The nominations for The Brits are in and it’s a real mixed bag this year, pitching legacy acts like The Beatles and The Cure against hot pop superstars like Charli XCX and Dua Lipa.
But who deserves to win. And who will win? For this is an award ceremony and the two rarely go hand in hand.
Here’s my assessment of how things will pan out – and who should be most aggrieved:
Song of the Year
Artemas, I Like the Way You Kiss Me
The Beatles, Now and Then
BL3SS and CamrinWatsin, Kisses
Central Cee, Band for Band
Charli XCX feat. Billie Eilish, Guess
Chase & Status and Stormzy, Backbone
Coldplay, Feels Like I'm Falling in Love
Dua Lipa, Training Season
Ella Henderson feat. Rudimental, Alibi
Jade, Angel of My Dreams
Jordan Adetunji, Kehlani
KSI feat. Trippie Redd, Thick of It
Myles Smith, Stargazing
Sam Ryder, You're Christmas to Me
D.O.D., Jazzy, and Sonny Fodera, Somedays
Who will win: Charli XCX feat. Billie Eilish, Guess
Who should win: The Beatles’ Now and Then
If The Beatles’ Now and Then is beaten to Best Song at The Brits by KSI, I’m leaving the country.
If Myles Smith wins, that’s pretty much okay, he’s a lovely, talented guy and Stargazing was absolutely huge last year.
But it’ll be Charli XCX that wins, and while admittedly I’m too old to be brat anything, this will be unacceptable.
Now and Then was an utterly unique piece of Lennon songwriting genius which reunited on record the greatest band of all time. Surely, Brits, surely….
Best New Artist
English Teacher
Ezra Collective
The Last Dinner Party
Myles Smith
Rachel Chinouriri
Who will win: Myles Smith
Who should win: Myles Smith
I never know how these award ceremonies always manage to feature established talents in the ‘New’ categories. Ezra Collective formed in 2012!
Even if you make a case that they only broke through to the mainstream recently, that was still two years ago when they won the Mercury Music Prize.
Thankfully, the winner will be Myles Smith, and while this year’s Mercury-winners English Teacher could well be aggrieved, Smith’s sheer songwriting and popular appeal will make him a deserving winner. I’m putting my house on it. And kids.
Artist of the Year
Beabadoobee
Central Cee
Charli xcx
Dua Lipa
Fred Again..
Jamie XX
Michael Kiwanuka
Nia Archives
Rachel Chinouriri
Sam Fender
Who will win: Charli XCX
Who should win: Michael Kiwanuka
There is no chance that anyone other than Charli XCX will win this award, but to whistle in the wind for a moment, Michael Kiwanuka’s Danger Mouse-produced record Small Changes was a seriously accomplished piece of work and his appearance at Glastonbury was one of the high points of the festival.
We need to celebrate Kiwanuka more!
But can he beat the out-of-focus sick green brat juggernaut? No.
Group of the Year
Bring Me The Horizon
Coldplay
The Cure
Ezra Collective
The Last Dinner Party
Who will win: Coldplay
Who should win: Ezra Collective
The Cure is the surprise entry here, and seemingly they’re included just so Robert Smith is forced to turn up and we can all be amused by how sulky and cynical he is about the entire spectacle. Songs of a Lost World was a welcome return for the goth-pop legends but are they really going to beat Coldplay?
Coldplay win awards just for breathing, and this year they breathed a lot all over the Pyramid stage, with their undeniably monstrous Glastonbury ‘moment’. You just can’t see past them.
If anyone deserves to win for just existing in 2024, it’s Ezra Collective, and, y’know, they did release the acclaimed album Dance No One’s Watching too. Also, God Gave Me Feet For Dancing made Barack Obama’s list of favourite tracks of the year. If that’s still a thing.
International Group of the Year
Amyl and The Sniffers
Confidence Man
Fontaines D.C.
Future and Metro Boomin
Linkin Park
Who should win: Confidence Man
Who will win: Fontaines D.C.
Confidence Man were by far the most entertaining band of last year, a bunch of old school pop maniacs as we found in our interview with them.
But Fontaines are at the point where they have both critical and commercial chops and its going to be hard to stop them from winning this category as they did in 2023.
