Brit Awards: The UK Holds Their Biggest Night In Music

Last night the UK held the Brit Awards, their version of the Grammys, at the London O2 Arena.  The show was televised on the UK channel ITV1 and ratings were the highest in a decade.

British newcomer Ben Howard won two awards Wednesday night for “British Male Solo Artist” and “British Breakthrough Act,” beating out the likes of Calvin Harris, Olly Murs, and Rita Ora.

Mumford and Sons won the award for “Best Group” against some diverse competition.  Muse, The xx, One Direction and alt-J were all nominated in the category.

According to the Brits, Coldplay knows how to rock it on stage.  The band bested Mumford and Sons, Muse,  Rolling Stones and The Vaccines to take home the title for the best “British Live Act”.

In the international, aka. the American, categories, Lana Del Rey won over the hearts of the British Phonographic Industry for “International Female Solo Artist” while The Black Keys won the award for best “International Group” and Frank Ocean was the best “International Male Solo Artist.”

To what might surprise many Americans, Alicia Keys, Cat Power, Rihanna and Taylor Swift all lost to Lana Del Rey.  Can we expect Lana Del Rey to be a force at next year’s Grammys?  Meanwhile, The Black Keys were able to best Alabama Shakes, FUN., The Killers and The Script to take home their single award for the night.

The biggest award for the night, best “British Single,” went to Adele, of course, for her James Bond theme song “Skyfall”.  She has already won a Critics Choice Award and Golden Globe for the song and will most likely take home an Oscar for it on Sunday.

The full of list of winners and nominees for the Brit Awards 2013 are as follows:
Note: Winners in Bold

BRITISH MALE SOLO ARTIST
Ben Howard
Calvin Harris
Olly Murs
Plan B
Richard Hawley

BRITISH BREAKTHROUGH ACT
Ben Howard
alt-J
Jake Bugg
Jessie Ware
Rita Ora

BRITISH FEMALE SOLO ARTIST
Emeli Sandé
Amy Winehouse
Bat for Lashes
Jessie Ware
Paloma Faith

BRITISH GROUP
Mumford & Sons
alt-J
Muse
One Direction
The xx

BRITISH LIVE ACT
Coldplay
Mumford & Sons
Muse
Rolling Stones
The Vaccines

CRITICS’ CHOICE AWARD
Tom Odell
Not listed

INTERNATIONAL FEMALE SOLO ARTIST
Lana Del Rey
Alicia Keys
Cat Power
Rihanna
Taylor Swift

INTERNATIONAL GROUP
The Black Keys
Alabama Shakes
FUN.
The Killers
The Script

BRITISH PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Paul Epworth
Damon Albarn
Jake Gosling

MASTERCARD BRITISH ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Emeli Sandé – Our Version of Events
alt-J – An Awesome Wave
Mumford & Sons – Babel
Paloma Faith – Fall To Grace
Plan B – Ill Manors

INTERNATIONAL MALE SOLO ARTIST
Frank Ocean
Bruce Springsteen
Gotye
Jack White
Michael Buble

BRITISH SINGLE
Adele – Skyfall
Alex Clare – Too Close
Coldplay & Rihanna – Princess of China
DJ Fresh – Hot Right Now
Emeli Sandé – Next to Me
Florence + The Machine – Spectrum
James Arthur – Impossible
Jessie J – Domino
Labrinth
Olly Murs – Troublemaker
Rita Ora – R.I.P.
Rizzle Kicks – Mama Do The Hump
Robbie Williams – Candy
Rudimental – Feel the Love
Stooshe – Black Heart