NME Awards 2020 nominations revealed 20 Jan 2020
GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL’S EMILY EAVIS ANNOUNCED AS WINNER OF GODLIKE GENIUS AWARD
The NME Awards return next month to celebrate the last 12 months of artists, records and performances at O2 Academy Brixton for the most raucous night in music. Today NME announce the nominations for this year’s awards, with Slowthai, The 1975, Yungblud, Billie Eilish, AJ Tracey, FKA twigs, Lizzo, Charli XCX, Stormzy and Lana Del Rey amongst those leading nominations with multiple nods each.
The first award winner to be announced is Glastonbury Festival co-organiser Emily Eavis, who will be presented with NME’s coveted Godlike Genius award, following in the footsteps of the likes of Blondie, U2, Coldplay and the Pet Shop Boys. NME are thrilled to honour Emily for her outstanding contribution to the festival in its 50th year, after having the baton passed to her by her father, Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis, who himself was named Godlike Genius in 1996. When Emily picks up the award on the night she will be the first non-performer to do so in almost 20 years.
“This festival has had so many incredible moments over its 50 years, ones that will stay with us forever. Part of the beauty of the event is that it’s brought together by a huge force of great creative masterminds and it’s such a privilege to continue to put this show on and allow it to evolve. I remember being at the NME Awards when I was 16 and being so proud to see my dad named Godlike Genius. It’s a huge honour to be given the same award all these years later. Thank you NME.” says Emily Eavis.
The full list of nominations can be found below, including special categories for this year Album Of The Decade and Songwriter Of The Decade, which will be announced in the coming weeks in addition to the Icon and NME Radar awards. The NME Awards are shortlisted, debated and decided by the core NME team staking a claim for curation, critical voice and an immutable belief in the greatest artists in the world. A select number of awards will be voted for by the fans, and voting opens today for Hero Of The Year, Villain Of The Year, Music Moment Of The Year. Fans can head to NME.com/awards to cast their votes now.
Last week NME revealed six new Australia-exclusive categories at this year’s awards to coincide with the launch of NME Australia in December. With nominations led by Amyl And The Sniffers, Stella Donnelly and Mallrat, the winners of the Australian categories are announced today - see NME Australia for the full list of Australian winners.
NME are excited to announce that multiple award nominees The 1975 will close the NME Awards 2020 with an exclusive five song set. The Manchester band join already-announced performers Yungblud and Beabadoobee in playing at the ceremony. The 1975 will bring their festival-headlining, arena performance to close the night at O2 Academy Brixton with an incendiary five-song set. This will be an exclusive chance to see the band in an intimate space; they last performed at O2 Academy Brixton for a five night residency in 2016. The 1975 released their Mercury Prize nominated third album A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships in 2018, with their anticipated fourth album Notes On A Conditional Form due for release in April 2020.
“After our year off in 2019, we couldn't be more excited about the return of the mighty NME Awards – and we know that our audience, our favourite artists and their associated hangers-on are just as hyped up as we are. Back at O2 Academy Brixton, this year’s event is a special one for many reasons, marking the end of a brilliant decade for music and the start of a new one that's bursting with possibilities. Since the last time we handed out our infamous, finger-flickin' trophies, we've seen superstars born and legends cemented. Our nominations show that the music scene is not only in the rudest possible health, it's also packed with young personalities who are reshaping the music industry in their image. We're especially humbled to be able to honour Glastonbury Festival's Emily Eavis with our Godlike Genius Award. She is, after all, the only person in Britain who throws a better party than we do,” say the NME team.
NME are also pleased to announce that Nordoff Robbins, the UK’s largest independent musical therapy charity will be the awards’ official charity partner, chosen for their excellent work with under-served members of the community through musical engagement. Nordoff Robbins’ music therapists are expertly trained to tune into each movement, reaction and expression of the individuals they work with to discover how music can enrich their lives. This could be to unlock memories, to communicate where words have failed, to socially connect with family and friends, and to build confidence and self-esteem. Nordoff Robbins will be present at the awards, providing a taste of the work they do as well as raising money on the night.
For tickets to the Awards visit https://www.nme.com
Fans can head to NME.com/awards to cast their votes now
NME Awards 2020 Nominations:
GODLIKE GENIUS
Emily Eavis
BEST BRITISH ALBUM
FKA twigs – 'Magdalene'
Foals – 'Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost, Pt. 1'
Little Simz – 'GREY Area'
Michael Kiwanuka – 'Kiwanuka'
Slowthai – 'Nothing Great About Britain'
BEST ALBUM IN THE WORLD
Billie Eilish – 'When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?'
