Taylor Swift wins Brit Global Icon Award and Dua Lipa takes home two awards
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| ▲ This photo provided by Big Hit Music shows global superstars BTS. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ This photo provided by Producer Group Dot shows dance group, Ambiguous Dance Company performing in a hologram video next to Coldplay at the Brit Awards. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ This photo provided by Universal Music Group shows pop star Taylor Swift. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
LONDON·SEOUL, May 12 (Yonhap) -- BTS, the first Korean singer(s) to be nominated for the Brit Awards, Britain's most prestigious pop music award, unfortunately, could not bring the award home.
BTS lost the award in the International Group category of the Brit Awards, which was held at the O2 Arena in London, to the American trio sister band, Haim.
The other nominees that competed in the International Group category were rock band Foo Fighters, hip-hop duo Run The Jewels, and post-punk band Fontaines D.C..
After Haim released "Women in Music Pt. III" last year, their album topped the Official UK Charts.
The Brit Awards, which began in 1977, is an award ceremony organized by the British Phonographic Industry and the nominees are voted by a panel of over 1,000 radio, TV DJs and hosts, broadcasters, representatives of record producers and journalists.
Although the Brit Awards was an award ceremony exclusive to British artists, in the late 1980s, it has established an international category, giving awards to artists working in different countries.
Last year, the International Group category was eliminated, angering many BTS fans, however this year, the division revived and BTS was able to be nominated.
This year's Brit Awards ceremony was held offline with 4,000 people attending without wearing any masks.
It was the first large indoor music performance in the UK to be held in 14 months since the pandemic started.
The 2021 Brit Awards was held as part of a government-led research program in order to test whether they could start to hold large-scale performances amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
2,500 tickets to the Brit Awards were allocated to front line workers, including medical staff in London, who had continuously worked during the COVID-19 lockdown, and the rest to award nominees and music industry officials.
While everybody who was invited had to undergo COVID-19 tests, the audience could watch the performances without wearing a mask or distancing each other like they did before the corona virus spread into their lives.
The awards ceremony opened with a performance of "High Power," a new song released by British rock band, Coldplay.
The South Korean dance group Ambiguous Dance Company made a surprise appearance in a neon-colored hologram video as the British rock band continued to play their music.
Videos of British pop diva Dua Lipa, rising singer Olivia Rodrigo, and R&B star The Weekend performing were played while Elton John and Olly Alexander of the band Years & Years also staged a joint performance.
American pop star, Taylor Swift won the "Brit Global Icon Award," which is considered the highest honor possible to receive at the Brit Awards.
Following Elton John, David Bowie, and Robbie Williams, who are all known to be "Brits Icons," Taylor Swift is the first non-Brit female artist to win the award.
Dua Lipa won two awards at the ceremony including "British Female Solo Artist" and "Album of the Year."
In addition, the "British Male Solo Artist" award went to rapper J Hus, "International Female Solo Artist" to Billy Eilish, and "International Male Solo Artist" was awarded to The Weekend.
The fact that the former first lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, came to introduce the "International Male Solo Artist" award also drew attention to many people.
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