Raye wins early BRIT Award ahead of record-breaking night for nominations

With award season in full swing, celebrities are gathering on both sides of the pond. The A-listers have been busy in LA at the Critics Choice Awards and Golden Globes, and the biggest names in music were honoured at the GRAMMYs. Here in the UK, the BAFTAs were a night to remember, and this weekend we'll be tuning in for the iconic BRIT Awards. 

This year, singer-songwriter Raye has absolutely dominated the shortlists with no less than seven nominations - making her the most nominated artist in a single year ever. She received nominations for British Album of the Year, British Artist of the Year, New Artist, Song of the Year (twice), Pop Act and R&B Act. Previously, the most nominations in a single year was 6 - a record jointly held by Craig David, Gorillaz and Robbie Williams. 

Raye said that she was 'floored' by the outpouring of support, saying via Guardian: "I am currently a mess of overwhelming emotions and confusion as to how this even happened to be honest."

Ahead of the show on Saturday, she has also been awarded an early BRIT Award for Songwriter of the Year. The award was announced before the live ceremony and Raye was selected by a panel of judges. In response to the win, she said: "I am so so honoured and blown away, honestly to be given this prestigious award for Songwriter of the Year, it is my very first Brit award and I will treasure this trophy very much. I am so grateful to be recognised as a songwriter as this is a craft I am so passionate about and have been since I started my journey as a musician, and I’m very grateful to those who voted for me to have this award."

In the past, the award show has been criticised for its lack of female nominees, and while gendered categories were scrapped in 2022 to address the balance, it actually left the shortlists male-dominant. This year, the BRIT Awards organisers have increased the nominations in the Best Artist category from five to ten to ensure fair representation. 

Want to know who else is in the running for a BRIT Award this year? Take a look at the list in full:

British Album of the Year

• Blur – The Ballad of Darren
• J Hus – Beautiful and Brutal Yard
• Little Simz – No Thank You
• Raye – My 21st Century Blues
• Young Fathers – Heavy Heavy

British Artist of the Year

• Arlo Parks
• Central Cee
• Dave
• Dua Lipa
• Fred Again
• J Hus
• Jessie Ware
• Little Simz
• Olivia Dean
• Raye

British Group

• Blur
• Chase and Status
• Headie One & K-Trap
• Jungle
• Young Fathers

New Artist

• Mahalia
• Olivia Dean
• PinkPantheress
• Raye
• Yussef Dayes

Song of the Year

• Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding – Miracle
• Cassö, Raye and D-Block Europe – Prada
• Central Cee – Let Go
• Central Cee and Dave – Sprinter
• Dua Lipa – Dance the Night
• Ed Sheeran – Eyes Closed
• J Hus – Who Told You
• Kenya Grace – Strangers
• Lewis Capaldi – Wish You the Best
• PinkPantheress – Boy’s a Liar
• Raye – Escapism
• Rudimental, Charlotte Plank and Vibe Chemistry – Dancing Is Healing
• Stormzy and Debbie – Firebabe
• Switch Disco and Ella Henderson – React
• Venbee and Goddard – Messy in Heaven

International Artist

• Asake
• Burna Boy
• Caroline Polachek
• CMAT
• Kylie Minogue
• Lana Del Rey
• Miley Cyrus
• Olivia Rodrigo
• SZA
• Taylor Swift

International Group

• Blink-182
• Boygenius
• Foo Fighters
• Gabriels
• Paramore

International Song

• Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For
• David Kushner – Daylight
• Doja Cat – Paint the Town Red
• Jazzy – Giving Me
• Libianca – People
• Meghan Trainor – Made You Look
• Miley Cyrus – Flowers
• Noah Kahan – Stick Season
• Robin Schulz and Oliver Tree – Miss You
• Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire
• Peggy Gou – (It Goes Like) Nanana
• Rema – Calm Down
• SZA – Kill Bill
• Tate McRae – Greedy
• Tyla – Water

Rock/Alternative Act

• Blur
• Bring Me the Horizon
• The Rolling Stones
• Young Fathers
• Yussef Dayes

Hip-hop/grime/rap act

• Casisdead
• Central Cee
• Dave
• J Hus
• Little Simz

Dance Act

• Barry Can’t Swim
• Becky Hill
• Calvin Harris
• Fred Again
• Romy

Pop Act

• Calvin Harris
• Charli XCX
• Dua Lipa
• Olivia Dean
• Raye

R&B Act

• Cleo Sol
• Jorja Smith
• Mahalia
• Raye
• Sault