BRIT Awards 2021

The 2020 BRIT Awards snuck in just before that pandemic thing, and so it was only a fifteen month wait between awards. Famed as the first indoor music event in the UK in over a year, Jack Whitehall presented the ceremony at the O2 Arena in London on 11 May.

Male Solo Artist

Nominees:

  • AJ Tracey
  • Headie One
  • J Hus
  • Joel Corry
  • Yungblud

Winner: J Hus

Female Solo Artist

Nominees:

  • Arlo Parks
  • Celeste
  • Dua Lipa
  • Jessie Ware
  • Lianne La Havas

Winner: Dua Lipa

British Group

Nominees:

  • Bicep
  • Biffy Clyro
  • Little Mix
  • The 1975
  • Young T & Bugsey

Winner: Little Mix

British Single with Mastercard

Nominees:

  • 220 Kid & GRACEY – Don’t Need Love
  • Aitch & AJ Tracey feat. Tay Keith – Rain
  • Dua Lipa – Physical
  • Harry Styles – Watermelon Sugar
  • Headie One feat. AJ Tracey and Stormzy – Ain’t It Different
  • Joel Corry feat. MNEK – Head & Heart
  • Nathan Dawe feat. KSI – Lighter
  • Regard & RAYE – Secrets
  • S1MBA feat. DTG – Rover
  • Young T & Bugsey feat. Headie One – Don’t Rush

Winner: Harry Styles

Breakthrough Artist

Winner:

  • Arlo Parks
  • Bicep
  • Celeste
  • Joel Corry
  • Young T & Bugsey

Winner: Arlo Parks

International Female Solo Artist

Nominees:

  • Ariana Grande
  • Billie Eilish
  • Cardi B
  • Miley Cyrus
  • Taylor Swift

Winner: Billie Eilish

International Male Solo Artist

Nominees:

  • Bruce Springsteen
  • Burna Boy
  • Childish Gambino
  • Tame Impala
  • The Weeknd

Winner: The Weeknd

International Group

Nominees:

  • BTS
  • Fontaines D.C.
  • Foo Fighters
  • Haim
  • Run The Jewels

Winner: Haim

Global Icon

Winner: Taylor Swift

Mastercard Album

Nominees:

  • Arlo Parks – Collapsed in Sunbeams
  • Celeste – Not Your Muse
  • Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia
  • J Hus – Big Conspiracy
  • Jessie Ware – What’s Your Pleasure?

Winner: Dua Lipa

BRITs Rising Star

Nominees:

  • Griff
  • Pa Salieu
  • Rina Sawayama

Winner: Griff

Performances included Coldplay, Olivia Rodrigo, Elton John with Years & Years (performing It’s a Sin, which was apparently also supposed to include Pet Shop Boys but they turned out to be unable to join for rights reasons), Pink, and many others.

There was also some rumbling controversy this year due to Sam Smith identifying as non-binary, and so not fitting any of the common “male”, “female”, or “group” categories. It will be interesting to see how this comes to be addressed in future years, as the categories are as old as the ceremony itself.

You can see the official list of winners here.

Advertisement

BRIT Awards 2020

The 2020 BRIT Awards were hosted by Jack Whitehall, sadly without his dad in tow, and took place at the O2 Arena in London on Tuesday night (February 18th). Here are the winners of those new-fangled award categories.

British Album of the Year

Presented by Billie Eilish and Finneas. The nominees:

  • Lewis Capaldi – Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent
  • Dave – Psychodrama
  • Michael Kiwanuka – Kiwanuka
  • Harry Styles – Fine Line
  • Stormzy – Heavy is the Head

Winner: Dave

Song of the Year

The award formerly known as Best British Single was presented by the rubbery Tom Jones. Nominated were:

  • Lewis Capaldi – Someone You Loved
  • Dave feat. Burna Boy – Location
  • Calvin Harris and Rag ‘n’ Bone Man – Giant
  • Mabel – Don’t Call Me Up
  • Mark Ronson feat. Miley Cyrus – Nothing Breaks Like a Heart
  • Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber – I Don’t Care
  • Sam Smith and Normani – Dancing with a Stranger
  • Stormzy – Vossi Bop
  • AJ Tracey – Ladbroke Grove
  • Tom Walker – Just You and I

