The BRIT Awards have scrapped their male and female categories, replacing the gender specific awards with a single Artist of the Year gong.
Non-binary singer Sam Smith, previously nominated in the Best British Male category, had criticised the BRITs for lacking inclusion by keeping gendered awards.
But the decision has raised concerns that dropping the female categories in an awards previously criticised for its male dominance will lead to women being snubbed.
February’s ceremony is likely to see Adele up against Ed Sheeran for the Artist of the Year and Album of the Year awards.
Tom March, BRIT Chairman and Co-President of Polydor Records: "It is important that the BRITs continue to evolve and aim to be as inclusive as possible."
At this year’s ceremony in May, Little Mix became the first girl band ever to win the Best Group category, which had all male nominees the previous year.
They said on stage: "It’s not easy being a female in the UK pop industry."
Their speech called out misogyny, sexism and "white male dominance" in the music industry, adding that becoming the first girl group to win "speaks volumes".
Speaking in 2019, Piers Morgan said of scrapping gender specific awards: “I suspect what will happen is male performers will end up winning all of the awards than the women.
“The whole point of having the gender categories is to make it fair and equal, now we’re going the other way and that apparently is progress. I think it’s a load of nonsense.”
The Grammys scrapped male and female awards in 2012 and has since been criticised for a lack of female representation at the ceremony.
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