music award
Grammy winner Harry Styles is favorite at the Brit Awards
Harry Styles at the 65th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. photo
© Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/dpa
A superstar is a big favourite, but newcomers also have good prospects – the Brit Awards ceremony promises to be exciting.
British pop superstar Harry Styles (“As It Was”) and indie rock duo Wet Leg (“Chaise Longue”) are the favorites at the Brit Awards in London on Saturday. Both have been nominated four times, including in the most important category “Album of the Year”. It is the first time the ceremony, which will be televised live, will take place on a Saturday night.
Former One Direction singer Styles, who won the Grammys last weekend, is the top pick for the Best Artist award. He competes with singer-songwriter George Ezra, producer and multi-instrumentalist Fred Again and hip-hop star Stormzy, among others. In addition to Stormzy and Fred Again, singer Cat Burns and the band The 1975 have each been nominated three times.
Newcomers Wet Leg can hope for the award for “Best Band”. The duo from the Isle of Wight, consisting of musicians Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers, competes with British ESC star Sam Ryder in the “Best New Artist” category.
International stars in the running
Internationally, the Korean pop band Blackpink, the singers Lizzo and Taylor Swift, rapper Kendrick Lamar and the record Grammy winner Beyoncé are in the running for one of the traditional awards.
Since last year, the categories are no longer separated by gender. The Brit Awards officials reacted to Sam Smith’s criticism. The pop star, who identifies as non-binary, had lamented being unable to be nominated in any category. Now Smith is nominated for Song of the Year alongside Kim Petras for the duet “Unholy,” which also won a Grammy.
It is disputed that there are no longer separate categories for men and women. Singer Adele, among others, cautiously criticized last year when she accepted her Brit Award. “I really love being a woman and a female artist,” she said. There are no women among the Best Artist nominees this year, although names such as Charli XCX and Florence + The Machine were expected.
After the Grammys, the “Brits” are considered one of the most important music awards in the world. The award ceremony takes place as part of a big show in London’s O2 Arena.