2006 BRIT Awards

The 2006 BRIT Awards were the 26th edition of the biggest annual pop music awards in the United Kingdom. They are run by the British Phonographic Industry and took place on 15 February 2006 in Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London. It attracted 4.70 million viewers, one of the lowest viewed ceremonies. 2007's show went on to pass the 5 million barrier again.

ummary

2006's biggest winners were the Kaiser Chiefs, who came away with three awards. Coldplay and Green Day both came away with two awards, Coldplay collecting their sixth overall. Other winners included the Arctic Monkeys for their only nomination, and acts such as KT Tunstall and Kanye West. Arcade Fire were the most unsuccessful act, being nominated for three awards but winning none of them.

The ceremony

The ceremony was hosted by Chris Evans, who also hosted the 2005 BRIT Awards. It lasted about three hours, and the alcohol ban of the previous year had been relaxed. The biggest surprise performance was that from Prince, who reunited with Wendy and Lisa from The Revolution, together with Sheila E. for the performance. Other performers included:

*Coldplay
*KT Tunstall
*Kaiser Chiefs
*James Blunt
*Kanye West
*Kelly Clarkson
*Gorillaz
*Jack Johnson
*Paul Weller

The awards

The nominations were announced on 10 January 2006. Winners are in bold.

Best British Male Solo Artist

This award was won by James Blunt, whose debut album topped the UK charts and who has enjoyed top 5 success on the American Billboard Hot 100. In 2005 he was the UK's biggest selling artist.

Other nominees included Mercury Music Prize 2005 winner Antony and the Johnsons and Robbie Williams, the most successful artist of all time at the BRITS. .

Best British Album

Coldplay's "X & Y" sold over 700,000 copies in its first week, and took this award. Of the other nominees, Gorillaz went home without any awards for a second time, whilst James Blunt and the Kaiser Chiefs were successful elsewhere. A surprise overlook for this award was the much critically acclaimed album "Don't Believe the Truth" by Oasis.

Best British Urban Act

None of those nominated in this award, voted for by the public and sponsored by music channel MTV Base, were nominated for any other awards. Lemar won the award for the second time, beating critic's favourites Dizzee Rascal and underground hope Kano.

Best Pop Act

This is the only BRIT award open to British and foreign acts. It was again voted for by the public, and sponsored by The Sun newspaper, and O2/Motorola. James Blunt picked up the award for the UK. This category was heavily criticised, mostly by the overlooked artists themselves, who felt the nominations didn't reflect "pop" music in this context. Sarah Harding from Girls Aloud questioned Melua's place in the genre, elsewhere criticising Clarkson's nomination - reasoning "She's not even British". This was unjustly aimed criticism at Clarkson, as the award is not for the 'Best British Pop Music' but the 'Best Pop Music in Britain', and thus as one of the most successful pop acts in Britain the previous year, her nomination was warranted no questioning.

Best International Group

Rock acts domianted this category, with only the Black Eyed Peas coming from another genre. Green Day won, capping off a successful comeback year and beating the Grammy award-dominating U2.

Outstanding Contribution To Music

This was given to Paul Weller, former lead singer of The Jam and later of The Style Council. He was one of the leading figures in the new wave movement in the late 1970s, whilst The Style Council had a more eclectic sound, notably branching out into jazz music. Since the early 1990s, he has enjoyed chart success as a solo artist.

ee also

*Naomi Awards

Controversy

*Some of the more famous British pop acts failed to get a nomination. Bands like Girls Aloud and McFly both had top 10 hits in both the single and album charts but neither were nominated, and Oasis who were eligible, but were snubbed in the category of Best Album, only had 2 nominations.

External links

* [http://brits.co.uk/shows/2006/ Brits 2006 homepage]
* [http://www.nme.com/news/kaiser-chiefs/21923 NME report on Brits nominations]