The BBC Music Awards 2014

The very first BBC Music Awards were held last week (December 11) at Earls Court, hosted by DJs Fearne Cotton and Chris Evans. It was more like a celebration of music than your typical award show. There was no mind numbing clapping after the umpteenth award had been dished out – like the 93-category Grammy awards – quite the opposite in fact. There were just four awards – International Artist of the Year – won by Pharrell Williams, Song of the Year – Happy by Pharrrell Williams, British Artist of the Year won by Ed Sheeran and BBC Introducing Award won by Catfish and the Bottlemen. The Song of the Year Award was the only category that was decided upon by public vote, with the others decided upon by a panel of industry experts.

The magnificent BBC Concert Orchestra were there to accompany the performing artists which gave the show a real grandeur and sense of occasion. The bottom line of the show and main message was the fact that the BBC supports and promotes new music. Many a star has been ‘found’ by BBC Introducing. “The BBC started playing me before anyone else did,” said Ed Sheeran. “Mistajam played me in 2008 and 1Xtra named me one of their top picks for 2011. It was the first place to champion me. The best thing about the BBC being funded by the government is that they have to play all types of music. They have to play songs you wouldn’t necessarily play on commercial stations.”

Judging by the reactions from the artists themselves this inaugural ceremony was a resounding success. Labrinth said “There aren’t as many awards – but I think people want to see their favourite artists do their thing, instead of going ‘thank you for loving me.'”

This sentiment was echoed by many other performers, “The awards are almost a sideshow,” said Grace Chatto, cellist with chart-topping dance act Clean Bandit. “There’s a focus on the actual music as opposed to the pomp.” An award show without pomp? At last! Calvin Harris thought the same: “It’s not a whole drawn-out thing, it’s more like a celebration.”

Radio 1 DJ Greg James said the BBC ceremony was not really just about the awards. “The whole point of it is to celebrate a brilliant year of music and go ‘Do you know what? We play a lot of music across the whole of the BBC.’ You don’t get this eclectic a line-up at any other awards ceremony.”

Ed Sheeran argued that the fact that there was only 4 awards made the show more trustworthy: “Most awards shows, you don’t really know… whether it’s rigged or not,” he told the press before the ceremony. “I won an award in the summer for a very big show, and I won it because Pharrell didn’t turn up. They just said, ‘he didn’t turn up so you can have it.'” Fittingly, when he won the trophy for British Artist of the Year, Sheeran seemed genuinely surprised. “I’m absolutely chuffed,” he said. “But I think everyone knew but me – because my name’s on it!”

Chris Martin opened the ceremony, performing the opening lines of A Sky Full of Stars whilst still backstage amongst all the assembled artists of the show – who apparently were told to ignore him during this part.

(To watch any video in Creation 5, just tap on the title)