News

It's All Change For The Brit Awards In 2011

• 8th Nov 2010

2011 signals the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Britain’s most prestigious music awards ceremony, The BRIT Awards. Following last year’s spectacular 30th anniversary celebrations, 2011 sees the Awards set their sights on the future. The BRIT Committee have been closely reviewing every aspect of the show and are announcing a host of changes to next year’s ceremony that will make it like no other in the award show’s history, ensuring that it remains the ultimate celebration of creative and diverse musical talent. The future of The BRIT Awards starts here…

The O2 Arena becomes the new home for The BRITs
The BRIT Awards 2011 has found a new home with a move to the world’s most popular music venue, The O2 Arena in London. The move to the state of the art venue is an obvious evolution for the show. The BRITs has constantly challenged itself over the years, becoming bigger and better; the move to The O2 Arena will see the show progress to even higher standards, enhancing the experience for both performers and TV viewers.

Bespoke BRIT statue styled by fashion legend Vivienne Westwood
The BRITs have created a ‘blank canvas’ trophy that will be restyled each year by leading British creative individuals, making the trophy unique to each year. The trophy will receive its inaugural makeover from Britain’s most influential fashion designer Vivienne Westwood. Westwood will style the famous trophy in her own artistic vision in an initiative which will see creativity being rewarded with creativity.

BRITs Chairman David Joseph says:
“Vivienne stands for all the things we want to inspire in tomorrow’s generation of artists. She continues to be unique, innovative and not to mention massively inspired by music and vice versa. We are honoured she accepted our offer of designing 2011’s trophy.”

The iconic new-look ‘blank canvas’ BRIT statue has been redesigned by award-winning Manchester design collective, Music.

The biggest names in British music to battle it out for the all-new MasterCard British Album Of The Year Award – the climax of the newly formatted show
The main focus of The BRIT Awards 2011 will be the incredible, world-beating albums released by British artists over the course of the last year, in a move that reflects the incredibly high standard of current British music. The show will climax with the newly formatted and main award of the night, the MasterCard British Album of the Year.

On the night itself we’ll learn more about the creation of the five nominated albums as they are showcased via short films screened throughout the Awards, building the anticipation towards the evening’s big reveal.

Subsequently, the Outstanding Contribution Award will not be presented.

Artists invited to join voting academy
In another change, the 2011 BRITs Voting Academy will include artists for the very first time. The academy is made up of invited members from across the breadth of the UK music industry, from music critics, to radio producers, music publishers, promoters, record companies, retailers and NUS representatives. With all 2010’s winners and nominees invited to join the panel for 2011, artists will become the single largest group represented.

David Joseph says:
“Considering that artists are the single most valuable part of our industry, inviting them to join the Voting Academy is an obvious step to make. For an artist to know that their work is also appreciated and respected by other artists will add another unique dimension to winning a BRIT Award.”

More exciting developments will be unveiled in the run up to the events in February 2011, which will, as always, celebrate the unrivalled achievements of the British recording industry along with the international success stories that have made an impact in the UK charts this year.

The BRIT Awards 2010 with MasterCard saw over 40 international territories around the world broadcast the show to tens of millions. It was the 30th BRIT Awards, hosted by Peter Kay, with stunning live performances from Lady GaGa, Jay-Z, Dizzee Rascal with Florence & The Machine, Lily Allen, Alicia Keys, Kasabian, Cheryl Cole, JLS and Robbie Williams.

The Nominations for The BRIT Awards 2011 with MasterCard will be announced on Thursday 13th January 2011 at IndigO2, inside the O2. The Launch event will be televised on Friday 14th January 2011 at 8pm on ITV2.

Full list of 2011 categories, of which there are 12 Awards:
British – 7
1. Male
2. Female
3. Breakthrough – supported by Radio 1
4. Single – supported by listeners of Capital Radio and users of iTunes
5. Group – promoted by Radio 2
6. Critics Choice – in association with War Child
7. MasterCard British Album of the Year

International – 5
1. Male
2. Female
3. Breakthrough – supported by MTV
4. Album
5. Group

www.brits.co.uk