RAYE RULES BRITS

Saturday night (3/2) was RAYE’s night at the BRIT Awards with the British artist taking home a record-breaking six gongs, including Album of the Year and Artist of the Year.

RAYE, who was the first artist ever to be nominated seven times, received her (arguably overdue) flowers and more at the ceremony in London’s O2 Arena.

Her Album of the Year victory was for her debut, My 21st Century Blues (Human Re Sources). She also took Song of the Year for the smash “Escapism.” f/070 Shake.

RAYE was also crowned Best New Artist and R&B Act and received her previously announced honor, Songwriter of the Year. She thus accrued the most single-night wins in BRITs history; the previous record was four, held by Harry Styles, Adele and Blur.

It’s an interesting turn of events, to say the least, given the fact RAYE says she had to turn to the U.S. to find a distribution deal. “No-one else would take my songs,” she told the BRITs audience, aside from J. Erving’s Human Re Sources. She then thanked Erving for “believing in the music.”

She continued: “I’m so proud of this album. I’m in love with music—all I ever wanted to be was an artist, and now I’m an artist with an Album of the Year.”

While accepting her Songwriter of the Year award, RAYE urged the music industry to give songwriters master royalty points. “It can be net costs; it doesn't have to be at your expense. It just means that if the song’s big, the writers get to win big. Please allow that to happen,” she said.

She performed a show-stopping medley, beginning with “Ice Cream Man,” her much-discussed song about being sexually assaulted by a producer, and ending with “Escapism.”

Thanks in large part to RAYE's haul, Team Sony is celebrating a tally of 10 awards on the night out of a possible 13, including The Orchard- and AWAL-affiliated projects. Including those announced pre-ceremony, UMG counts three, Warner one and the independent sector (including BMG) three.

Other winners included Warner's Dua Lipa for Best Pop Act, AWAL's Jungle for Group of the Year, RCA's Bring Me the Horizon for Best Alternative/Rock Act and Columbia's Calvin Harris for Best Dance Act.

International winners spanned Interscope's boygenius for International Group of the Year, TDE/RCA's SZA for International Artist of the Year and “Flowers” by Columbia's Miley Cyrus for International Song.

2024 BRIT AWARDS

Mastercard Album of the Year
RAYE, My 21st Century Blues (Human Re Sources)

Artist of the Year
RAYE

Best New Artist
RAYE

Group of the Year
Jungle

Song of the Year
RAYE f/070 Shake, “Escapism” (Human Re Sources)

International Group of the Year
boygenius

International Artist of the Year
SZA

International Song
Miley Cyrus, “Flowers” (Columbia)

Best Alternative/Rock Act
Bring Me the Horizon

Best Hip-Hop/Grime/Rap Act
CasIsDead

Best Dance Act
Calvin Harris

Best Pop Act
Dua Lipa

Best R&B act
RAYE

Winners announced pre-ceremony:

Rising star
The Last Dinner Party

Songwriter of the Year
RAYE

Producer of the Year
Chase and Status

Global Icon
Kylie Minogue