HOW DIVERSE ARE THE BRITS IN 2018?

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?

The pins will be given out ahead of guests’ arrival on the red carpet following a similar campaign started by Voices in Entertainment ahead of the Grammys. Questions have been raised over the authenticity of the invite, which has come from the awards’ organising body rather than an independent movement. However, Voices in Entertainment has endorsed the move that “aims to help focus attention on ongoing issues,” said Roc Nation Senior VP Meg Harkins, who leads the group.

Whether the BRITs will attract any of the controversy fired at the Grammys this year for lack of female and ethnic minority representation remains to be seen. The ceremony did already weather its own storm back in 2016 for its largely white line-up and nominee list. That was swiftly addressed by BPI Chairman Ged Doherty who overhauled the 1,100-strong BRITs Voting Academy to achieve equal male/female representation and at least 15% of BAME participation.

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.