Brit Awards: Encyclopedia - Brit Awards

Brit Awards

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.

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, and winners over previous years have included artists who haven't charted for some time (the nominations for Best Female Vocalist in 2003 included Alison Moyet, for example, who has not had a chart or album hit for many years). However, 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.

Brit Awards - Selected Famous and Infamous Brit Award Incidents

Brit Awards - 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.

Brit Awards - 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.

Brit Awards - 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.

Brit Awards - Chumbawumba throw water over John Prescott 1998

In 1998, Danbert Nobacon of politically active band Chumbawumba threw a bucket of iced water over Labour cabinet minister John Prescott. Despite apologies on behalf of the band from EMI Europe, Chumbawumba 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".

Brit Awards - 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, 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. In the melee, a number of the performing children were injured. Cocker was subsequently questioned by the police but no criminal proceedings were forthcoming.

Brit Awards - The KLF a machine gun and a dead sheep 1992

In 1992, dance / art band 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 allegedly prompted composer Sir George Solti to walk out. The performance ended with Bill Drummond firing blanks from a machine gun into the audience and an announcer stating ”KLF have left the music industry”. 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 you – bon appetite” tied around it’s waist. KLF disbanded three months later.

Brit Awards - The Sam Fox and Mick Fleetwood Car Crash 1989

Until 1989, the Brit Awards were a spectacularly lifeless affair usually presented by Noel Edmonds and brimming with industry types and aging Radio 1 DJs. In 1989 all that changed. In an attempt to add some excitement and appeal to the proceedings organizers 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 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.

Brit Awards - Awards

Brit Awards - 2006

Paul Weller has been announced as the winner of 2006's Outstanding Contribution to Music award [2]. The nominees for other awards will be revealed on January 10th 2006. Favorites for best group and album are led by Oasis with their comeback album Don't Believe the Truth.

• British male solo artist:
• British female solo artist:
• British group:
• British album:
• British single:
• British breakthrough act:
• British urban act:
• British rock act:
• British live act:
• Pop act:
• International male solo artist:
• International female solo artist:
• International breakthrough act :
• International group:
• International album:
• Outstanding Contribution to Music: Paul Weller

Brit Awards - 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".

Unfortunately, the producers saw fit to add a fake film effect to the TV coverage of the 2005 awards show, which many thought ruined the immediacy of the awards show, and was dizzying when combined with fact camera movements.

Brit Awards - 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 - Beyonce
• International group – White Stripes
• International male solo artist - Justin Timberlake
• Outstanding contribution – Duran Duran
• Pop act – Busted

Brit Awards - 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

Brit Awards - 2002

• British album – Dido – No Angel
• British breakthrough act – Blue
• British dance act – Basement Jaxx
• British female solo artist – Dido
• 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

Brit Awards - 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

Brit Awards - 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

Brit Awards - 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

Brit Awards - 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

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

Brit Awards - 1996

• Artist of a generation – Michael Jackson
• Best British producer – Brian Eno
• Best soundtrack – Batman Forever
• British album – Oasis (band) - (What's the Story) Morning Glory
• British breakthrough act – Supergrass
• British dance act – Massive Attack
• British female solo artist – Annie Lennox
• British group - Oasis (band)
• British male solo artist – Paul Weller
• British single – Take That – "Back for Good"
• British video - Oasis (band) – "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

Brit Awards - 1995

• Best British producer – Nellee Hooper
• Best soundtrack – Pulp Fiction
• British album – Blur - Parklife
• British breakthrough act – Oasis (band)
• British dance act – M People
• British female solo artist – Eddie 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 – Artist
• Outstanding contribution – Elton John

Brit Awards - 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

Brit Awards - 1993

• Best British producer – Peter Gabriel
• Best International Solo Artist – 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

Brit Awards - 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

Brit Awards - 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

Brit Awards - 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

Brit Awards - 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 – Tracey Chapman
• International female - Tracey Chapman
• International group – U2
• International male – Michael Jackson
• Outstanding contribution – Cliff Richard

Brit Awards - 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

Brit Awards - 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

Brit Awards - 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)

Brit Awards - 1985

• Best British comedy recording - Neil - "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 - "Wild Boys"
• Outstanding contribution – The Police
• Special Award - Bob Geldof and Midge Ure

Brit Awards - 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

Brit Awards - 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 – Barbara 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

Brit Awards - 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

Brit Awards - 1977

• 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"
• L.G. Wood and The Beatles (Joint Winners)

Brit Awards - Acts With Four or More Brit Awards

See also

• Classical Brit Awards

Brit Awards - External link

• BRIT Awards, official page

Category: Music awards

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Brit Awards", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki