When it comes to music awards shows, the Brits do it best

Music awards shows are a funny business. On Sunday, the MTV VMAs are taking place, with rumours of a Johnny Depp cameo (why?) and live performances from acts such as Italian rock band Maneskin and rapper Jack Harlow (both having controversially cancelled their Reading and Leeds slots to attend). Just over a week later, it’ll be time for the Mercury Prize, which picks one album from a shortlist of 12 British and Irish releases from the past 12 months.

Around this time last year, UK megastar Ed Sheeran caused a bit of a fuss when he declared he actually hates US music awards shows – immediately after performing new single “Shivers” at the 2021 VMAs.

“The room is filled with resentment and hatred towards everyone else, and it’s quite an uncomfortable atmosphere,” he said. “In England, our awards shows are just like, everyone gets drunk and no one really cares who wins or loses. It’s just sort of like a night out. All of the artists are sweet people, but they’re surrounded by entourages that want them to win, too, so it’s one artist surrounded by 10 people and another artist surrounded by 10 people, and everyone is kind of giving each other the side eye ... It’s a really horrible atmosphere to be in. I always walk away feeling really sad, and I don’t like it.”

Having reported on my fair share of awards shows, I’m inclined to agree with Ed. With some rare exceptions, the Grammys have always come across as unbearably stuffy compared with, say, the Brits, where no one really gives a hoot about who wins. Friends and peers who’ve attended the Grammys in LA have told me how they’ve been forced to stay in their seats during the hours-long event, bored out of their skulls, because of the live broadcast. Most of the artists have these weird, plastic grins for the whole night, like they got stuck while practising their loser faces in the mirror.

Meanwhile, the Brits are a raucous affair, where the drinks and gossip flow. Over the years, organisers have gone to considerable lengths to put on a phenomenal show, offering memorable live performances from acts such as Stormzy, Little Mix, Taylor Swift, Dave, Little Simz and Skepta. Rather than sitting in rows, like they do at the Grammys, artists are seated at tables where they’re served dinner and drinks – no doubt this helps to encourage the decidedly more relaxed atmosphere.

It’s a similar deal for the Mercury Prize. Obviously everyone wants to win, but speak to any of the shortlisted artists before the show and you’ll hear them wax lyrical about their fellow nominees. And until the winner is announced, most artists and their teams spend the ceremony flitting between tables to say hi to their mates and introduce themselves to the rest.

Once the winner is announced, the party really kicks off – bands and their teams leg it to the nearest pub, or over the road for the “official” afterparty, or to the winner’s shindig (Arlo Parks had a great one last year). So a word to the organisers of the Grammys (and the VMAs): take a leaf out of the UK’s book. Artists never do well when you force them to sit in rows.

Yours,

Roisin O’Connor

Music and culture news editor