• The BRITs will introduce gender neutral awards for local and international artists from next year according to organizers.
  • This will make the awards more inclusive and reflect the diversity of British culture.
  • The announcement comes after the San Sebastian Film Festival presented its first ever gender-neutral acting awar in September 2021.

Britain's pop music honours, the BRITs, will get rid of its female and male categories from next year, introducing gender-neutral awards for local and international artists, organisers said.

Performers will now be in the running for artist of the year or international artist of the year at the annual ceremony, which will next take place on Feb. 8, 2022.

"It is important that The BRITs continue to evolve and aim to be as inclusive as possible," new BRITs chair and Polydor Records Co-President Tom March said in a statement.

"It feels completely the right time to celebrate the achievements of artists for the music that they create, and the work that they do, irrespective of gender."

The BRITs follow in the footsteps of other awards shows or events that have removed gender classifications.

Have you read?

In September, the San Sebastian Film Festival handed out its first ever gender-neutral acting award, for best leading performance, to joint winners Jessica Chastain and Flora Ofelia Hofmann Lindahl.

Next year's BRITs, the 42nd edition of the awards show, will also extend nominations to featured artists in the coveted song of the year category. Until now, only lead artists or named collaborators were recognised as nominees for the prize.

Four new genre awards will also be introduced to showcase a range of music styles: alternative/rock act, hip-hop/grime/rap act, dance act and pop/R'n'B act. All four will be voted for by the public.

British comedian Mo Gilligan will host the show, while artistic team Block9 will help with the design.

What's the World Economic Forum doing about diversity, equity and inclusion?

The COVID-19 pandemic and recent social and political unrest have created a profound sense of urgency for companies to actively work to tackle inequity.

The Forum's work on Diversity, Equality, Inclusion and Social Justice is driven by the New Economy and Society Platform, which is focused on building prosperous, inclusive and just economies and societies. In addition to its work on economic growth, revival and transformation, work, wages and job creation, and education, skills and learning, the Platform takes an integrated and holistic approach to diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice, and aims to tackle exclusion, bias and discrimination related to race, gender, ability, sexual orientation and all other forms of human diversity.

The Platform produces data, standards and insights, such as the Global Gender Gap Report and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 4.0 Toolkit, and drives or supports action initiatives, such as Partnering for Racial Justice in Business, The Valuable 500 – Closing the Disability Inclusion Gap, Hardwiring Gender Parity in the Future of Work, Closing the Gender Gap Country Accelerators, the Partnership for Global LGBTI Equality, the Community of Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officers and the Global Future Council on Equity and Social Justice.

"The BRIT Awards are not just a celebration of British music, they are a reflection of British culture," said Geoff Taylor, chief executive of the British Phonographic Industry and BRIT Awards.

"The changes we are making for the 2022 show should mean more new fans, more engagement and a bigger global platform than ever for our amazing artists."

(Reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Editing by Giles Elgood)