BRITs Week 2015 launched in partnership with AEG and London First

11 December 2014 - Press release

One-off gigs and events plannedin celebration of the BRITs

With full support and involvement from Warner Music UK, Sony Music UK, Universal Music UK and independent record labels

 

The BPI has today unveiled initial details of BRITs Week 2015, a three-year partnership with AEG, made possible with support from London First. 

In celebration of The BRIT Awards, the most prestigious night in the UK music calendar, BRITs Week will host a series of special one off gigs and events in London in the days leading up to the main event on Wednesday 25 February.

BRITs Week is a joint partnership between the BPI and AEG, one of the world’s leading live music promoters and owner of The O2, London and London First, a business membership organisation with the mission to make the capital the best place in the world to live and work.

A series of live music shows entitled ‘BRITs Week Presents…’ will take place across London the week before the BRITs, with three shows individually curated by Warner Music UK, Sony Music UK and Universal Music UK and a fourth curated by independent record labels. One ticket price will apply for all shows and a contribution from all tickets will go to War Child. Line up details for all shows will be announced soon.

On the night of the BRIT Awards, alongside the spectacular Awards ceremony held in the main arena, The O2 will play host to a variety of performances from new talent, emerging artists and future award winners in and around the venue, in conjunction with The Mayor of London’s Gigs programme and the BRIT School.

A ‘Creative London’ event will return which will incorporate key organisations and players from not only the UK music industry, but also the fashion and film industries, in what is the most high profile focus on British arts and culture of the year.

The week will also see the culmination of the Next BRIT Thing – a national competition within the BPI-backed The Big Music Project that aims to discover the best in young music talent. The final will be staged at indigo at The O2 on 19th February.

The inaugural BRITs Week took place around the 2014 BRITs, and featured live performances from British acts, exclusive masterclasses plus pop-up performances at the Awards ceremony with emerging artists. 2015 will be bigger and better than ever, and Londoners should expect even more big surprises around the capital during the lead up to the BRIT Awards 2015!

London attracts up to a third of all music tourists to the UK, with some 1.8m visiting the capital annually in addition to visitors from around the country. UK Music’s ‘Wish You Were Here’ 2013 report calculated that attendance of live music events and festivals in London alone amounted to more than £300m.  

 

Geoff Taylor, Chief Executive BPI and BRIT Awards, said: “London is fast-becoming a global super-city. Our vibrant music scene is playing its part in this exciting transformation, a pulsing beat that helps to drive the city’s appeal.The BRIT Awards are the highlight of the UK’s music calendar, showcasing the best in British music to the world. The Awards are also one of the most important cultural events in the capital, so we are delighted to be partnering with London First and AEG to amplify the excitement with a week-long series of events for Londoners to share in.”

Baroness Jo Valentine, CEO of London First, said the business group’s investment in BRITs Week reflected the huge benefits that creative industries brought to the capital.

“Over one-and-a-half million people work in our creative industries and they are a global showcase for British talent, acting as a magnet that pulls people and investment into the capital.

Almost two million visitors already arrive each year just to hear music, spending around £300m in the process.

As a key driver of the city’s vibrant culture and desirability, we need to keep thinking of new ways to attract and nurture the creative talent that keeps the eyes of the world focused on us.”

Tom Miserendino, President and Chief Executive AEG Europe said:“We are delighted to support BRITs Week again and bring new musical talent to stages across London. The BRIT Awards is such a special evening in the musical calendar and this partnership will enable even more fans to experience it.”

The BRIT Awards 2015 will be held at The O2 in London on Wednesday 25 February and will be broadcast live on ITV.