British singer Harry Styles won the top awards on Saturday at the UK’s biggest popular music prizes, the Brit Awards, while acknowledging his “privilege” for triumphing in a supposedly gender-neutral category that featured no female artists. Harry Styles made multiple appearances on stage, winning awards for artist of the year, album of the year, song of the year for As It Was and best pop/R&B act.
“This night has been really, really special to me and I will never forget it,” Harry Styles said. The awards ceremony for the second year running handed out a gender-neutral main prize for British artist of the year.
This title was introduced last year to increase inclusivity after non-binary singer Sam Smith was automatically excluded from previously gendered categories in 2021.
Yet, controversially, the category had an all-male shortlist this year, and Styles in his acceptance speech named women artists who were originally shortlisted for the category but did not make the final list.
“I’m really really grateful for this and I’m very aware of my privilege up here tonight so this award is for Rina, Charli, Florence, Mabel and Becky”, he said, referring to Rina Sawayama, Charli XCX, Florence Welch, Mabel and Becky Hill.
The Brit Awards chairman Damian Christian told Music Week this month that it was “disappointing to see the lack of female representation”, blaming a lack of eligible 2022 releases by big female stars.
Harry Styles’ clutch of awards came as little surprise after the former One Direction bandmember earlier this month won the coveted Grammy award for album of the year for Harry’s House, which was the UK’s biggest-selling album last year.
Harry Styles’ reference to his “privilege” on Saturday came after he prompted mockery with his Grammy acceptance speech by saying “this doesn’t happen to people like me very often”.
It was also a big night for several young acts making their recording debuts last year. Wet Leg, an indie rock band from the Isle of Wight off England’s south coast, won the group of the year category and also best new artist after releasing their catchy debut single Chaise Longue- which they performed at the ceremony – and their eponymous debut album. The Brit Awards were first held in 1977. The event is run by British Phonographic Industry, a trade association that represents the UK music industry.
List of winners
Album of the Year – Harry Styles – Harry’s House
Artist of the Year – Harry Styles
Best group – Wet Leg
Song of the Year – Harry Styles – “As It Was”
Best international artist – Beyoncé
Best international group – Fontaines DC
International song of the Year – Beyoncé – “Break My Soul”
Best new artist – Wet Leg
Rising Star – Flo
Best alternative / rock – The 1975
Best dance – Becky Hill
Best hip-hop / rap / grime – Aitch
Pop / R&B – Harry Styles