During the first ever Brit Awards in 1977, held to mark the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, Shirley Bassey won the inaugural and much-coveted British Female Solo Artist prize.
The gong is not surprisingly one of the highlights of her storied career – she spoke with some joy about it when she returned to present the same award in 2010 to an ungrateful Lily Allen – given that she triumphed over more-fancied nominees including Dusty Springfield and Petula Clark.
It was evident to everyone who attended that 43-year-old presentation at Wembley Conference Centre hosted by Michael Aspel, broadcast on ITV, why we needed a separate category for female music stars.
The British Male Solo Artist category was dominated by giants – Cliff Richard saw off nominees Elton John, Rod Stewart and Tom Jones.
Brit Awards bosses have taken the shocking decision to remove the British solo female artist category permanently. No doubt the attention-seeking American starlet Demi Lovato’s decision to also define themselves as neither male or female this year would have heaped the pressure on further
And every other major category was a mainly male affair too, with The Beatles winning British Album and British Group, Simon & Garfunkel’s Bridge over Troubled Water being named International Album, and Procol Harum’s A Whiter Shade of Pale tying with Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody as British Single.
While you’d like to think four decades has overhauled the gender imbalance, the Brits has remained stubbornly male-dominated outside of bespoke female categories.
For example, in 41 ceremonies, the British Group wentng was won by only two male groups, Five Star (in 1987) and Little Mix (this year).
Only 25% of British Album winners were females, and only Dua Lipa (Adele), Emeli Sande won in the last decade.
Sam Smith might think that their latest album contains a greater female influence, and they could be able to compete in British Female
Today, the Brit Awards’ new, uber-woke bosses have decided to permanently eliminate the British solo female artist category, which was won by legendary British artists like Annie Lennox and Kate Bush.
This absurd and risky decision was made apparently after 2 years of agony. Sam Smith, triple Brit winner, declared that Sam Smith and they were not bisexual and therefore ineligible to join either the British Female category or British Male.
No doubt the attention-seeking American starlet Demi Lovato’s decision to also define themselves as neither male or female this year would have heaped the pressure on further.
Ironically, the decision is being made by a man – record company Polydor Co-President Tom March, who has taken over the running of the Brits.
Announcing the decision this afternoon, he said: ‘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, and the work that they do, irrespective of gender.’
Dan Wootton: The ludicrous and dangerous decision appears to have been made after two years of handwringing since triple Brit winner Sam Smith declared they were non-binary and thus unable to enter either the British Female or British Male categories
It seems that he conveniently overlooks the dire consequences for female artists.
To get around the nightmare scenario of all-male winners, the Brits will introduce FOUR new categories open to women and men – Alternative/Rock Act, Pop/R&B Act, Dance Act, Hip Hop/Rap/Grime Act – that will be voted for by the public.
Brits chief executive Geoff Taylor went one step further about the significance of the decision, declaring arrogantly: ‘The Brit Awards are not just a celebration of British music, they are a reflection of British culture.’
It makes me laugh when people say I am being hysterical for pointing out the woke mob are advocating the complete erasure of both sex and gender from mainstream society when the rhetoric from Brit bosses proves that’s exactly what is happening.
Next, the Oscars will eliminate Best Actress and very soon, schools will declare that there is no need for a Head Girl and Boy. They will simply accept a Best Person.
This experiment has the irony that far fewer talented female singers will win the most prestigious prizes in British musical music.
It is possible that we could find ourselves in a nonsensical situation where there must be quotas to make sure enough women nominees are available, even though it doesn’t matter what gender means.
I think the Brit Awards decided to announce the decision now, after dithering for over two years, because they believe Adele – a bona fide music giant – has a strong chance of cleaning up at February’s awards.
It’s so disappointing – but entirely predictable – to see the Brits and ITV go down this rabbit hole.
The people in charge are all members of London’s metropolitan elite who are completely out of touch with the real inequalities facing the British people.
My solution is simple. I would keep the male and female sections, but give non-binary singers freedom to select which category they’d like to be in.
Sam Smith might think that their recent album contains a greater female influence, and they could be considered British Female.
Although it may not be the best option, considering the small percentage of people involved, it’s far more sensible than actually deleting the historic women categories that helped to create the British superstar divas.
Brit Awards has today made a lasting disservice to British females by accepting a small minority.