The music industry’s annual back-slapping event, The Brit Awards, is to have a revamped format next year when the ceremony moves from Earl’s Court to it’s new home at London’s O2 Arena.
The major change will see the Outstanding Contribution, which has been the marquee prize in recent years, dropped from the list of awards. Instead, the newly-renamed MasterCard British Album of the Year will become the major award of the night, and will climax the evening. Previously, winners of the Outstanding Contribution were given the honour of closing the night with a short Greatest Hits set.
There will now be seven British-based awards with Best Male, Best Female, Best Breakthrough, Best Single, Best Group, and Critics’ Choice joining the Best Album prize. In addition, five international awards – Best Male, Best Female, Best Breakthroug, Best Album and Best Group, will also be handed out.
A further change to proceedings will see the award statue itself re-designed each year by a selection of British artists. For 2011, Vivienne Westwood has been selected to re-mould the prize.
Nominations for the 2011 Brit Awards are to be announced on January 13th next year, with the ceremony following just over a month later on February 15th.
Oasis @ Brit Awards 2007