Brit Awards 2024 - live: RAYE wins Album of the Year in triumphant night

Do you think 2024 looks set to be a particularly major year for women achieving success in music? 100%! The music industry feels like it’s finally waking up and recognising women more. Uncovering so much talent that’s always been there, but now giving it the opportunity to come to the forefront. Even just in the dance world, ie drum & bass which has been such a male dominated genre for decades!! The tide is now finally turning and there’s now so many amazing female artists, producers, writers leading the charge. Plus also women’s artistry is being taken more seriously and we’re not just being seen as ‘features’ or in some cases ‘just an uncredited vocal on a dance track’. Look at Raye for example and how the world has finally woken up to her as an individual artist, incredibly talented writer, musician…outside her dance features.

Has much changed, or is it that awards ceremonies and industry bodies are starting to recognise what’s already out there? As said above, I think the industry as a whole is waking up to the insane amount of female talent that is out there but has been overlooked/overshadowed for many years. This is in turn giving younger female artists/producers/writers more women to look up to/be inspired by -as well as giving more opportunities in music to women so more of us than ever are able to cut through.

Who of the nominees at this year’s Brit Awards do you find particularly inspiring? There’s so many amazingly talented females nominated this year.. but I think personally I speak for many when I say that Raye has been particularly inspiring. I think especially from the angle in which she came up through dance features with people knowing her vocal but not necessarily her voice as an artist in her own right, releasing music that’s completely true to her. Whilst also having the courage to share and write about things she has been through in this industry- that many women can relate to, further empowering us and raising our voices!

Good morning, and welcome to The Independent’s Brit Awards 2024 liveblog!

As is tradition, I’ll be bringing you all the latest news, updates and goss direct from the O2 Arena in London, where the ceremony is taking place, alongside my colleague, the wonderful Annabel Nugent.

A reminder that tonight is looking a lot like RAYE’s night. The “Escapism” singer is going into the awards show with a record-breaking seven nominations, including for top prizes such as Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year.

Check out the nominations in full:

This year’s awards show will be hosted by Love Island: All Stars presenter Maya Jama, and radio presenters Clara Amfo and Roman Kemp.

“The great thing about The Brits is that you never know what could happen, live TV is an opportunity for beautiful chaos!” Amfo said.

Clara Amfo presenting a Brit Award with pop star Niall Horan (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Kemp added: “When they told me, I cried. The Brits has always been on this pedestal for me, because in terms of excitement in the UK, there is nothing like it.”

“Everyone’s been coming up with ideas, jotting down what we want from it,” Jama said. “In my brain, I’m telling myself, “This will be something to show my grandkids, so don’t mess it up!”

The Brit Awards 2024 take place on Saturday 2 March and will be broadcast live on ITV1, STV, ITVX and STV Player from 8.30pm.

Hi Caity! Do you think 2024 looks set to be a particularly major year for women achieving success in music?

I do! Seeing my friends like Venbee and Charlotte Plank all get nominated for a Brit along with me too - as well others like Olivia Dean and Raye - it’s just so nice to see women getting the recognition they deserve. Hopefully lots of wins this year for all the queens! I’ve got all my fingers and little piggies crossed.

Has much changed, or is it that awards ceremonies and industry bodies are starting to recognise what’s already out there?

As a pop girly it’s definitely harder to get recognition. In a way it always has been. I fucking bust my ass off! As do others - and I just think when people are hard working, that’s where it pays off in the end.

Who of the nominees at this year’s Brit Awards do you find particularly inspiring?

I find Raye really inspiring because she literally had the shittest time with her label with her managers and thought that was the end. But to just completely turn it all around and do her own thing now is very inspiring, and a great message for everybody: if at first do not succeed then you try until you do! That’s literally what she’s done and she’s been nominated for, what - seven BRITs? And she’s probably gonna win all of them! TBH I’m obsessed with her.

The Tooting, London-born artist RAYE is going into this year’s ceremony with seven Brit nominations, the most received by any artist in a single year, including Best New Artist, Artist of the Year and Album of the Year. She also has two entries in the Song of the Year category.

Songwriter of the Year, which was announced ahead of the live ceremony at the O2 Arena in London, celebrates exceptional songwriting talent. RAYE was chosen as the winner by a panel of expert judges.

“I am so so honoured and blown away, honestly to be given this prestigious award for Songwriter of the Year, it is my very first Brit award and I will treasure this trophy very much,” she said in a statement.

“I am so grateful to be recognised as a songwriter as this is a craft I am so passionate about and have been since I started my journey as a musician, and I’m very grateful to those who voted for me to have this award.”