Brit Awards statuettes pictured earlier than the occasion in 2020 JM Enternational/Shutterstock
Brit Awards organisers have responded to the backlash round this yr’s all-male Greatest British Artist class, within the lead-up to the occasion on Saturday night time.
Final month, it was introduced that Central Cee, Fred Once more.., George Ezra, Harry Kinds and Stormzy had all been nominated within the gender-neutral class, with no ladies making the shortlist.
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This was met with widespread criticism from music followers on the time, with a spokesperson for the Brits beforehand telling HuffPost UK: “Whereas it’s disappointing there are not any nominations within the Artist of the 12 months class, we additionally must recognise that 2022 noticed fewer excessive profile ladies artists in cycle with main releases as was the case in 2021.
“These developments primarily based across the launch schedule are a characteristic of the music business, but when, over time, a sample emerges, then this places the onus on the business to take care of this essential concern – and the BPI is already finishing up a significant examine to establish limitations which will inhibit extra ladies turning into profitable in music, in order that there might be options that lead to significant change.”
With days to go till this yr’s Brits are set to happen, a joint assertion from the chairs of the 2023 Brits Committee and British Phonographic Business stated that they had additionally been left dissatisfied with the shortage of feminine illustration.
Mo Gilligan will host the Brit Awards for the second time in 2023 JM EnternationalJohn Marshall
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They stated: “We acknowledge and share within the disappointment that, not like final yr, no ladies are represented within the [Artist Of The Year] shortlist.
“There could also be quite a few causes for this, however a key issue is that, sadly, there have been comparatively few commercially profitable releases by ladies in 2022 in comparison with these by males, which implies that, of the 71 eligible artists on the longlist, solely 12 (17%) are ladies.
“We recognise this factors to wider points across the illustration of ladies in music that should even be addressed.”
To be thought of eligible for British Artist Of The 12 months, an artist will need to have acquired both a prime 40 album or two prime 20 singles previously 12 months.
“We imagine that any modifications made to Award classes needs to be fastidiously evaluated over time,” they continued, declaring that Adele received the inaugural Artist Of The 12 months award in 2022, and that girls had “triumphed in 10 out of the 15 classes”.
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Charli XCX and Rina Sawayama would each have been eligible for Greatest British Artist in 2023 David M. Benett through Getty Photos
Greatest British Artist changed the earlier “male” and “feminine” classes in 2022, in what was described on the time as a manner for the awards present to be “as inclusive as potential”.
Though no ladies are up for Greatest British Artist in 2023, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Lizzo have all been nominated within the award’s worldwide counterpart, which can also be gender-neutral.
In the meantime, Grammy-winning indie duo Moist Leg are this yr’s joint-leading nominees, alongside Harry Kinds, having receiving recognition in a number of non-gendered classes like Greatest British Album, Greatest New Artist and Greatest British Group.
Moist Leg performing final yr Scott Dudelson through Getty Photos
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Final month, the Brit Awards confronted additional backlash when it emerged that no R&B artists had been recognised within the particular Greatest Pop/R&B Class.
Alluding to this of their assertion, organisers concluded: “We recognise that you will need to assessment annually’s voting processes and classes, together with these most just lately launched such because the style awards, together with the Pop/R&B class, which has additionally prompted some debate, in order that they continue to be match for function in selling the inclusivity and illustration that all of us need to see.
“We’re wholeheartedly dedicated to a thought of assessment of the classes over the instant months following this yr’s occasion, and this can embody business session and dialogue, according to what we instigated over the previous 5 years, with any conclusions and actions made forward of the 2024 occasion.”