The US is famous for its film and fast food exports and South Korea gave us the Korean Wave - everything from BTS to KDramas. What contribution does the UK make to world culture? Music.
So innovative is our music that it engendered three British Invasions: in the 60s with the Beatles and Rolling Stones, among many others; the 80s - think Culture Club and Def Leppard; and in the mid-2000s, with Amy Winehouse and Adele leading the pack.
The third Invasion is more commonly known as Brit Soul or the British Soul Invasion.
From this track record, we can conclude that the UK music scene exercises a huge influence on music worldwide. Thus, it stands to reason that the artists keeping us on the global music map deserve recognition and celebration. We don't stint on such events.
| Select UK Music Awards |
|---|
| AIM Independent Music Awards |
| Brit Asia TV Music Awards - BAMA |
| Classic Brit Awards |
| Global Awards |
| Gramophone Awards |
| Kerrang! Awards |
| Mercury Prize |
| MOBO Awards |
| Muso Awards |
| UK Music Hall of Fame |
As noted, these are just a few of the more than 50 annual British music awards events. Not all of them are glamourous like the upcoming Brit Awards but they are noteworthy for their legacy and because they cultivate niche musical talent; the kind that doesn't make headlines but preserves our culture.
Now, in the runup to the 2022 Brit Awards, let's take a look at some of the UK's other music awards - both major events and quiet celebrations of excellence.
Legacy Music Awards
This category of music award is generally a prize given in the name of a person who had dedicated their life to music or to support efforts to create and promote music.
The Mendelssohn Award
In the wake of German composer Felix Mendelssohn's death, his friends and admirers established a scholarship fund for English students to attend Conservatoire in Leipzig, which Mendelssohn had founded.
This prize is actually a twin scholarship, one granted to an exceptional student in Germany and the other, in the UK.
Some of the more recent UK recipients include Christian Mason, Nadja Plein, Martin Butler and Cheryl Frances-Hoad.
If you have a strong interest in music, working with a voice coach can be immensely beneficial, as they can guide you in honing your vocal technique, expanding your range, and refining your musical interpretation, ultimately deepening your connection to the art of singing and enhancing your overall musical journey.
The Walter Willson Cobbett Medal
One of the oldest livery companies in the UK, The Worshipful Company of Musicians, awards this prize to those whose extraordinary services to Chamber Music merit accolades.
It's named after Walter Willson Cobbett, an amateur violinist and chamber music expert who served the Company from 1928 to 1929. The fund itself was endowed in 1924 by Sir Cobbett himself, who advanced £50 for its perpetuation.
Past recipients of this medal include Sir William Bennett, Trevor Pinnock and Susan Tomes.
The Dame Myra Hess Award
Dame Myra Hess established this fund and lent it crucial financial support throughout the Second World War. A pianist herself, she meant to recognize postgraduate music students of the piano. The prize itself dates back to 1968, when Dame Hess allocated funds to the Musicians Benevolent Fund, now known as Help Musicians UK.
As the pandemic has eviscerated live music performance, many artists rely on this and other funds to help see them through these difficult times.
The Queen's Medal for Music
This award is the brainchild of Sir Maxwell Davies, one-time master of the Queen's music. This annual award salutes contributions to musical British life. It's a fairly young award, established in 2005.
Past winners include Gary Crosby, Imogen Cooper and, most recently, John Wallace. The first-ever recipient was the Australian conductor Charles Mackerras.
Now, just ahead of the Brits, it's time to review who won at the 2021 Brit Awards.
Discontinued Music Awards
The art of prize issuance is that they meet the moment. That's why some awards are relevant today that would be unheard of, say, in the 70s. Think video awards or awards for Best Rap Song.
Awarding bodies must constantly evaluate whether the prizes they issue are suited to the times. Also, those authorities must remain aware of market saturation. Too many awards shows and the public will lose interest in such events.
These are among the music awards and events that have been discontinued.
- BBC Radio 3 Awards for Music: an award celebrating world music artists
- The Q Awards: a reflection of Q Magazine's music champions
- Naomi Awards: a short-lived, Raspberry Award type prize
- Online Music Awards: a ceremony to recognise unsigned musicians
It's unclear why the Online Music Awards stopped after only two years; they were meant to continue as a regular part of the Music Awards circuit. Perhaps it's just not needed because the AIM Independent Music Awards includes unsigned artists.
