The BRIT Awards 2021 with Mastercard today announce that global superstar The Weeknd, who had the world’s biggest selling single of 2020, will join the line-up for this year’s BRITs, alongside Arlo Parks, Coldplay, Dua Lipa, Griff, Headie One, Olivia Rodrigo and Rag’n’Bone Man & P!nk with the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust Choir.
The Weeknd’s latest album After Hours - which spawned the record-breaking single ‘Blinding Lights’- went No. 1 in over 26 countries on release last year, and he currently holds the record as the first male artist in history to achieve three #1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 from the same album in three different years. The UK’s biggest track of 2020, ‘Blinding Lights’ spent a total of eight weeks on top of the Official Singles Chart. The Canadian singer-songwriter is nominated for the third time for International Male Solo Artist at this year’s BRITs, and last performed at the show in 2016. Due to current restrictions the exclusive performance will be filmed remotely.
The BRIT Awards last month announced that it will be the first major indoor music event to welcome back a live audience – with 2,500 tickets gifted by the recorded music industry to frontline heroes and their guests via a ballot (which has now closed). The indoor ceremony and live show will form part of the Government’s scientific Events Research Programme, using enhanced testing approaches to examine how events can take place without the need for social distancing, which means The BRITs, working closely with the Government to adhere to safety guidelines, and as the first live music show at The O2 arena in over a year, will play an important role in paving the way for the return of live music at scale as the UK emerges from the past year’s restrictions.
This year’s BRIT Awards will take place 11th May at The O2 arena, exclusively broadcast on ITV and ITV Hub and hosted by award winning comedian and actor Jack Whitehall. Nominations were unveiled at the end of March, with Celeste, Dua Lipa, Joel Corry and Young T & Bugsey joining Arlo Parks in receiving three nominations each, and Jessie Ware, J Hus, Bicep, AJ Tracey up for two awards as with Headie One.
Griff has already been named as this year’s Rising Star award winner.
Mastercard return as headline partner for the 23rd year, having supported The BRITs for over two decades, bringing cardholders closer to music through a range of priceless experiences - from tickets to the BRITs, or Priceless Surprises with some of the UK’s best loved artists. This year, Mastercard will continue to sponsor the much sought after Mastercard Album award, as well as British Single with Mastercard for the first time and is proud to carry on connecting people to priceless possibilities. Amazon Music is the Official Digital Music Partner for a second year and will host the Official BRIT Awards 2021 playlist as well as sponsor the Male and Female Solo Artist categories.
