Brit awards - as it happened: Pink closes ceremony as The 1975 win Best Album award
Ceremony included performances by The 1975, Dua Lipa, Calvin Harris, Little Mix, Jorja Smith and George Ezra
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Your support makes all the difference.The Brit Awards began with a mind-boggling performance from Hugh Jackman performing a song from The Greatest Showman and closed with two vibrant shows with The 1975 and Pink.
The 1975 picked up two of the biggest awards of the night, for Best British Group and Best Album, for their latest LP A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships.
Jorja Smith, George Ezra, The 1975, Little Mix and The Carters (Beyonce and Jay Z) all picked up awards, and the audience was been treated to some vibrant, superbly choreographed performances from Little Mix and Ms Banks, Dua Lipa with Calvin Harris, and a stripped-down, moving show from Jorja Smith.
The 1975 made a powerful speech as they accepted the award for Best British Group, quoting Guardian deputy music editor Laura Snapes who wrote in a recent article: "Male misogynist acts are examined for nuance and defended as traits of ‘difficult’ artists, [while] women and those who call them out are treated as hysterics who don’t understand art," in reference to the recent allegations about Ryan Adams.
This year’s set of nominations was largely female-led, with more women acts than men up for awards in the Best Single, Video, Breakthrough and Album categories.
There appeared to be more of an attempt to acknowledge genres other than rock and pop, reflected in nods for rapper Giggs, R&B singers Jorja Smith and Ella Mai, electronic artist Aphex Twin and jazz musician Kamasi Washington.
“I think the Brits are very aware that things needed to improve, and I’ve seen a purposeful change in who’s chucked into the ring [over the past few years],”Amfo told The Independent. “Across genres, across gender lines… clearly it’s a very female-led year, which I’m very happy about.
"Women have been making great music, we’ve been loud, and I’m glad that’s being acknowledged."
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See all of our Brits 2019 coverage here.
The 1975 used their piece to quote a very spot-on comment by Laura Snapes of the Guardian about misogyny in the music industry: "Male misogynist acts are examined for nuance and defended as traits of ‘difficult’ artists, [while] women and those who call them out are treated as hysterics who don’t understand art."
Next performance of the night, Little Mix with the incredible Ms Banks!
Now up for the British Breakthrough Artist, which was voted for by BBC Radio 1 listeners.
And the winner is... Tom Walker.
Tom rose to wider fame after his hit single "Leave the Light On" went viral. Kind of gutted for Mabel, Jorja Smith and Ella Mai but there you go – the public has spoken!
Oh wow, Jack Whitehall is making Shawn Mendes blush by talking about his Calvin Klein underwear modelling campaign.
After a brief intermission we've got Jorja Smith performing a song from her gorgeous album Lost & Found.
OK so.... they're announcing all the international awards at once?!
International Group goes to The Carters
Drake gets International Male
and... Ariana Grande gets International Female!!!
All three artists sent video messages accepting their awards
Jack Whitehall is hanging out with George Ezra now. "Tune of the summer," he says of "Shotgun". And handing out glasses of milk, cos you know, George looks like a baby.
"
Right now we're on to a performance by Calvin Harris, in his Brit Awards debut, with guest appearances from Sam Smith, Dua Lipa and Rag'n'Bone Man
Ed Sheeran is being given a Success Award because he's sold another gazillion albums this year (he won it last year, too).
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