Brit Awards 2024 - live: RAYE wins Album of the Year in triumphant night
Dua Lipa and Kylie Minogue were among the stars who performed at the star-studded ceremony
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RAYE was undoubtedly the star of this year’s Brit Awards, which were held on Saturday night (2 March) at the O2 Arena in London.
The British pop star, 26, received a record-breaking seven nominations in 2024 and had already been awarded the prize for Songwriter of the Year prior to the ceremony.
She triumphed in six of her seven nominated categories, taking home awards for Best R&B, Song of the Year, Best New Artist, Album of the Year, and Artist of the Year.
RAYE’s success comes after the musician parted ways with her former label, Polydor, in 2021. She released her critically acclaimed debut My 21st Century Blues as an independent artist last year.
You can find a full list of winners, including Boygenius and Dua Lipa, here.
The ceremony, which was hosted by first-timers Maya Jama, Roman Kemp and Clara Amfo, featured live performances by RAYE, Dua Lipa, Tate McRae, Jungle and Kylie Minogue.
RAYE’s acceptance speech for Song of the Year
“Ahhh! What! Thank you God, like wow! I’m shaking. I didn’t … I don’t really know what to say right now but thank you, thank you to my team. Wow, I’ve always dreamed of saying that, ‘thank you to my team’.
“Thank you to my distribution company who are called Human Resources, a small little imprint in America, no one else would take my songs but J [Erving], thank you for believing in this music. Thank you to Mike Sabbath, who collaborated on my entire album on this song. He made the beat, I heard it in the car. I can’t believe this is happening, aaah!”
Lovely speech from RAYE who was giddy and couldn’t stop twirling around on stage.
WHY IS EVERYONE WEARING BLACK LEATHER
There is definitely a funeral vibe here this year, and only a few stars are pulling it off. I was a fan of Olly from Bring Me the Horizon’s jacket (and Luke Evans’), and Maya Jama and Dua Lipa looked good on the red carpet. But I think everyone forgot the memo that we’re doing maximalist colour this year, so jazz it up a please, folks.
Tate McRae out here giving us nothing
I quite like some of Tate McRae’s songs, and I saw her play a tiny show in Camden just before she blew up and was sufficiently impressed. But I just struggle to see any kind of personality behind what are ultimately just well-polished pop songs -- this performance is only drumming it home, particularly as she’s struggling to deliver much beyond a few breathy notes.
Brit Awards winners 2024: The full list of victorious artists and albums
The complete list of winners at the 2024 Brit Awards
Keep up with the winners as and when they are announced at the ceremony
Wronged postmistress Jo Hamilton tells Brit Awards audience that government still hasn’t paid her yet
The 2024 Brit Awards ceremony kicked off with a surprise as a former postmistress impacted by the Horizon scandal took the stage.
The biggest night in British music took place on Saturday night (2 March)at the O2 Arena in London, where artists were honoured for their achievements this past year.
Dua Lipa, Rob Beckett, and Ellie Goulding were among the celebrities who made their way across the red carpet ahead of the star-studded ceremony. You can find a full list of winners here, and follow along with all the latest updates from the event at The Independent’s live-blog here.
The honour of presenting the first award of the night, for Best Song, was given to former postmistress Jo Hamilton and actor Monica Dolan, who played Hamilton in ITV’s Mr Bates vs The Post Office.
Full report by my colleague Annabel:
Wronged postmistress in Post Office scandal takes the stage at the Brits
Jo Hamilton appeared alongside Monica Dolan, who played her in the hit ITV drama ‘Mr Bates vs the Post Office’
Dua Lipa wins Best Pop
Beating competition from fellow Barbie soundtrack contributor Charli XCX, Dua Lipa scooped her first win of the night for Best Pop Act, off the strength of her single “Dance the Night Away”.
An absolutely spine-tingling performance from RAYE
I was hoping we’d get a RAYE medley and we did, that was absolutely extraordinary. I can’t think of many others who deserve their flowers as much as the London artist, who managed to survive a messy split from her label, Polydor, and is now the most-decorated artist of the night at the Brits. And what a spell-binding performance that was, “Ice Cream Man” flowing into “Prada” and “Escapism”?!! Ooft. Second-to-none.
RAYE wins Artist of the Year!
I said to everyone last week that this would be RAYE’s year and I’m so thrilled to see this.
There was a moment after the stunned look on her face wore up, as she gestured directly to the camera and mouthed: “Are you seeing this?!” And I can’t help thinking that it was aimed at the suits at her old label, Polydor.
Here comes the announcement for Album of the Year...
Is Raye going to get a full house?
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