The organisers of the BRIT Awards have changed the format of next year’s ceremony.
Founded two decades ago, the BRIT Awards has always been forced to fend off criticism. Lambasted as being out of touch, the ceremony is often seen as backslapping for a complacent industry.
However in a rare move, the organisers of the BRIT Awards have decided to shake things up a bit. For next year’s ceremony the event will change location, change the trophy and change the way the winners are decided.
In an unusual step, the BRIT Awards are set to extend the voting committee to include artists. Inviting previous winners and nominees from last year’s ceremony, artists will become the single largest group represented.
“Considering that artists are the single most valuable part of our industry, inviting them to join the Voting Academy is an obvious step to make” said BRITS chairman David Joseph. “For an artist to know that their work is also appreciated and respected by other artists will add another unique dimension to winning a BRIT Award.”
It could be argued that inviting previous winners on board simply retains the status quo, reinforcing the view that it is the opinion of the BRITs committee which matters above all. However any step to include the artists has to be applauded.
Elsewhere, Vivienne Westwood has been invited to completed re-design the famous trophy. A design will step in each year to make every BRIT ceremony completely unique, while Manchester design collective Music have been charged with the creating ‘blank canvas’ award.
Set to move to the O2 Arena for next year’s ceremony, the ceremony will take place in what has become the world’s most popular live music venue.
The BRIT Awards in 2011 are set to be broadcast live on ITV1 on February 15th.
