Virgin EMI
president Ted
Cockle (left) and
Niall Horan, who
presented the
award for best new
artist, at Universal
Music Group’s
BRIT Awards
after-party.Fresh acts stole the show at the 40th annual
BRIT Awards, where rapper Dave and Scot-
tish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi led as
the two biggest winners of the night. While
Dave earned album of the year for his debut
full-length, Psychodrama, Capaldi scored best
new artist and song of the year, thanks to his
Billboard Hot 100-topping ballad, “Someone
You Loved.” Mabel (pictured above) kicked off
the show with a pastel-abundant performance
of her breakout hit, “Don’t Call Me Up,” later
winning top British female solo artist; interna-
tional female solo artist winner Billie Eilish
live-debuted her new James Bond theme, “No
Time to Die,” from the forthcoming film of the
same title; and Stormzy, who won top British
male solo artist, made it rain onstage — literally
— during a medley of hits from his December
album, Heavy Is the Head. The event marked the
awards show’s first installment since England’s
official break with the European Union, and
some artists used their stage time to talk politics:
Dave labeled current Prime Minister Boris
Johnson “a real racist” during his performance
of Psychodrama single “Black,” while during his
acceptance speech for best international male
solo artist, Tyler, The Creator sarcastically
thanked former Prime Minister Theresa May,
who banned him from the United Kingdom in
2015 due to the nature of his lyrics — last Sep-
tember, he returned to London for his first U.K.
performance since. —JOSH GLICKSMANBRIT AWARDS 2020
LONDON, FEB. 18
26 BILLBOARD • FEBRUARY 29, 2020