Wretch 32 has revealed that he was "angry" at being snubbed by this year's Brit Awards. The rapper told the Daily Star that he had been unhappy at not picking up any nominations for this year's ceremony, which takes place on February 21, and said it would have been "huge" to have been in the running for the awards. He went on to add: "It's sad not to be nominated, but if you're not in the running when everybody knows you should have been, then that's cool. When you get massive love from supporters, none of the other stuff matters. "It may look like someone's had overnight success, but that's never the case. People don't realise how hard it is to get here." POSTED: 22/01/12 - Source: NME.com
Music video platform VEVO is teaming up with the BRIT Awards for its first-ever dedicated online HD music video partnership. The partnership is set to see exclusive content on the dedicated VEVO channel including performances from the BRITs awards ceremony on February 21, exclusive backstage interviews on the awards night, access to archive BRIT performances from 2010 and 2011 in addition to content sponsored exclusively by MasterCard. POSTED: 16/01/12 - Source: musicweek.com
Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is leading the charge at this year's Brit Awards, with four nominations. The 20-year-old is up for best male, breakthrough act, best single for The A Team, and best album for his debut record, which is called +. Pop star Jessie J is up for three awards - best female, breakthrough act and best single for her hit Price Tag. Organisers have also announced that Adele will perform live at this year's ceremony next month. It is her first confirmed live performance since recovering from throat surgery. The singer is also nominated in three categories - best female, best single for Someone Like You and best album for 21. The main prizes - including a lifetime achievement prize for Britpop band Blur - will be handed out at the O2 Arena on 21 February.
POSTED: 12/01/12 - Source: BBC News Online
Rihanna has admitted that she'd love to duet with Coldplay at this year's BRIT Awards. The singer, who collaborated with the band on track 'Princess Of China' from their latest album 'Mylo Xyloto, revealed that she is just waiting for Coldplay to ask her to perform with them. Speaking to The Sun, Rihanna said: I think Chris Martin is a special guy. His songwriting is just beautiful and I am a huge fan. If they want me to sing with Coldplay, I will be waiting for the call. I'd love to perform with them. POSTED: 03/01/12 - Source: gigwise.com
Blur's Alex James has confirmed that the Britpop legends will play at the Brit Awards next year. The bassist told XFM that the band, who will be honoured with the Outstanding Contribution To Music Award at the ceremony at the O2 Arena on February 21, 2012, will definitely be performing at the event. POSTED: 19/12/11 - Source: nme.com
The nominees for the Brit Awards Critics' Choice Award have been announced. Emeli Sande, Maverick Sabre and Michael Kiwanuka have been shortlisted, the winner will be announced, alongside second and third place, on December 15. Previous winners of the award include Jessie J, Adele, Florence And The Machine and Ellie Goulding. POSTED: 09/12/11 - Source: gigwise.com
Blur are set to be honoured at next year's Brit Awards for their outstanding contribution to music. It comes 21 years after their debut and 17 years since they won four Brits off the back of their Parklife album. "It's great to have recognition for all the work and all the heartache and all the joy that's gone into this band," said frontman Damon Albarn. The four-piece briefly reformed in summer 2009 but chose to disband after a series of high profile outdoor shows. Blur will receive the award at the Brits ceremony in February, held at London's 02 arena. There has so far been no comment on whether the band will perform on the night. The full list of Brit Awards nominations is due to be announced on 12 January at London's Savoy Hotel. POSTED: 08/12/11 - Source: BBC News Online
The award statue for the 2012 Brit Awards has been unveiled. The newly-designed prize was created by artist Sir Peter Blake (above). Sir Peter, who is best known for designing The Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band cover in 1967, told the BBC that his initial design was rejected, adding: "I did something and they said: 'Could you make it a bit more pop art?' So it's pop arted up. POSTED: 08/12/11 - Source: digitalspy.co.uk
Rihanna and Coldplay are reportedly being lined-up to top the bill at The Brit Awards 2012. According to The Sun, Chris Martin and Co will apparently perform their duet, Princess Of China, with RiRi - making it the first time they've played the song live together. A source told the tabloid: "Coldplay are really looking forward to performing Princess Of China with Rihanna already. Brits bosses set their sights on getting them on stage together early doors. They are two of the biggest acts around right now." After her show-stopping Brits performance of Someone Like You at last year's ceremony, Adele is also rumoured to be taking to the stage again, as well as the likes Noel Gallagher and Kasabian. A spokesperson for The Brits has since commented on the rumours, stating: "We are still confirming the line-up, which will be announced with the nominations in January."
POSTED: 07/12/11 - Source: mtv.co.uk
James Corden will return as host of the Brit Awards in 2012 - as another shake-up of the voting academy gives artists the biggest say in who is nominated and wins for the first time. Corden, who fronted the 2011 event, will oversee proceedings at the 2012 ceremony, which is newly announced to take place on February 21 at London’s O2 arena. It will be the second year in a row the prestigious event will be held at the North Greenwich venue. Some new additions to the 2011 show are to carry on for next year, including inviting a celebrated guest to design the Brits trophy. For this past year the job went to fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood, while 2012’s trophies will come with a design by Sir Peter Blake, whose most famous work was the cover of The Beatles’ album Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Another change to the 2011 event was for the first time including artists to be part of the voting academy whose diverse membership already took in individuals from across the UK music industry, including from record companies, music publishers, retail and media. All the 2011 winners and nominees have been invited to join the 2012 panel, which will make artists the biggest single voting group for the first time. Next year’s event will have to follow a 2011 ceremony which had a notable positive impact on record buyer - even though TV viewing figures fell to their lowest level since 2006 with an average of 4.8 million people tuning in on the night to the live ITV1 broadcast.
POSTED: 27/10/11 - Source: musicweek.com