BRIT Awards 2023 draws 3.9m viewers – proving Saturday move paid off
BRIT Awards 2023 pulls in 3.9 million viewers – proving the move to Saturday has paid off after ratings rose by over a million from 2022
The 2023 BRIT Awards pulled in 3.9 million viewers during its broadcast on Saturday night.
Mo Gilligan returned as the host for the second year running and for the first time in the ceremony’s history, it took place on a Saturday, broadcast live from London’s O2 Arena.
Evidently the move paid off – after views rose by 1.2 million from the year before – when it was broadcast on a Tuesday.
Despite a star-studded lineup in 2022, 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 in 2021.
But bosses will be happy after their successful change of date – which also saw a 53% share of a 16-34 year-old audience.
On the up… The 2023 BRIT Awards pulled in 3.9 million viewers during its broadcast on Saturday night – up 1.2 million from the year before – when it was broadcast on a Tuesday
The Brits had previously 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.
Numbers rebounded slightly in 2012, when Adele took to the stage to accept Album Of The Year for her record 21, a year after her iconic performance of Someone Like You.
2021’s ceremony, which had been delayed from its usual February date until May due to the Covid pandemic, saw 2.9 million viewers tune in.
This year’s BRITs saw Harry Styles sweep the ceremony as he took home four awards – winning in every category he was nominated in – including the coveted Artist of the Year.
The singer, 29, who said he is ‘aware of his privilege’, dedicated the award to several female artists who weren’t nominated after the BRITs received criticism for its all-male Artist of the Year lineup when the category went gender neutral.
He also took home awards for Album of the Year for Harry’s House, Song of the Year for As It Was and Pop/R&B Act during during the show, which was hit with technical difficulties during the live broadcast and also saw British act Wet Leg win big.
Harry kicked this year’s BRITs off with a bang as he opened the show with a performance of his song As It Was.
Host Mo Gilligan then took to the stage and welcomed attendees to the show, saying: ‘For the first time ever, we’re on a Saturday night. The tables are back in full effect.’
Bold move: Mo Gilligan returned as the host for the second year running and for the first time in the ceremony’s history, it took place on a Saturday, broadcast live from London’s O2 Arena
Aitch took home the first award of the night, winning the Hip-Hop/Grime Act gong.
Beyonce won International Artist of the Year, beating out the likes of Kendrik Lamar, Lizzo and Taylor Swift.
Becky Hill won the Dance Act award for the second year in a row and paid tribute to some of her fellow artists in her speech.
Harry also took home the Best Pop/R&B Award, which was presented to him by actress Salma Hayek.
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)
Host Mo then appeared to fluff his introduction to a performance by Lewis Capaldi by calling him Sam Capaldi, however he apologised afterward, joking it was proof how strong the drinks at the BRITs are.
The next award, Best New Act, was won by Wet Leg with lead singer Rhian Teasdale admitting her nerves as she got on stage.
After Harry’s Artist of the Year award, Fontaines DC won International Group of the Year with member Carlos O’Connell accepting.
Wet Leg were honoured with their second award of the night next, taking home the gong for Group of the Year.
His night: Harry Styles swept the 2023 BRIT Awards as he took home four awards – winning in every category he was nominated in – including the coveted Artist of the Year
Contenders: Wet Leg also win big, taking home awards for Best New Act and Group of the Year
Beyonce’s Break My Soul was honoured with International Song of the Year with the performer recording another message for her UK fans.
The 1975 won the award for British Group with lead singer Matty Heay taking the microphone to thank the band’s fans for their support.
Harry picked up his third award next, winning Song of the Year for As It Was, presented to him by country music legend Shania Twain.
Fat Boy Slim took to the stage next to present the award for Producer of the Year to veteran DJ David Guetta.
Sam Smith and Kim Petras took to the stage next for a raunchy rendition of their hit single Unholy, which came hot on the heels of their Grammys performance.
Opener: Harry kicked the BRIT Awards 2023 off with a bang as he opened the show with a performance of his song As It Was
Lizzo, Harry, Lewis Capaldi, David Guetta, Becky Hill, Ella Henderson and Wet Leg also performed on the night.
Shortly after, Mo Gilligan told the audience the show was experiencing technical difficulties and so a clip of Adele performing her song I Drink Wine at last year’s show was played while the production crew sorted out the glitch.
Harry won his fourth and final of the world next when he received the Album of the Year award, presented to him by actor Stanley Tucci.
During Harry’s final acceptance speech, a member of his team briefly took the mic to offer his thanks but Harry snatched it back when he made a joke that he promised his wife they would be like Maya Jama and Stormzy later that night.
Thrilled: Becky Hill won the Dance Act award for the second year award and paid tribute to some of her fellow artists in her speech
Performance: Stormzy was also part of the line-up for this year’s show
The show concluded with David Guetta performing a selection of his hits with the help of Becky Hill, Ella Henderson and Sam Ryder.
Music bosses came under fire when the shortlist for the BRITs was announced last month.
In a surprise snub, female artists were shut out of the Artist Of The Year, which last year introduced a gender-neutral overhaul by scrapping its male and female-centric categories.
The first gender-neutral award was handed to Adele last year, but in her acceptance speech she pointedly told the audience: ‘I love being a woman.’
Wow: Sam Smith and Kim Petras took to the stage next for a raunchy rendition of their hit single Unholy
Harry, Stormzy and Fred Again – real name Fred Gibson – were niminated for album of the year, alongside The 1975 and indie duo Wet Leg, who were the only female act in the category.
Charli XCX, whose fifth studio album Crash topped the charts, and Florence and the Machine, whose album Dance Fever earned the singer her fourth UK number one, were notably absent.
BRIT Award bosses are said to be talks to bring back separate categories for best male and female artist next year, following the criticism.
Finale: The show concluded with David Guetta performing a selection of his hits with the help of Becky Hill, Ella Henderson and Sam Ryder
BRIT AWARDS 2023: THE WINNERS
Mastercard Album Of The Year
The 1975 – Being Funny In A Foreign Language
Wet Leg – Wet Leg
Harry Styles – Harry’s House – WINNER
Stormzy – This Is What I Mean
Fred Again – Actual Life 3 (January 1 – September 9 2022)
Artist Of The Year
Central Cee
Fred Again
George Ezra
Harry Styles – WINNER
Stormzy
Group Of The Year
The 1975
Arctic Monkeys
Bad Boy Chiller Crew
Nova Twins
Wet Leg – WINNER
Best New Artist
Kojey Radical
Mimi Webb
Rina Sawayama
Sam Ryder
Wet Leg – WINNER
Song Of The Year With Mastercard
Aitch – Baby Ft Ashanti
Cat Burns – Go
Dave – Starlight
Ed Sheeran And Elton John – Merry Christmas
Eliza Rose And Interplanetary Criminal – Baddest Of Them All
George Ezra – Green Green Grass
Harry Styles – As It Was – WINNER
Lewis Capaldi – Forget Me
Lf System – Afraid To Feel
Sam Smith And Kim Petras – Unholy
Best Alt Rock
The 1975 – WINNER
Arctic Monkeys
Nova Twins
Tom Grennan
Wet Leg
Rising Star
Flo
Producer of the Year
David Guetta
Songwriter Of The Year
Kid Harpoon – co-writer and co-producer on Harry’s House
Hip Hop/ Grime/ Rap
Aitch – WINNER
Central Cee
Dave
Loyle Carner
Stormzy
Dance Act
Becky Hill – WINNER
Bonobo
Calvin Harris
Eliza Rose
Fred Again
Pop/ R’n’B
Cat Burns
Charli Xcx
Dua Lipa
Harry Styles – WINNER
Sam Smith
International Artist Of The Year
Beyonce – WINNER
Burna Boy
Kendrick Lamar
Lizzo
Taylor Swift
International Group Of The Year
Black Pink
Drake And 21 Savage
First Aid Kit
Fontaines DC – WINNER
Gabriels
International Song Of The Year
Beyonce – Break My Soul – WINNER
David Guetta And Bebe Rexa – I’m Good (Blue)
Fireboy Dml & Ed Sheeran – Peru
Mauro Castillo, Stephanie Beatriz, Carolina Gaitán, Rhenzy Feliz, Encanto – Cast, Adassa, Diane Guerrero – We Dont Talk About Bruno
Gayle – Abcdefu
Jack Harlow – First Class
Lizzo – About Damn Time
Calum Scott And Lost Frequencies – Where Are You Npow
One Republic – I Ain’t Worried
Taylor Swift – Antihero
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