On Tuesday, the 2022 BRIT Awards with Mastercard attracted 2.7 Million Viewers.
Despite a star-studded lineup that included Ed Sheeran, Liam Gallagher and Adele’s first appearance at the awards in five years, ratings still dipped from the 2.9 million viewers that watched last year.
Before the ceremony was broadcast on ITV Hub, YouTube and YouTube, BRITs were facing backlash over its decision to ‘wake’ and eliminate male and female categories.
Going down …: Tuesday’s 2022 BRIT Awards broadcast with Mastercard attracted an unprecedented 2.7 million viewers.
Overnight figures show that less than 3 million people tuned in to the BRIT Awards, which was broadcast on ITV. The one-off event was beaten by BBC’s new drama, This Is Going to Hurt.
It was based on a memoir by Adam Kay, and features Ben Whishaw as the main character. The series drew in over 3.2 million viewers.
The current ratings do not include viewers who watched the ceremony via YouTube. These numbers are yet to be published.
The Brits have seen a steady decline in viewership with 9.86 million tuning into the ceremony in 1999, when Robbie Williams won Single Of The Year for his hit Angel, while Manic Street Preachers scooped Album of the Year.
Throwback: Despite a star-studded lineup, ratings were once again down on the previous year, and a far cry from 9.8 million viewers who tuned in in 1999 (pictured)
Triumph: The ceremony was also beaten by BBC’s newest drama This Is Going To Hurt (Ben Whishaw pictured) which pulled in 3.2 million viewers
A drop in ratings: The BRIT Awards’ rating have seen a steady fall since 1999.
The numbers rose slightly in 2012 when Adele accepted Album Of The Year for 21. This was a year following her legendary performance of Somone Like You.
The ceremony was viewed by 2.9 million people last year, despite being delayed from February to May because of the Covid pandemic.
This year’s BRITs saw a star-studded lineup with performances from stars including Ed Sheeran, Anne-Marie and Sam Fender, Adele was no doubt the headline, with a performance of her song I Drink Wine.
Frontman: The ceremony kicked off at 8pm on both ITV and the ITV Hub and was presented by Mo Gilligan for the first time
The singer was also the major winner, winning three awards, including Artist Of The Year.
The BRIT Awards went gender neutral last year, eliminating male and female categories.
Bosses stated that the change was intended to make it as accessible and pertinent as possible for all people.
Fans blasted this change and called for boycotts.
Grand: A slew of celebrities took to the stage at the ceremony, including Ed Sheeran who won Songwriter of the year
After Sam Smith, a singer who is non-binary identified as such, put pressure on organizers to eliminate male and female categories earlier in the year.
Mo Gilligan was the host for the inaugural ceremony. Maya Jama hosted it.
Adele won the Mastercard Album Award of the Year, her third win. Her previous albums were in 2012 and 2016. She is the only solo artist that has won this award in BRITs history.
She was also the first recipient of BRITs’ Artist of The Year Award, and won her third win with Song of The Year for Easy On Me.
Adele mentioned the recent changes to the categories of the award during her speech. She said: “I understand why this award’s name has changed.” But I really love being a woman and being a female artist I do I’m really proud of us’.
Some fans have already said she offended non-binary people and branded her a TERF – a derogatory term for a feminist who excludes the rights of transgender women also thrown at the singer’s friend JK Rowling.
The iconic Adele won the Album of The Year award and Artist Of The The Year.
MailOnline was told by publicists representing some of the biggest celebrities in the world that Adele’s position on the genderless Brit Awards would be a good thing for her career. They called her the’musical Teflon.
These new international categories also saw the recognition of two outstanding global artists: Billie Eilish won International Artist of the Month and Olivia Rodrigo was presented with International Song of the the Year for Good 4 U, the UK’s best-selling international single.
Tonight’s BRITs Songwriter of the year award went to Ed Sheeran. He performed two songs, The Joker (earlier in the show) and The Queen (later).
Having picked up two awards last year, Dua Lipa, was awarded with Pop/R&B Act, and having received her first ever BRIT nominations this year, while Becky Hill was awarded Dance Act.
Alternative/Rock Act was awarded to Sam Fender. This brought Polydor UK’s total of trophies up at 5. Later, Sam Fender wows the crowd with a performance from Seventeen Going Under.
British rapper royalty Dave received the Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act award from Arsenal legends Ian Wright & Bukayo Saka. He closed the ceremony by performing In The Fire with fellow rappers Ghetts and Giggs as well as Fredo, Konyikeh, Konyikeh, Konyikeh, Konyikeh, Konyikeh, Konyikeh, Konyikee, Konyikeh, and Meekz.