Winner: Lewis Capaldi

British Male Solo Artist

Presented by the also-rubbery Ronnie Wood. The nominees:

  • Lewis Capaldi
  • Dave
  • Michael Kiwanuka
  • Stormzy
  • Harry Styles

Winner: Stormzy

British Female Solo Artist

Presented by Ellie Goulding and Jorja Smith. The nominees were:

  • Charli XCX
  • FKA Twigs
  • Mabel
  • Mahalia
  • Freya Ridings

Winner: Mabel

British Group

Presented by an unnecessary large group consisting of Anne-Marie, Courtney Love, and Hailee Steinfeld. Nominees:

  • Bastille
  • Bring Me the Horizon
  • Coldplay
  • D-Block Europe
  • Foals

Winner: Foals

Best New Artist

The now-elderly Best British Newcomer and subsequently Best British Breakthrough Act award was presented by Clara Amfo and Niall Horan. Nominees:

  • Aitch
  • Lewis Capaldi
  • Dave
  • Sam Fender
  • Mabel

Winner: Lewis Capaldi

International Male Solo Artist

Improbably presented by Kiefer Sutherland and Paloma Faith, with the following nominees:

  • Burna Boy
  • Dermot Kennedy
  • Post Malone
  • Bruce Springsteen
  • Tyler, the Creator

Winner: Tyler, the Creator

International Female Solo Artist

Presented by Melanie C. Nominated were:

  • Camila Cabello
  • Lana Del Rey
  • Billie Eilish
  • Ariana Grande
  • Lizzo

Winner: Billie Eilish

Rising Star Award

This one used to be the Critics’ Choice Award. Nominated were:

  • Beabadoobee
  • Celeste
  • Joy Crookes

Winner: Celeste

British Producer of the Year

Winner: Fred Again

So that’s it for another year!

BRIT Awards 2020 – Nominations

Well, someone has been meddling with the categories this year, but the BRIT Awards nominations are finally among us!

British Album of the Year

  • Lewis Capaldi – Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent
  • Dave – Psychodrama
  • Michael Kiwanuka – Kiwanuka
  • Harry Styles – Fine Line
  • Stormzy – Heavy is the Head

Song of the Year

That’s the award formerly known as Best British Single.

  • Lewis Capaldi – Someone You Loved
  • Dave feat. Burna Boy – Location
  • Calvin Harris and Rag ‘n’ Bone Man – Giant
  • Mabel – Don’t Call Me Up
  • Mark Ronson feat. Miley Cyrus – Nothing Breaks Like a Heart
  • Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber – I Don’t Care
  • Sam Smith and Normani – Dancing with a Stranger
  • Stormzy – Vossi Bop
  • AJ Tracey – Ladbroke Grove
  • Tom Walker – Just You and I

British Male Solo Artist

  • Lewis Capaldi
  • Dave
  • Michael Kiwanuka
  • Stormzy
  • Harry Styles

British Female Solo Artist

  • Charli XCX
  • FKA Twigs
  • Mabel
  • Mahalia
  • Freya Ridings

British Group

  • Bastille
  • Bring Me the Horizon
  • Coldplay
  • D-Block Europe
  • Foals

Best New Artist

This one used to be called Best British Newcomer, and then became Best British Breakthrough Act.

  • Aitch
  • Lewis Capaldi
  • Dave
  • Sam Fender
  • Mabel

International Male Solo Artist

  • Burna Boy
  • Dermot Kennedy
  • Post Malone
  • Bruce Springsteen
  • Tyler, the Creator

International Female Solo Artist

  • Camila Cabello
  • Lana Del Rey
  • Billie Eilish
  • Ariana Grande
  • Lizzo

Rising Star Award

This one used to be the Critics’ Choice Award. The new name makes sense, to some degree. The fact that they tell us who’s going to win ahead of time does not.

  • Beabadoobee
  • Celeste
  • Joy Crookes

Winner: Celeste, which I’m sure will upset Daphne. Ooh, stick you.