FKA twigs – 'Magdalene'
Foals – 'Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost, Pt. 1'
Lana Del Rey – 'Norman Fucking Rockwell'
Little Simz – 'GREY Area'
Michael Kiwanuka – 'Kiwanuka'
Slipknot – 'We Are Not Your Kind'
Slowthai – 'Nothing Great About Britain'
Stella Donnelly – ‘Beware Of The Dogs’
Tyler, the Creator – 'IGOR'
BEST BRITISH SONG
AJ Tracey – 'Ladbroke Grove'
Dua Lipa – 'Don't Start Now'
Georgia – 'About Work The Dancefloor'
Mura Masa ft Slowthai – 'Deal Wiv It'
The 1975 – 'People'
BEST SONG IN THE WORLD
AJ Tracey – 'Ladbroke Grove'
Billie Eilish – 'Bad Guy'
Clairo – 'Bags'
Dua Lipa – 'Don't Start Now'
Georgia – 'About Work The Dancefloor'
Lil Nas X – 'Old Town Road (remix)'
Lizzo – 'Juice'
Mura Masa ft Slowthai – 'Deal Wiv It'
Post Malone – 'Circles'
The 1975 – 'People'
BEST BRITISH SOLO ACT
AJ Tracey
Charli XCX
FKA twigs
Slowthai
Yungblud
BEST SOLO ACT IN THE WORLD
AJ Tracey
Beck
Billie Eilish
Charli XCX
FKA twigs
Lana Del Rey
Lizzo
Slowthai
Taylor Swift
Yungblud
BEST BRITISH BAND: SUPPORTED BY PIZZA EXPRESS
Bring Me The Horizon
IDLES
Krept & Konan
The 1975
The Big Moon
BEST BAND IN THE WORLD
Bring Me The Horizon
Brockhampton
BTS
HAIM
IDLES
Krept & Konan
Slipknot
Tame Impala
The 1975
The Big Moon
BEST NEW BRITISH ACT: SUPPORTED BY NORDOFF ROBBINS
Celeste
D-Block Europe
Easy Life
Jade Bird
Sam Fender
BEST NEW ACT IN THE WORLD
Celeste
Clairo
D-Block Europe
DaBaby
Dominic Fike
Easy Life
Fontaines DC
Girl In Red
Jade Bird
Sam Fender
BEST LIVE ACT: SUPPORTED BY COPPER DOG
Amyl + The Sniffers
Foals
Iggy Pop
Lizzo
Slowthai
BEST COLLABORATION
BTS + Halsey
Charli XCX + Christine And The Queens
Megan Thee Stallion + DaBaby
Slowthai + Mura Masa
Yungblud + Dan Reynolds
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
Brockhampton – 'I've Been Born Again'
Easy Life – 'Nice Guys'
Normani – 'Motivation'
Stormzy – 'Vossi Bop'
Yungblud – 'Original Me'
BEST BRITISH FESTIVAL
All Points East
Glastonbury
Parklife
Reading & Leeds
Wireless
BEST SMALL FESTIVAL: SUPPORTED BY CANO WATER
Bluedot
End Of The Road
Iceland Airwaves
Kendal Calling
Øya
BEST FESTIVAL IN THE WORLD
All Points East
Coachella
Fuji Rock
Glastonbury
Mad Cool
Parklife
Reading & Leeds
Rock In Rio
Sziget
Wireless
BEST FESTIVAL HEADLINER
Cardi B
Lana Del Rey
Stormzy
The 1975
The Cure
BEST FILM
Blue Story
Hustlers
Joker
Midsommar
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood
BEST FILM ACTOR
Florence Pugh
Joaquin Phoenix
Lupita Nyong'o
Micheal Ward
Taron Egerton
BEST TV SERIES
End Of The Fucking World
Fleabag
Peaky Blinders
Stranger Things
Top Boy
BEST TV ACTOR
Asa Butterfield
Jessica Barden
Jodie Comer
Kano
Zendaya
BEST MUSIC FILM
Beyonce: Homecoming
BTS: Bring The Soul
Liam Gallagher: As It Was
Michael Hutchence: Mystify
Rocketman
BEST MUSIC BOOK
Brett Anderson – 'Afternoons With The Blinds Drawn'
Debbie Harry – 'Face It: A Memoir'
Elton John – 'Me'
Prince – 'The Beautiful Ones'
Tegan & Sara – 'High School’
BEST REISSUE
Aretha Franklin – 'Amazing Grace'
Muse – 'Origins Of Muse'
Prince – '1999'
R.E.M. – 'Monster 25'
The Beatles – 'Abbey Road'
BEST PODCAST: SUPPORTED BY DAX
Have You Heard George's Podcast?
My Dad Wrote A Porno
Sex Power Money
Stay Free: The Story Of The Clash
The Missing Cryptoqueen
BEST GAME
Death Stranding
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
The Outer Worlds
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THE HEADLINES
Should the state step in to save our live music scene? (see Features)
Gary Roden exits Co-op Live following troubled venue launch (see News)
Spotify talks growth, bundle royalties and short-video plans (see Digital)
BPI CEO calls on music industry and government to unite around 5 key priorities to support human artistry and sustainably promote British music (see News)
Hipgnosis Song Management fires back at Songs Fund board (see Business)
Blackstone bid for Hipgnosis receives backing from board (see Business)
Taylor Swift’s new album breaks Spotify records (see News)
Independence - what’s up with that BPI press release about 2023 music consumption? (see Comment)
Creator Remuneration Working Group meet for the first time (see News)
Concord's takeover of Hipgnosis (see Analysis)
Concord set to acquire Hipgnosis Songs Fund (see Business)
Is the music industry gaslighting artists? (see Comment)
BPI’s new Yearbook highlights an independent sector growing for a sixth consecutive year (see Reports)
Can’t cross the moat? Walk around it. (see Comment)
The conversation around Fandom needs to change (see Opinion)
Viagogo: Carrying on ticketing, despite the controversy (see News)