You might see a few white roses at the BRIT Awards next week as the ceremony’s organisers, BPI, have invited nominees, guests and members of the voting academy to wear the pins as a symbol of solidarity in the global fight against sexual harassment. So how does the 2018 ceremony currently stand in terms of equality?
As it stands, the 2018 nominees are weighted toward male artists, with 28 male-led artists/bands/releases nominated in the non-gendered categories, against 17 female-led entries, including Critics’ Choice winner Jorja Smith and nominees Stefflon Don and Mabel. Both stats include female and male led The xx and ZAYN and Taylor Swift’s Video entry, which are therefore counted twice, and count individual nominations, rather than individual artists (some of whom appear more than once). There are 16 entries from BAME artists out of a possible 98 (including Critics' Choice nominees). In terms of performers, there are currently six male artists and three females scheduled to take the stage.
