The BRITs, Britain’s pop music awards, will no longer have female and male categories starting next year, instead of presenting gender-neutral honors for both local and foreign musicians, organizers announced on Monday, November 22.
⚡️ @MoTheComedian is your #BRITs 2022 host // Dream duo @MayaJama and Clara Amfo will be taking on presenting duties for The BRITs Are Coming nominations show + The BRITs 2022 red carpet pic.twitter.com/EjTlJ9qB9v
— BRIT Awards (@BRITs) November 22, 2021
Artists will now compete for artist of the year and international artist of the year awards at the annual ceremony, which will be held on Feb. 8, 2022.
New for #BRITs 2022: Artist of the Year and International Artist of the Year – celebrating artists solely for their music, The BRITs have committed to making the show more inclusive (1/2) pic.twitter.com/Y5UfvfZiQi
— BRIT Awards (@BRITs) November 22, 2021
The organizers stated the change was made to honor artists solely for their music and work, rather than how they choose to identify or as others may see them, as part of The Brits’ commitment to evolving the show to be as inclusive and relevant as possible.
This issue comes to light as several performers, including multi-British Music Award winner Sam Smith, who identifies as non-binary, have urged the organizers to abandon gendered categories. The addition of four new categories — alternative/rock act, hip hop/grime/rap act, dance act, and pop/R’n’B act — for next year’s festival is another shift. A public vote will determine the four new categories.
Four new fan voted genre awards – Alternative/Rock act, Pop/R&B act, Hip Hop/Grime/Rap act and Dance act – this year fans have more power than ever as we bring back the vote, while The #BRITs shines a light across a diverse range of genres (2/2) pic.twitter.com/myhQpxMllr
— BRIT Awards (@BRITs) November 22, 2021
The 2022 Brit Awards will be hosted by comedian Mo Gilligan and will be held at London’s O2 Arena.
Excited To Announce ?I’m going to be your host for the 2022 @brits Awards. This is a huge honour for me and being a fan of music I can’t wait bring fun, unlimited vibes and an award show the music fan can feel part of #BRITs love for the continued support it always means a lot pic.twitter.com/p0pHl3dvrz
— Mo Gilligan (@MoTheComedian) November 22, 2021
The BRITs are following in the footsteps of other award shows and events that have done away with gender categories.
In addition, featured artists will be nominated for the prestigious song of the year category at next year’s BRITs, which will be the 42nd edition of the awards program. Only principal artists or named collaborators have been acknowledged as prize nominees until now.
In September, the San Sebastian Film Festival presented Jessica Chastain and Flora Ofelia Hofmann Lindahl with the first-ever gender-neutral acting award for best leading performance.
Source: https://www.brits.co.uk/news/changes-to-brits-2022-announced
