- By Helen Bushby
- Cultural reporter
1 hour ago
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Watch: Record-breaking Raye wins one award after another
It was Raye's night as she made history at the Brit Awards, winning six of the seven awards she was nominated for – surpassing Blur, Adele and Harry Styles' record of four wins at a single ceremony.
She is also the first woman to be named songwriter of the year.
As she accepted her awards barefoot, she said: “The artist I was three years ago wouldn't have believed I was in control – I'm my own boss.”
Dua Lipa won best pop act, while Kylie Minogue won the Global Icon Award.
Dua Lipa thanked her fans for “giving me this radical feeling of confidence that I can do anything.”
She also thanked her father and manager Dukagjin Lipa, calling him her “Dadager Dougie” and adding, “I'm so grateful that we get to do this together.”
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Dua Lipa thanked her “dadager Dougie”
Raye's first Song of the Year award for Escapism was presented to her by former Sub-Postmaster General Jo Hamilton, a victim of the Horizon IT scandal.
Ms Hamilton, who was falsely accused of stealing £36,000 from the post office, said on stage at London's O2 Arena: “I would like to thank everyone in the country for the love and support they have shown postmasters.”
“Can you please continue to support us because despite what the government says, they are not paying the postmasters.”
Raye, clearly amazed and overwhelmed by her victories, took her grandmother Agatha on stage with her as she collected her sixth album of the year. It was presented by her former Brits School headteacher, Stuart Worden.
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Raye thanked her grandma Agatha for “staying up until 3am praying for me.”
Raye was rejected by her record label for years before being released from her contract, allowing her to keep the songs she had written.
The singer-songwriter decided to self-release it, and her song Escapism – which won song of the year – went viral on TikTok and then went to number one.
“You just don’t understand what this means to me,” the singer said, sobbing. “I ugly cry on national television.
“All I ever wanted to be was an artist, and now I'm an album of the year artist. Thank you, that’s too much – come on, grandma, let’s go.”
The show was hosted by Clara Amfo, Maya Jama and Roman Kemp, and Amfo, who was Raye's “first radio play” on BBC Radio 1 ten years ago, told the singer: “There's no such thing as an overnight success, that's me I'm so proud of you.”
Raye also called on the music industry to “give songwriters master royalties,” saying, “That means if the songs win big, the writers can win too – please let that happen.”
American singer-songwriter SZA was named best international artist, beating stars like the mighty Taylor Swift.
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Kylie Minogue sang a medley of her number one hit Can't Get You Out of My Head
Kylie, who has sold more than 80 million records worldwide and became the first artist to score a number one album in the UK in five consecutive decades, said as she accepted her award she was “sobping with Raye”.
“It has been 36 years and countless shared experiences. What connects me is the love of music and the connection to people,” she said.
“Part of me is still like a 14-year-old girl who dreams of making music. Thank you to everyone who took part in my journey. You have my heart forever and ever.”
Singing a medley of her hits, she appeared on a huge podium in a flowing red PVC dress before taking it off to reveal a white dress and black thigh-high boots as she joined her dancers at stage level.
Kylie is building on her success at last month's Grammys, where she won her second award – two decades after her first.
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Kylie Minogue opened with her recent smash hit “Padam Padam.”
Other winners of the night included Calvin Harris, who was named best dance act.
He kissed his wife, BBC Radio 1 DJ Vick Hope, as he accepted his award and thanked his collaborator, singer Ellie Goulding.
“Ellie, without you I wouldn’t be on this stage this year. What you brought to Miracle was incredible,” he said, referring to their single.
“I couldn’t have done it with anyone else in this room.”
Miley Cyrus won International Song of the Year for her hugely successful single “Flowers,” and Jungle won Group of the Year.
The three presenters performed a skit in which they dressed up in Traitors capes, mimicking the hit BBC One TV show by voting on who should appear next.
They were joined by none other than two contestants from the show – Ross Carson and his mother Diane, who both lost out on the big prize but have gained popularity since leaving the show.
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Although the moment was well received by audiences, some viewers of the show on X were quick to make fun of other aspects.
One X user compared the audience to the “sad Oompa Loompa” at the ill-fated Willy Wonka experience that recently went viral on social media. They wrote: “Oh my god this is all so low energy…did ITV serve them all half a cup of lemonade and a gummy bear?”
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But said one user The ceremony “eclipsed the Grammys in every way, as it was the true awards show that recognized talent, not payola.”
Raye's win in the Best R&B Act category sparked praise from singer Mahalia, who successfully called on Brits to give R&B its own category.
“That’s how you do it. Despite all the odds. Come on our girl… couldn't be prouder!!!!” she posted on X.
Another user mocked the executives at Raye's old record label by showing a GIF of Homer Simpson from the TV series “The Simpsons” disappearing backwards into a hedge.
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