The nominations for this year’s BRIT Awards with Mastercard were revealed via an exclusive launch across the @BRITs social channels last week. Co-hosts Nick Grimshaw and this year’s BRITs Rising Star winner Griff took fans through the nine shortlists, with all winners to be revealed at the main show on 11th May at The O2 arena in London, broadcast on ITV and ITV Hub, and hosted by Jack Whitehall.
Out in front are a trio of standout British women who have all had an exceptional year; each earning three nominations across various categories. Dua Lipa, who was yesterday confirmed to perform at the main show, Arlo Parks and 2020’s BRITs Rising Star winner Celeste are all nominated for Female Solo Artist and Mastercard Album, with Dua Lipa also in the running for British Single.
Arlo Parks and Celeste both also feature in the shortlist for Breakthrough Artist, whilst fellow Brit female and double nominee for 2021 Jessie Ware is up for Mastercard Album as well as Female Solo Artist which, along with Dua, Arlo and Celeste, also sees Lianne La Havas up for the title.
Flying the flag for British rap with three nominations are Young T & Bugsey, who are nominated for British Single and Breakthrough Artist, and will face The 1975, Little Mix, Bicep (also in Breakthrough Artist) and Biffy Clyro in the British Group category.
AJ Tracey is shortlisted twice; one nod in the British Single category, and a second for Male Solo Artist, along with Yungblud, Joel Corry, J Hus and Headie One. J Hus earns a second nomination in Mastercard Album, whilst Headie One also features in the shortlist for British Single. Along with Male Solo Artist, Joel Corry receives two more nominations, for Breakthrough Artist and British Single, bringing his tally up to three in total.
The British Single category also sees Aitch up for his second BRIT, having last year been nominated for Best New Artist. Dance & electronic acts 220 Kid, Nathan Dawes and Regard also get a look in this shortlist, as does Harry Styles, whose performance at the 2020 show was one of the evening’s highlights.
The international categories see new and returning artists alike; nominated for their first ever BRIT in International Group are BTS, Run the Jewels and Fontaines D.C., alongside Foo Fighters, who have won this category four times previously and Haim, who have been nominated twice before.
International Female as ever showcases incredibly multi-talented and creative women, with Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Cardi B, Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift all shortlisted – Miley receives her debut BRIT nomination this year.
The BRITs welcomes The Weeknd into the category for this year’s International Male, having been nominated twice before, plus Childish Gambino, Tame Impala, Burna Boy (who appeared at the 2020 BRITs as part of Stormzy’s performance) and Bruce Springsteen, marking his 11th BRIT nomination.
Earlier this month, The BRITs announced the winner of this year’s Rising Star supported by BBC Radio 1 award as Griff, who joins an illustrious list of artist alumni such as Adele, Florence + The Machine, Sam Smith, Ellie Goulding and Celeste who were all identified through this award (previously known as Critics’ Choice) as the future stars of British music. Griff will perform at The BRITs in May.
More show announcements to follow over the coming weeks.
Mastercard return as headline partner for the 23rd year, having supported The BRITs for over two decades, bringing cardholders closer to music through a range of priceless experiences – from tickets to the BRITs, or Priceless Surprises with some of the UK’s best loved artists. This year, Mastercard will continue to sponsor the much sought after Album award, as well as British Single with Mastercard for the first time and is proud to carry on connecting people to priceless possibilities. Amazon Music is the Official Digital Music Partner for a second year and will host the Official BRIT Awards 2021 playlist as well as sponsor the Male and Female Solo Artist categories. Following a successful partnership in 2020, TikTok will once again partner with The BRITs to sponsor the Breakthrough Artist category which will see an exclusive series of events in-app to profile those nominated, from TikTok LIVEs to hashtag challenges.
