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Critics’ Choice winner announced

We’re delighted to announce James Bay as the winner of the 2015 Critics’ Choice Award, with George The Poet and Years & Years as runners up.

The win comes at the end of an amazing year for the 24 year-old singer-songwriter. Not only has James recently completed a sell out UK tour, he has also sold out dates at London’s KOKO and Shepherd’s Bush Empire still to come. He’s toured around the world, supporting the likes of Hozier, Tom Odell and John Newman, and his hugely anticipated debut album is set for release in spring 2015.



Speaking about his win, James said: "I'm pretty speechless. After all the years I've spent watching the BRITs and even after this year; watching my fan base grow so much, I never ‎thought I'd actually be getting an award myself. And what a huge honour to be following the incredible artists who've won before! I'm really chuffed, thank you to everyone who has supported me."  

James is the eighth winner of the Critics’ Choice Award, following in the footsteps of Adele, Florence + the Machine, Ellie Goulding, Jessie J, Emeli Sandé, Tom Odell and Sam Smith.

James will be presented with the Critics’ Choice Award at ‘The BRITs Are Coming’ nominations show on Thursday 15 January, which will be filmed at ITV Studios and broadcast on ITV the same evening. James will perform on the show alongside Clean Bandit and FKA twigs.

MasterCard is offering cardholders exclusive first access to BRIT Awards 2015 tickets, for a two week period beginning on 4 December. You could be at the ceremony on 25 February alongside James Bay and a host of other stars. Fans who buy these first-access tickets could also win MasterCard Priceless Surprises. Tickets are available at www.pricelesssurprises.co.uk.