Florence & The Machine, Gabriella Cilmi and Scouting For Girls Play Live At BRITs Nominations Launch Party Hosted By Fearne Cotton

5th January 2009

UK record labels body, The BPI, today revealed the line up for the first party of the year, The BRIT Awards Nominations Launch. Hosted by Fearne Cotton, the launch will take place on Tuesday 20th January 2009 at London’s Roundhouse in Camden.

The eagerly awaited BRITs Nominations Launch Party will feature performances from 2009’s Critics Choice Winner Florence & The Machine plus Gabriella Cilmi and Scouting For Girls. These live performances as well as reactions from newly nominated artists, gossip and comment from backstage can be seen on ITV2 at 8:00pm that night.

Kooky newcomer Florence and the Machine who recently signed to Island Records and is currently working on her as yet untitled debut album will perform alongside Australian pop starlet Gabriella Cilmi whose album Lessons To Be Learnt was phenomenally received in 2008. Finally, Scouting For Girls will be proving why they are on of the UK’s favourite indie pop bands as they perform at The BRIT Awards Nominations Launch.

Radio 1 Chart Show DJ Fearne Cotton will be leading proceedings as she hosts The BRIT Awards Nominations Launch Party. Fearne will be announcing the eagerly anticipated nominations to a star studded audience of critics, tastemakers and artists at The Roundhouse as well as millions of viewers at home.

Ged Doherty, Chairman of The BRITs Committee commented, “The Nominations Launch party has firmly established itself as a major night for music in its own right. It’s a great platform for Florence And The Machine to show why she has won the Critics Choice Award this year, while the presence of Gabriella Cilmi and Scouting For Girls will ensure a vibrant and exciting night for all. We thank ITV for their continued support.”

The nominations for eleven awards will be announced at The BRITs Nominations Launch Party, which sees for a third year running the finalists for the British Single Award being voted for by listeners of UK Commercial Radio station listeners and The Sun Bizarre column readers, the winner of the British Live Act being decided by listeners of Radio 2 and the British Breakthrough Act voted for by Radio 1 listeners. The BRITs Academy will be voting for the remaining eight awards.

The BRIT Awards 2009 with MasterCard categories are:

• MasterCard British Album – Voted for by The Academy
• British Male Solo Artist – Voted for by The Academy
• British Female Solo Artist – Voted for by The Academy
• British Group – Voted for by The Academy
• British Single – final five nominees voted for by UK Commercial Radio station and The Sun Bizarre column readers. Winner voted for live on the night by public phone vote.
• British Breakthrough Act – Top five selected by The Academy. Winner chosen by BBC Radio 1 listeners.
• British Live Act – Top five selected by a specialist panel. Winner chosen by BBC Radio 2 listeners.
• International Male Solo Artist – Voted for by The Academy
• International Female Solo Artist – Voted for by The Academy
• International Group – Voted for by The Academy
• International Album – Voted for by The Academy
• British Producer Award – voted for by the Music Producers Guild and awarded on February 12th at Cafe de Paris, MPG Awards.
• Critic’s Choice – Florence & The Machine – Voted for by a team of experts made up of music critics from national newspapers, major music magazines and music websites as well as heads of music at major radio and TV stations.
• The Outstanding Contribution to Music Award –Pet Shop Boys – gift of the BPI Council

The Academy is made up of more than 1,000 specially invited members from across the breadth of the UK music industry: music critics, music writers, online & student press, major & independent record companies, retailers, music TV and radio producers & presenters, music publishers, artist managers, live concert promoters, NUS representatives and DJs.

Pet Shop Boys will be receiving the esteemed Outstanding Contribution to Music Award at the BRIT Awards 2009 with MasterCard, Florence & The Machine will also collect the Critic’s Choice Award, at the show on 18th February, 2009 at London’s Earls Court broadcast live on ITV1.