Find out about getting private singing lessons with a voice coach here.
Region-Specific Music Awards
As with all things in abundance, the tendency is to restrict mainstream music awards to mainstream artists - those that get universal airplay and sell the most records. Or, in these times, rack up the most streams.
Unfortunately, necessary as that practice is, it denies a lot of fantastic music the recognition it rightly deserves. That's why we're so grateful for these music awards that eschew the mainstream to focus on local talent.
Scots Trads Music Awards (Na Trads)
Concertina virtuoso Simo Thoumire launched this prize in 2003 in celebration of Scotland's traditional music. Contrary to other music organisation trade bodies that choose awards nominees, Hands Up for Trad, Mr Thoumire's foundation invites the listening audience to submit nominations for prizes.
Past winners include Tim Edey for Musician of the Year (2020), Jenna Reid for Composer of the Year (2019), and Dàimh for Scottish Folk Band of the Year (2018).
The Welsh Music Prize
Here, we revert back to music industry officials voting to determine awards; in this case, the best music album from Wales. This award has a short history; only since 2011 has it been given out.
Nevertheless, we have to admit that music promoter John Rostron and Huw Stephens, the radio announcer, were spot-on in recognising this need; the long list of nominees since its inception proves that there's much to commend in Welsh music.
Past winners include Gruff Rhys, Gwenno and Kelly Lee Owen.
Young Fiddler of the Year
The Shetland Folk Society sponsor this annual two-day event that sees roughly 80 entrants every year. Fiddlers may compete in one of two categories. The Traditional category focuses on local fiddling heritage and Open embraces all styles of fiddle music.
Northern Ireland Music Prize
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland, in partnership with Phonographic Performance Limited, a music copyright collective, launched this award in 2013 to celebrate the best of Northern Irish music. Initially evaluating up to 14 music albums each year, the ceremony has grown to include four more categories, Best Live Act, Best Single and a Legend Award among them.
Saint Sister is the most recent recipient of this award. Find out if she will perform at the Brits 2022 event.
Music Award Gala Events
These are the big shows; the ones that get all the hype and draw record viewers. You may already be a fan of them.
BAMA - Brit Asia TV Music Awards
The public votes from a list of nominees published on the BAMA website. This is a two-tier celebration of Asian music; considered the biggest awards event of the Asian music calendar in the UK.
This celebration usually takes place in October.
UK Music Video Awards
For these awards, the emphasis is on the visual; the music is of secondary consideration. Hence, more artists on the technical side of production are honoured than in standard music award ceremonies. Categories include Video of the Year, Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects and Best Producer.
This event takes place sometime between late October and early November.
Check out more about singing lessons here.
The Mercury Prize
This annual prize is awarded in the UK each year for the best UK-released album. It was created in 1992 as an alternative - or maybe an extension of the Brit Awards.
The rules for qualifying recipients of this award caused a bit of controversy during the 2021 awards season because they disqualified Japanese-born Rina Sawayama. Despite her long tenure in the UK and her notable contributions to the UK's music industry, she was barred from receiving the prize because she was not a British citizen.
In the wake of that controversy, BPI changed its rules to state that anyone residing in the UK for at least five years would be eligible for the prize.
Classic Brit Awards
Widely considered the most prestigious music awards event, the Classic Brits is on par with the Brit Awards with its work in recognising classical music artists.
This event is sponsored and organised by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), the same body that oversees the pop-oriented Brit Awards. Thus, the formula and categories mirror each other to the extent that they are able to.
It's not easy to maintain the same awards standards as contemporary music for a genre of music that, by definition, has a limited body of work. Thus, after a five-year hiatus, the Classic Brits returned in 2018 with an announcement that, going forward, this event would be biennial.
Unfortunately, COVID curtailed any effort to go on with the 2020 show.
Did you know that there is so much music celebration in the UK? Will you check out some of these other shows or are you more keen on finding out who the Brit Awards 2022 winners are?
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
