Bosses at Warner Music have been celebrating the major’s triumphant BRIT Awards 2018.
Max Lousada’s label took home six of the 11 prizes available, despite hot favourite Ed Sheeran only winning the Global Success gong. Dua Lipa won British Breakthrough Act and British Female Solo Artist, Stormzy (who released his album on independent #Merky, but was distributed by ADA and is now in a JV with Atlantic) picked up British Male Solo Artist and Mastercard British Album Of the Year and Gorillaz were voted British Group winners.
In addition, Lipa, Sheeran, Stormzy, Liam Gallagher and Rita Ora performed on the night. The wins follow a similarly stellar Warner performance at the Grammys, despite Sheeran being shut out of the nominations for the major awards there.
“Tonight was a celebration of the unprecedented opportunities for home-grown UK talent on the global stage,” said Lousada, CEO of recorded music for Warner Music Group and CEO, Warner Music UK. “Artists like Dua, Stormzy, Ed, Liam, Rita and Gorillaz are making hugely popular and influential music that is moving culture and cascading throughout the world. Congratulations to all the winners, nominees and performers, and thank you for making music, and life, more dynamic and exciting.”
Warner’s music publishing arm, Warner/Chappell, also had its fingerprints all over the night’s big awards. Stormzy, Rag’N’Bone Man, Kendrick Lamar and Gorillaz are all Warner/Chappell writers. Meanwhile another, songwriter Ian Kirkpatrick co-wrote two Dua Lipa singles, including New Rules, which Lipa performed on the night, while W/C’s MNEK co-wrote Stormzy’s Blinded By Your Grace Pt 2.
Warner/Chappell UK MD Mike Smith said: “I’d like to congratulate all our amazing songwriters on their BRIT Award wins. The BRITS is always an incredible night for British music, but this year was truly historic for British urban music with Stormzy walking off with two major awards. He has been at the heart of popular culture over the last year and I’m thrilled that the awards reflect his impact. I particularly want to shout out our brilliant A&R Amber Davis who has supported Stormzy from the start of his amazing career.”
Smith also praised Warner/Chappell’s other winners, including Gorillaz, saying: “Damon continues to push the boundaries with his songwriting, as do Gorillaz as a whole project – the latest album has some of their best work on it. I’m thrilled that they have finally won a BRIT award – they thoroughly deserve it!”
Sony Music picked up three awards on the night, with Universal Music winning two. For a full list of winners click here. For Music Week’s highlights of the night, click here.
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