The Ultimate Guide to the BRIT Awards

This year’s BRIT Awards will be the 39th ever, and due to the gap between the first and second, it’s over forty years since the first ceremony was held in October 1977. There’s no particular reason for a celebration, but let’s take a moment anyway to look back at the previous 38 ceremonies and the history of the awards!

Artists they love

We calculated the top twenty artists at the BRITs just last year, and – spoiler alert – the top five British acts, in ascending order, were Annie LennoxTake ThatAdeleColdplay, and Robbie Williams. Comparison with the top-selling British acts of all time puts Annie Lennox and Take That nowhere on the list, Adele and Coldplay joint fourteenth alongside others, and Robbie Williams joint twenty-fifth.

Or you could compare with the top sixty singles acts of all timeAnnie Lennox still doesn’t make it, Take That are fifteenth, Adele is a bit too recent for the list, Coldplay are sixtieth, and Robbie Williams is twenty-second.

The BRIT Awards seem to have always struggled with the Female Solo Artist categories, obsessing for years on end over Annie LennoxAlison Moyet, Adele, and (internationally) Björk.

Artists they hate

Contemporary artists who haven’t done quite so well based on those lists include Elton JohnQueen, and David Bowie, who came 15th, off the chart, and 11th respectively, although much of their heyday would have been in the 1970s, and OasisSpice Girls, and George Michael, who have never quite made the cut, appearing 10th, 17th, and somewhere just off the list respectively.

Famously, Radiohead have never won anything despite plenty of nominations, and Jamiroquai also inexplicably got lots of nominations but sanity prevailed on the night, and they never quite won.

Nominated in the wrong category

U2 seem to have caused a bit of confusion about whether they were British or International, having been nominated for awards in both. Solo artists have got a bit confused at times as well, with Roland Gift of Fine Young Cannibals receiving a solo nomination in 1990, despite not releasing anything on his own for another decade. Fortunately, his group returned their awards after a particularly vomit-inducing appearance from Margaret Thatcher as part of the ceremony. Mick Hucknall also seems to have caused some confusion in 1997 about whether he was a solo act or group, as did.

Trouble at the top

Plenty of drama happens on and off stage at the awards, most of which is well-documented. A new one that I hadn’t come across previously was that somewhat amusingly, Rick Astley apparently couldn’t quite make it up to the stage in time, so wasn’t able to accept his own award.

There have been some very odd choices of presenters – after Michael Aspel presented the first, and Samantha Fox and Mick Fleetwood were never invited back, a lot of odd people were, including Tim RiceNoel EdmondsSimon Bates, and Russell BrandAnt & Dec have presented three times (2001, 2015, and 2016), Chris Evans has done four (1995, 1996, 2005, and 2006), and astonishingly James Corden

Nobody cares any more

The ceremony has had its ups and downs (Sam Fox, perhaps not unfairly, apparently blames everyone but herself for the 1989 event). Search online, and there are plenty of good articles about the better and worse moments in its history – this one is one of the better researched.

But in its heyday, the BRIT Awards ceremony was event TV, with a sixth of the country watching, but these days, barely five million people can be bothered tuning in.

Stay tuned for more coverage on the run-up to the 2018 BRIT Awards. There’s plenty of coverage on this blog from previous years, but one place to start might be this post from a couple of years ago.

Ivor Novello Awards – The 2000s

This is the last post in this series (well, we’ll compile all the winners into one place in a week or two), and what we’ve learned is that the Ivor Novello Awards tend to be either very brave, or very, very misguided. Any year that you choose to pick, yo

Ivor Novello Awards 2000

2000 saw the 45th Ivor Novello Awards ceremony, on 25th May at Grosvenor House.

