BRIT Awards 2025: Snubs & Surprises

The BRITs have had a fairly chequered history when it comes to honoring British music; critics say its focus is too narrow and commercial, and that exciting, challenging talent gets crowded out. You’d be hard-pressed to make the same complaint about the 2025 ceremony, however. Saturday night’s (March 1) show accurately, fairly and thrillingly showcased a scene that feels at the top of its game.

Charli XCX toasted her Brat summer with a whopping five awards on the night, and proved how U.K. acts can cut through the din on a global scale with an original, uncompromising vision. Similarly, Jade Thirlwall of Little Mix triumphed in the pop act category with just a handful of solo songs to her name, and Sam Fender continues to make his case to be considered an all-time great in the U.K. rock scene. Jazz group Ezra Collective, meanwhile, are now a mainstream concern after years of relentless gigging and championing their genre.

It was a ceremony that, on the whole, just felt right. The performances – particularly from Thirlwall, Lola Young and Fender – showcased a vast array of personalities. Rising acts like Myles Smith and The Last Dinner Party used their platform to challenge the industry to allow acts like them time to grow and develop – a bold move considering their fresh status as major label acts. Sabrina Carpenter and Teddy Swims gave the ceremony some international glamor and intrigue. 

But there are always winners and losers, such is the way of awards shows. Here’s a few snubs and surprises that Billboard U.K. saw on the night.