NOMINATIONS LIST
FEMALE SOLO ARTIST
In association with Amazon Music
ARLO PARKS TRANSGRESSIVE
CELESTE POLYDOR, UNIVERSAL MUSIC
DUA LIPA WARNER, WARNER MUSIC
JESSIE WARE EMI, UNIVERSAL MUSIC
LIANNE LA HAVAS WARNER, WARNER MUSIC
MALE SOLO ARTIST
In association with Amazon Music
AJ TRACEY AJ TRACEY
HEADIE ONE RELENTLESS, SONY MUSIC
J HUS BLACK BUTTER, SONY MUSIC
JOEL CORRY
ASYLUM/PERFECT HAVOC, WARNER MUSIC
YUNGBLUD INTERSCOPE, UNIVERSAL MUSIC
BRITISH GROUP
BICEP NINJA TUNE
BIFFY CLYRO WARNER, WARNER MUSIC
LITTLE MIX RCA, SONY MUSIC
THE 1975 DIRTY HIT/POLYDOR, UNIVERSAL MUSIC
YOUNG T & BUGSEY
BLACK BUTTER, SONY MUSIC
BRITs RISING STAR
Identified by a panel of critics, influencers, writers and composers, Supported by BBC Radio 1
GRIFF WARNER, WARNER (Winner)
PA SALIEU WARNER, WARNER MUSIC
RINA SAWAYAMA DIRTY HIT
BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST
In association with TikTok
ARLO PARKS TRANSGRESSIVE
BICEP NINJA TUNE
CELESTE POLYDOR, UNIVERSAL MUSIC
JOEL CORRY
ASYLUM/PERFECT HAVOC, WARNER MUSIC
YOUNG T & BUGSEY
BLACK BUTTER, SONY MUSIC
BRITISH SINGLE WITH MASTERCARD
The top ten identified by chart eligible sales success then voted for by The Academy, Supported by Capital FM
220 KID & GRACEY DON’T NEED LOVE
POLYDOR, UNIVERSAL MUSIC AITCH & AJ TRACEY FT TAY KEITH RAIN DUA LIPA PHYSICAL
NQ, VIRGIN, UNIVERSAL MUSIC
WARNER, WARNER MUSIC
HARRY STYLES WATERMELON SUGAR
COLUMBIA, SONY MUSIC HEADIE ONE FT AJ TRACEY & STORMZY AIN’T IT DIFFERENT JOEL CORRY FT MNEK HEAD & HEART NATHAN DAWE FT KSI LIGHTER REGARD & RAYE SECRETS S1MBA FT DTG ROVER
RELENTLESS, SONY MUSIC
ASYLUM/PERFECT HAVOC, WARNER MUSIC
ATLANTIC, WARNER MUSIC
MINISTRY OF SOUND, SONY MUSIC
PARLOPHONE, WARNER MUSIC YOUNG T & BUGSEY FT HEADIE ONE DON’T RUSH
BLACK BUTTER, SONY MUSIC
The BRIT Awards 2021 in association with Mastercard
MASTERCARD ALBUM
ARLO PARKS COLLAPSED IN SUNBEAMS
TRANSGRESSIVE
CELESTE NOT YOUR MUSE
POLYDOR, UNIVERSAL MUSIC
DUA LIPA FUTURE NOSTALGIA
WARNER, WARNER MUSIC
J HUS BIG CONSPIRACY
BLACK BUTTER, SONY MUSIC
JESSIE WARE WHAT’S YOUR PLEASURE?
EMI, UNIVERSAL MUSIC
INTERNATIONAL FEMALE SOLO ARTIST
ARIANA GRANDE REPUBLIC, UNIVERSAL MUSIC
BILLIE EILISH INTERSCOPE, UNIVERSAL MUSIC
CARDI B ATLANTIC, WARNER MUSIC
MILEY CYRUS RCA, SONY MUSIC
TAYLOR SWIFT EMI, UNIVERSAL MUSIC
INTERNATIONAL MALE SOLO ARTIST BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
COLUMBIA, SONY MUSIC
BURNA BOY ATLANTIC, WARNER MUSIC
CHILDISH GAMBINO COLUMBIA, SONY MUSIC
TAME IMPALA FICTION, UNIVERSAL MUSIC
THE WEEKND REPUBLIC/XO, UNIVERSAL MUSIC
INTERNATIONAL GROUP
BTS BIG HIT ENTERTAINMENT
FONTAINES D.C. PARTISAN
FOO FIGHTERS COLUMBIA, SONY MUSIC
HAIM POLYDOR, UNIVERSAL MUSIC