(Big shout-out to Amyl and the Sniffers though, might be worth a cheeky flutter as no-one beats them live).
Alternative / Rock Act
Beabadoobee
The Cure
Ezra Collective
The Last Dinner Party
Sam Fender
Who will win: The Cure
Who should win: Sam Fender
Sam Fender should win because he’s basically the only Alternative/Rock Act in the list other than The Cure, and they shouldn’t just walk away with this gong just because they need cheering up.
Let Fender win: even if he didn’t do anything this year, he’s still the best rock act in the country.
As for the rest, why are they in this category? Let them win elsewhere. Not even The Last Dinner Party are Alternative/Rock. How are these things decided? Is this Trump just steaming in here too?
Dance Act
Becky Hill
Charli XCX
Chase & Status
Fred Again..
Nia Archives
Who will win: Charli XCX
Who should win: Charli XCX
Look, I’m not going to say Charli XCX shouldn’t win anything. Of course she should, especially this one. Just, y’know, other things happened in music last year.
R&B Act
Cleo Sol
Flo
Jorja Smith
Michael Kiwanuka
Raye
Who will win: Michael Kiwanuka
Who should win: Michael Kiwanuka
Surely a nailed-on victory for Kiwanuka. Hard to argue with the others, especially Jorja Smith but Kiwanuka’s album was outstanding, wasn’t it?
Pop Act
Charli XCX
Dua Lipa
JADE
Lola Young
Myles Smith
Who will win: Charli xcx
Who should win: Lola Young
Another nailed on win for Ms XCX but it would be nice to see Lola Young bring it home. ‘Messy’ was a viral hit and number one, she was on Tyler the Creator’s album, and the Beckenham artist matches credibility and songwriting chops as much as xcx does. Why not? JADE is also in with a shout although you feel next year is her year.
Hip Hop / Rap / Grime Act
Central Cee
Dave
Ghetts
Little Simz
Stormzy
Who will win? Central Cee
Who should win? Central Cee
Although Little Simz had a triumphant Glastonbury it is surely Central Cee’s year. The London rapper was everywhere last year, front-row at catwalks and collaborating with half the known universe, so much so that it’s been easy to forget he hadn’t even released his debut album yet. With that now out, surely he’ll get over the line.
International Artist of the Year
Adrianne Lenker
Asake
Benson Boone
Beyoncé
Billie Eilish
Chappell Roan
Kendrick Lamar
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
Tyler, The Creator
Who will win: Taylor Swift
Who should win: Chappell Roan
This should be a tight contest, or perhaps not: the Eras tour, lest we forget, dominated 2024 as much as it did 2023. Hard to ignore.
That said, Chappell Roan’s reputation has grown and grown and she will surely hit superstar level this year. She’s in with a good shout.
International Song of the Year
Benson Boone, Beautiful Things
Beyoncé, Texas Hold ‘Em
Billie Eilish, Birds of a Feather
Chappell Roan, Good Luck, Babe
Djo, End of Beginning
Eminem, Houdini
Hozier, Too Sweet
Jack Harlow, Lovin’ on Me
Noah Kahan, Stick Season
Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen, I had some help
Sabrina Carpenter, Espresso
Shaboozey, Tipsy
Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone, Fortnight
Teddy Swims, Lose Control
Tommy Richman, Million Dollar Baby
Who will win: Sabrina Carpenter, Espresso
Who should win: Chappell Roan, Good Luck, Babe
Sabrina Carpenter must have at least one big moment at the Brits after a huge breakthrough year, and this could be the one she’ll win. But Roan is the one who deserves it, for the excellent Good Luck, Babe.
Album of the Year
Charli XCX, Brat
The Cure, Songs of a Lost World
Dua Lipa, Radical Optimism
Ezra Collective, Dance, Noone’s Watching
The Last Dinner Party, Prelude to Ecstasy
Who will win: Charli XCX, Brat
Who should win: Ezra Collective, Dance, No One’s Watching
The big awards on the night will go to the triumphant Charli XCX, no doubt. And who is anyone to argue with that?
Well, me, someone way away from that album’s demographic who can stand at the back shaking my head while saying something a bit less commercial was better. Luckily for me, there’s an album to clutch. Come on Ezra Collective, bring the mother of all upsets!
The Brit Awards 2025 take place at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday, March 1.
