Award season has well and truly started for the music world, and both the Brits and the Grammys have given us two spectacular nights of pageantry, performance, and inevitable controversy.
Now that each ceremony has vacated the headlines, it seems like the right time to take a look back and perhaps discover what we as aspiring (pop princess) music artists can take from two of the biggest nights in music. I'm releasing a new song soon, so all this music talk is getting me hyped.
Let’s start with the big winners.
Harry Styles won Album of the Year in both competitions for Harry’s House, as well as Song of the Year at the Brits for “As It Was” – I’ve had his album on repeat since it first came out back in May 2022, my own personal fav is “Late Night Talking.”
Can we just give a little *woop* of appreciation for how well he dealt with the spinny stage going in the wrong direction during his live performance at the Grammys too! If you don't know what I'm on about, look here. You're awesome, Harry!
Blues legend Bonnie Raitt scored a “shock” victory against pop music heavyweights by picking up the equivalent award at the Grammys with ‘’Just Like That’ (I still don’t get why some people were shocked about this, I mean, what a legend!!), while Lizzo’s disco flavoured “About Damn Time” snapped up Record of the Year. Girl power anthem right there! Lizzo is such a talent.
Sam Smith and Kim Petras caused "complaints" from some viewers for their performance of 'Unholy.' I mean, honestly, the performance was stunning, fun and vivacious, I thought it was damn fabulous! It's so amazing that Kim was able to accept their Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for "Unholy" too, she's the first openly transgender artist to receive a Grammy Award in this category, so it's such a milestone! Congrats.
Beyoncé made Grammy history by accumulating a record breaking career total of 32 awards (what a queen!), after scooping up another four for her dance inspired album Renaissance. She was also awarded International Artist of the Year and International Song of the Year at the Brits – the latter for ‘Break My Soul’, a bopping house anthem for the 21st century. That’s on my Self Love & Sass Spotify playlist, of course.
Though this success wasn’t without controversy.
The Grammys are well known for their snubs, and the fact that Renaissance, an undeniably massive album considered by several music publications as the year’s best, was pipped to AOTY incited considerable criticism from fans and the press alike.
The Grammys are often criticised for not being forward thinking enough, both in terms of diversity and their musical appetites. Charlie XCX raised this issue in a twitter conversation that revealed she had previously been on the nominee board for Producer of the Year, and was rebuked when she suggested SOFIE, the ground-breaking producer and DJ who sadly passed away in 2021. She also criticised the Brits for having an all-male Artist of The Year roster.
Fortunately, there remains the opportunity for up and coming talents of all spades to gain huge exposure in the Best New Artist category. This year’s winners were British band Wet Leg and jazz singer Samara Joy at the Brits and Grammys respectively.
Aspiring music artists should take note of something here - both of these artists had viral success on the platform TikTok before they received their nominations. This might inform the direction of your outreach if you’re having to handle your own publicity. Interesting...
This new phenomenon may have also opened up the field for less commercial-oriented musical styles, it’s interesting that both artists are further away from the typical chart topping sound of previous winners like Billie Eilish and Dua Lipa. Whatever this means, and whatever your style, stick with what feels right to you and believe in yourself. It could be YOU (or me, you never know!!) up there next.
Drop me a message and let me know what you thought of the Brits and the Grammys this year AND let me know what music award nights you’re looking forward to next!