LONDON (CelebrityAccess) The NME Awards, held last night at the KOKO music venue in London, featured nine awards going to women performers after a recent controversy at the Grammys and a week before the BRIT Awards.
Lorde won best international solo artist, Charli XCX’s “Boys” won best track, Stefflon Don won best new artist, Shirley Manson received the NME Icon Award and, among other prizes, Ariana Grande was honored with the Hero of the Year award for her show of strength and compassion in the aftermath of the Manchester Arena attack that killed 22 after her concert.
Shirley Manson of @Garbage receives The NME Icon Award at #VO5NMEAwards2018 https://t.co/I2c9cXeJzA pic.twitter.com/NhngyUaRnR
— NME (@NME) February 14, 2018
The all-female group Haim won best international group, and The Big Moon’s song “Sucker” won best video in a category that was made up entirely of females or female-fronted bands.
“We haven’t said ‘oh well if there’s 10 nominations let’s make sure at least two of them are women’ or anything like that,” NME Editor Mike Williams told the BBC. “It’s just a natural thing where you talk about who the best artists are, you can’t do that without it being a female dominated list now.”
The late Fall frontman Mark E. Smith was remembered with a tribute, and rapper J Hus won the Album of the Year prize. Liam Gallagher was presented with the Godlike Genius prize. Skepta won the NME Innovation award on behalf of his Boy Better Know group.
“Good Morning Britain” host Piers Morgan won the Villain of the Year award.
“I’ve just been told the fantastic news that I’ve been voted Villain of the Year by NME magazine and its readership,” Morgan said in a recorded message. “Apparently, I beat Donald Trump, Kim Jong-un, Jeremy Hunt, and somebody called Katie Hopkins – whoever that is. It’s obviously deeply flattering. I’m humbled. I don’t win many awards, so I’m really touched.”
Forever short and to the point, @piersmorgan says he’s really got a heart of gold underneath his tough exterior 😉 pic.twitter.com/gEJ786fYeg
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) February 15, 2018
Here’s the list of winners
- Best British Band supported by Zig-Zag – Alt-J
- Best British Solo Artist supported by VO5 – Loyle Carner
- Best New Artist supported by Vans – Stefflon Don
- Best Live Artist supported by Nikon – Kasabian
- Best Track supported by Estrella Galicia – Charli XCX, ‘Boys’
- Best International Band supported by 19 Crimes Winery, Haim
- Best Mixtape supported by Bulldog Gin – Avelino, ‘No Bullshit’
- Best Album supported by Orange Amplification – J Hus ‘Common Sense’
- Best Collaboration supported by VO5 – Craig David and Bastille, ‘I Know You’
- Best Festival supported by ID&C – Glastonbury
- Best Film supported by Zig-Zag – Baby Driver
- Best Music Video supported by Princess Yachts – The Big Moon, ‘Sucker’
- Under The Radar Award supported by HMV – Pale Waves
- Best Festival Headliner supported by Anna Valley – Muse
- Best International Solo Artist – Lorde
- NME Icon – Shirley Manson
- NME Innovation Award – Boy Better Know
- Godlike Genius – Liam Gallagher
- Best Book – Wiley, Eskiboy
- Best TV Show – Stranger Things 2
- Best Reissue – Radiohead, ‘OK Not OK’
- Best Small Festival – Festival Number 6
- Music Moment of The Year – One Love Manchester
- Best Music Film – Gaga: Five Foot Two
- Hero of the year – Ariana Grande
- Villain of the year – Piers Morgan
