“Let’s celebrate everybody, regardless of gender, race, age, ability, sexuality and class.”
(Picture: AFP via Getty Images)Next year, at the Brit Awards, the categories for best male and female artists will become one single prize for best British artist, in an effort to promote inclusivity.
“It feels completely the right time to celebrate the achievements of artists for the music that they create, and the work that they do, irrespective of gender,” said BRITs chair and Polydor Records co-president Tom March.
The 2022 Brit Awards will end gendered categories:
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) November 22, 2021
“It is important that the Brits continue to evolve and aim to be as inclusive as possible. It feels completely the right time to celebrate the achievements of artists for the music that they create, […] irrespective of gender.” pic.twitter.com/REq0mQP8TD
Artists like Sam Smith and Will Young had previously spoken on the need for change, saying the current system excludes non-binary artists.
Dua Lipa and J Hus won the best female and male artist awards.
Smith, who is non-binary, had missed out on a nomination at this year’s awards.
Sign up to our new free Indy100 weekly newsletter
Their album, Love Goes, reached number two in the UK chart, but they believed that they were unable to enter the gender-based categories.
“Music for me has always been about unification, not division. I look forward to a time where awards shows can be reflective of the society we live in. Let’s celebrate everybody, regardless of gender, race, age, ability, sexuality and class,” Smith wrote in a since-deleted post.
The change will also be expressed in the international category. The best international male and female artist awards will now be just the best international artist.
This year, it was won by The Weeknd and Billie Eilish.
Many people on social media are in support of the changes, saying that the awards should have always been about the artists’ talent - and not their gender.
never got why awards had to be split by gender anyway
— Rosie 🏳️⚧️ (@Rivurrion) November 22, 2021
it should have always been about talent not your gender and now people outside the binary are included, so win win.
what's wrong with that? i mean finally the art won't be separated for genres, woman, men and nb are all the same
— X (@archersailor) November 22, 2021
brit awards > grammys
— miss ray (@omgitsmissray) November 22, 2021
as they should, ARIA do it too https://t.co/TuPtpg4Gk2
— hani 🦋 (@demiaintsorry) November 22, 2021
A great step foward!! https://t.co/4LBqXJB7ne
— ItsFlynn #BLM (@ItsFlynn96) November 22, 2021
ABOUT.👏 BLOODY. 👏TIME. 👏
— Rookes is mixing #POPNOTPOP (@iamrookes) November 22, 2021
Good. Now, onwards!!! https://t.co/QSFb8eCUt7
OMG FINALLY SOMEONE DID IT ! https://t.co/9BZrkg9G4j
— la sauce 🚨 (@theosauss) November 22, 2021
Four new genre award categories will also be implemented to highlight the various types of popular music: dance act, pop/R&B act, alternative/rock act, and hip-hop/grime/rap act.
All four of the categories will be voted on by the public.
The Brit Awards are set to take place on Feb. 8, 2022, at London’s O2 arena and will be hosted by comedian Mo Gilligan.
