Many awards ceremonies including The BRIT awards, have been tackling the issue of gender specific awards categories, but with difficulties with complying with COVID restrictions the debate has been put off until next year’s ceremony. The issue over gender neutral award categories came under fire at The BRIT awards by fans when Sam Smith confirmed that they identified as non-binary. The singer has been nominated twice of Best British Male. Other award ceremonies such as The Grammy Awards have showed a more progressive attitude, the awards moved against gender specific categories but soon after were criticised over the lack of female nominees.
Sources have told The Sun newspaper that although change is on the cards for the ceremony, they feel that a change for this year may work against the event, “There has been a lot of discussion about plans. The concern is that looking at the artists who have released this year — with all of the restrictions and problems — scrapping separate male and female awards categories might actually have had more of a negative impact across the board. They continue to provide assurance that the topic will be relooked at again in the coming years “It’s definitely something that is going to be looked at again in subsequent years.”
The awards ceremony, held at London’s O2 Arena has been pushed by three months, usually held in February the event will now be held on Tuesday 11th May. Today sees voting open for the awards, artists included on the ballot and contenders for huge wins this year are Sir Paul McCartney, Dua Lipa, Little Mix, Biffy Clyro, The 1975 and AJ Tracey. Other nominee’s names have also been leaked, nominations for the Brits Rising Star Award have been confirmed as Griff, Pa Salieu and Rina Sawayama. The Rising Star Award acknowledges popular music’s next ‘one to watch’, previous winners of this award include the likes of Adele and Celeste. New rules implemented today meant that an artist who does not hold a passport or dual citizenship can now be be included to win prizes, previously left out due the old rule was British- Japanese singer Rina Sawayama even though she has lived in the UK for more than 26 years. She took to her Instagram page to rejoice in her nomination.
Although a decision has not been made this year, viewers can feel positive that more talks and action will take place in time for next year’s ceremony. But with many viewers holding an opposite opinion which supports the division of gender for the awards, it is hard to see which decision will be actioned. But with further harsh and non inclusive rules being changed to The BRIT awards, fans can at least see some change for the better this year.
