LONDON — It was Harry’s night time on the Brit Awards.

Harry Types gained 4 prizes, together with album of the 12 months, on the U.Okay.’s main music awards Saturday, whereas female-led indie rock band Moist Leg took trophies for group of the 12 months and greatest new artist.

Beyoncé added two Brits to her crowded shelf of awards — worldwide artist of the 12 months and worldwide tune of the 12 months, for “Break My Soul.”

Types took the album of the 12 months trophy for “Harry’s Home,” lower than per week after successful the identical class on the Grammy Awards. He additionally gained for pop/R&B act, tune of the 12 months for “As It Was,” and artist of the 12 months.

Accepting the best-artist trophy, the worldwide pop heartthrob thanked “my mum for signing me up for ‘X Issue,’” the expertise present that introduced him to fame with boyband One Path.

“I’m very conscious of my privilege up right here tonight,” stated Types, who drew criticism for saying on the Grammys that “this doesn’t occur to folks like me fairly often.” Some noticed the remark as deaf to the struggles confronted by artists from numerous backgrounds.

Types gave shoutouts to Charli XCX, Rina Sawayama, Mabel, Florence + The Machine and Becky Hill — performers who didn’t make the Brits’ all-male artist of the 12 months shortlist.

Two years in the past the Brits changed separate female and male performer classes with gender-neutral awards in a bid to grow to be extra inclusive. However the change drew some criticism this 12 months when the Brits introduced a best-artist shortlist with no feminine acts.

The transfer to gender-neutral prizes was amongst adjustments made in response to longstanding criticism that the Brits didn’t replicate the range of British music. In 2017, the academy of greater than 1,000 music trade professionals that chooses Brits winners was expanded in an try and make it extra gender-balanced and numerous.

Some musicians stated extra must be accomplished.

“There may be loads of variety in artists however there may be not sufficient variety in file labels,” stated Sawayama, a nominee for newcomer of the 12 months.

Based in 1977, the Brits have developed from a rough-around-the-edges trade occasion to a slick showcase for U.Okay. expertise that has boosted the careers of future megastars together with Adele.

This 12 months’s breakthrough acts embrace Moist Leg, the punky band fashioned by Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers on England’s rural Isle of Wight.

“That is so scary as a result of being on the telly can really feel like an actual boys’ membership factor,” Teasdale stated, earlier than thanking all the ladies concerned in making the band’s self-titled debut album.

The Brits embrace 4 awards for various genres which are chosen by public vote. In addition to Types pop/R’n’B trophy, the prize for different/rock went to the 1975, Manchester rapper Aitch gained the grime/hip hop class and Becky Hill was named greatest dance act for the second 12 months operating.

Eire’s Fontaines DC was named worldwide group of the 12 months and David Guetta was declared producer of the 12 months.

Types opened the present at London’s O2 Enviornment performing “As It Was,” whereas Moist Leg delivered hit tune ”Chaise Longue” on a sylvan set accompanied by whimsical people dancers. Different performers included Lewis Capaldi, Lizzo, Stormzy, Cat Burns and Sam Smith.