The BRIT Awards 2011 with MasterCard today announce that Take That and Plan B are confirmed to perform at the UK’s most loved and prestigious music awards. They will perform at the Awards’ new home, The O2 Arena as part of what promises to be a truly spectacular show on Tuesday 15th February.
In addition to announcing two of the biggest names in music, today is also the day that could shape the success of the year ahead for both emerging and established artists alike as the BRITs Voting Academy place their votes for the 2011 awards. The BRITs Voting Academy have this week been making their minds up about the big success stories of 2010, as well as making their choice for the Awards’ biggest and most important category: the all new MasterCard British Album of the Year, which will be the focal point of Britain’s most important music awards ceremony.
For the first time ever in the history of The BRITs, artists will also be voting for their personal highlights of the year and the soon to be announced Critics’ Choice shortlisted artists will also be invited to join the Voting Academy. All of 2010’s winning and nominated artists were invited to join the 1,000 strong Voting Academy for 2011. 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, artists and NUS representatives.
This year the prizes being voted for are more exciting than ever before as the 2011 winners will be presented with a brand new and unique trophy restyled by Britain’s most influential fashion designer Vivienne Westwood. Westwood has restyled the famous trophy in her own artistic vision in an initiative that will see creativity being rewarded with creativity.
Editor of the music industry trade Music Week bible Paul Williams said:
“The BRITs is without question one of the most democratic award ceremonies around because, contrary to popular perception that it is all sewn up by a handful of bigwigs, the nominees and winners are determined by hundreds of people representing all corners of the music industry. And it has just got more democratic with the decision to give the artists themselves a vote as well. This is the one time in the year everyone on the Academy has the chance to make their opinions count and ensure the real successes of 2010 receive the recognition they deserve, so it is crucial everybody casts their votes.”
Find out who’s been nominated at The BRITs Nominations Launch event 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.
www.brits.co.uk