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The BRIT Awards (often simply called the BRITs) are the British Phonographic Industry's annual popular music awards.

Awards and nominations

Year Nomination/Work Award Result Ref.
2021 Herself Rising Star Nominated [1]

2021 BRIT Awards

Held on 11 May 2021, the 2021 BRIT Awards was hosted by comedian Jack Whitehall at The O2 in Greenwich, Greater London.

Sawayama was nominated for the Rising Star Award.

Controversy

In late July 2020, Sawayama made a public statement through Vice magazine and her social media about her ineligibility to be nominated for major British music awards, such as the Mercury Prize and BRIT Awards, due to the fact that she does not hold British citizenship.[2][3][4][5]

I’ve lived here for 25 YEARS (most of my life) but I am not British enough to even be ELIGIBLE for the 2 biggest UK music awards

seeing the tweets and articles about SAWAYAMA not being on the Mercury Nominations last week was heartbreaking because i knew from several months ago that I would never be on that list, or ever be considered a British artist in the eyes of the awards of a country I call home

I just want to dream the same dream as everyone else. [Tag] them, email them, tweet them and leave comments if u want the entry rules changed so that it includes immigrants who cannot get a British passport, but still contribute to UK culture and economy in immeasurable ways.

Shortly after, the hashtag "#SawayamaIsBritish" became trending on Twitter in the United Kingdom, United States, Brazil, and more countries.[6]

Sawayama's movement gained major support from Elton John online,[7] who wrote that he was "happy to hear that the [BPI] are reviewing the rules that led to Rina Sawayama's well-deserved album being snubbed from this year's [Mercury Prize] list of nominees."[8] The BPI later changed the rules to allow anyone who had remained in the UK, including her, to be eligible.[9]

Rising Star Session performance

XS_(BRITs_2021_Rising_Star_Session)

XS (BRITs 2021 Rising Star Session)

After being shortlisted for the BRIT's Rising Star Award, Sawayama made a performance of "XS for the Rising Star Session on 15 March 2021 at Abbey Road, London.[10] Sawayama was accompanied by her tour band, including guitarist Vic Jamieson and drummer Simone Odaranile.

Shot by John Marshall.

References

  1. ↑ "Brit Awards 2021: Full list of award winners and nominees". BBC News (11 May 2021). Retrieved on 25 May 2021.
  2. ↑ Tsjeng, Zing (29 July 2020). "'It's Othering' – British-Japanese Artist Rina Sawayama Can’t Enter British Awards". Vice. Retrieved on 25 May 2020.
  3. ↑ Lewis, Isobel (29 July 2020). "Rina Sawayama ‘heartbroken’ at being ineligible for Mercury Prize and Brit Awards". The Independent. Retrieved on 25 May 2020.
  4. ↑ Moore, Sam (29 July 2020). "Rina Sawayama criticises eligibility rules of Mercury Prize and BRITs". NME. Retrieved on 25 May 2020.
  5. ↑ Murray, Robin (29 July 2020). "Rina Sawayama Deemed 'Not British Enough' For Mercury Prize, BRIT Awards". Clash. Retrieved on 25 May 2020.
  6. ↑ "RINA SAWAYAMA on Twitter". Twitter (29 July 2020). Retrieved on 25 May 2020.
  7. ↑ Matozzo, Marissa (29 July 2020). "How Is Rina Sawayama Not 'British Enough' for the British Awards?". Paper. Retrieved on 25 May 2021.
  8. ↑ John, Elton (1 August 2020). "Elton John on Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved on 4 August 2020.
  9. ↑ "Brit Awards change rules thanks to pop star Rina Sawayama". BBC News (24 February 2021).
  10. ↑ "Rina Sawayama performs 'XS' at Abbey Road". DIY (15 March 2021). Retrieved on 10 June 2021.