, and Lewis Capaldi feeling little love with only single-category nominations; and previous Brit Award darlings Sam Smith and Gorillaz receiving no acknowledgment at all.
But, with previous criticism aimed firmly at the very obvious, historical white male bias of both the ceremony and the industry as a whole, it’s refreshing to see acts such as the multi-cultural Young Fathers, the boundless female energy of Caroline Polachek, the playful craft of Little Simz, and the dynamism and joy of Jungle popping up across the major categories.
The awards are voted for by the Brit Awards Voting Academy, with a membership made up of musicians, industry staff and media figures. The British public will decide on the winners of the five genre categories, with voting taking place via Instagram.
Before the ceremony on March 2nd, check out the nominees below:
British album of the year
Blur – The Ballad of Darren
J Hus – Beautiful and Brutal Yard
Little Simz – No Thank You
Raye – My 21st Century Blues
Young Fathers – Heavy Heavy
British artist of the year
Arlo Parks
Central Cee
Dave
Dua Lipa
Fred Again
J Hus
Jessie Ware
Little Simz
Olivia Dean
Raye
British group
Blur
Chase and Status
Headie One & K-Trap
Jungle
Young Fathers
New artist
Mahalia
Olivia Dean
PinkPantheress
Raye
Yussef Dayes
Song of the year
Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding – Miracle
Cassö, Raye and D-Block Europe – Prada
Central Cee – Let Go
Central Cee and Dave – Sprinter
Dua Lipa – Dance the Night
Ed Sheeran – Eyes Closed
J Hus – Who Told You
Kenya Grace – Strangers
Lewis Capaldi – Wish You the Best
PinkPantheress – Boy’s a Liar
Raye – Escapism
Rudimental, Charlotte Plank and Vibe Chemistry – Dancing Is Healing
Stormzy and Debbie – Firebabe
Switch Disco and Ella Henderson – React
Venbee and Goddard – Messy in Heaven
International artist
Asake
Burna Boy
Caroline Polachek
CMAT
Kylie Minogue
Lana Del Rey
Miley Cyrus
Olivia Rodrigo
SZA
Taylor Swift
International group
Blink-182
Boygenius
Foo Fighters
Gabriels
Paramore
International song
Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For
David Kushner – Daylight
Doja Cat – Paint the Town Red
Jazzy – Giving Me
Libianca – People
Meghan Trainor – Made You Look
Miley Cyrus – Flowers
Noah Kahan – Stick Season
Robin Schulz and Oliver Tree – Miss You
Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire
Peggy Gou – (It Goes Like) Nanana
Rema – Calm Down
SZA – Kill Bill
Tate McRae – Greedy
Tyla – Water
Rock/alternative act
Blur
Bring Me the Horizon
The Rolling Stones
Young Fathers
Yussef Dayes
Hip-hop/grime/rap act
Casisdead
Central Cee
Dave
J Hus
Little Simz
Dance act
Barry Can’t Swim
Becky Hill
Calvin Harris
Fred Again
Romy
Pop act
Calvin Harris
Charli XCX
Dua Lipa
Olivia Dean
Raye
R&B act
Cleo Sol
Jorja Smith
Mahalia
Raye
Sault