  • Best Song Musically and Lyrically: Strong, written by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers. Also nominated: You’re Still the One, written by Mutt Lange and Shania TwainGenie in a Bottle, performed by Christina Aguilera, written by Pam Sheyne, David Frank and Steve Kipner
  • Best Contemporary Song: Why Does It Always Rain On Me?, performed by Travis, written by Fran Healy. Also nominated: Rise, written by Gabrielle, Bob Dylan, Ferdy Unger-Hamilton and Ollie DagoisBeautiful Stranger, written by William Orbit and Madonna
  • PRS Most Performed Work: Beautiful Stranger. Also nominated: StrongThat Don’t Impress Me Much, written by Mutt Lange and Shania Twain
  • International Hit of the Year: Genie in a Bottle. Also nominated: Ray of Light, written by Madonna, William Orbit, Christine Leach, Clive Muldoon and Dave Curtis; That Don’t Impress Me Much
  • Best Selling UK Single: The Millennium Prayer, performed by Cliff Richard, written by Paul Field and Stephen Deal. Also nominated: Sweet Like Chocolate, performed by Shanks and Bigfoot, written by Stephen Meade and Daniel Langsman; That Don’t Impress Me Much
  • Best Original Music for a Television / Radio Broadcast: Trial By Fire, composed by Richard G Mitchell. Also nominated: Bad Blood, composed by John LunnAn Evil Streak, composed by Stanislav Syrewicz
  • Best Original Film Score: The World Is Not Enough, composed by David Arnold. Also nominated: Anna and the King, composed by George FentonShakespeare in Love, composed by Stephen Warbeck
  • The Ivors Dance Award: Re-Rewind, written by Mark Hill and Craig DavidRendez-Vu, performed by Basement Jaxx, written by Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe. Also nominated: Sweet Like Chocolate
  • International Achievement in Musical Theatre: Robert Elhai, Elton John, Lebo M, Tsidii Le Loka, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Tim Rice, Julie Taymor and Hans Zimmer
  • PRS Outstanding Contribution to British Music: Pet Shop Boys (Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant)
  • The Jimmy Kennedy Award: Geoff Stephens
  • Outstanding Song Collection: Madness (Mike Barson, Mark Bedford, Chris Foreman, Cathal Smyth, Suggs, Lee Thompson and Daniel Woodgate)
  • Songwriter of the Year: Fran Healy
  • The Special International Award: Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller

Ivor Novello Awards 2001

The 2001 Ivor Novello Awards ceremony was on 24th May 2001 at Grosvenor House, London.

  • Best Contemporary Song: Seven Days, written by Craig David, Mark Hill and Darren Hill. Also nominated: Beautiful Day, performed by U2, written by Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jnr and Adam ClaytonPlease Forgive Me, written by David Gray
  • Best Song Musically and Lyrically: Babylon, written by David Gray. Also nominated: Trouble, performed by Coldplay, written by Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris MartinNever Had A Dream Come True, performed by S Club 7, written by Cathy Dennis and Simon Ellis
  • Best Original Music for a Television / Radio Broadcast: Gormenghast, composed by Richard Rodney Bennett. Also nominated: Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased), composed by David Arnold and Tim SimenonThe Wyvern Mystery, composed by Philip Appleby
  • Best Original Film Score: X-Men, composed by Michael Kamen. Also nominated: Chicken Run, composed by John Powell and Harry Gregson-WilliamsGangster No1, composed by Johnny Dankworth
  • The Ivors Dance Award: Woman Trouble, written by Mark Hill, Craig David, Robbie Craig and Pete Devereux. Also nominated: Girls Like Us, performed by B-15 Project, written by Ali Campbell, Brian Travers, Dawnette Nevers, Janice Fyffe and Haldane Browne; The Time Is Now, performed by Moloko, written by Róisín Murphy and Mark Brydon
  • PRS Most Performed Work: Pure Shores, performed by All Saints, written by Shaznay Lewis and William Orbit. Also nominated: Rise, written by Gabrielle, Ollie Dagois, Ferdy Unger Hamilton and Bob DylanRock DJ, written by Ekundayo Paris, Nelson Pigford, Robbie Williams, Guy Chambers and Kelvin Andrews
  • International Hit of the Year: It Feels So Good, written by Sonique, Linus Burdick, Simon Belofsky and Graeme Pleeth. Also nominated: I Turn To You, written by Melanie Chisholm, Rick Nowels and Billy SteinbergSexbomb, written by Errol Rennalls and Mousse T
  • Best Selling UK Single: Can We Fix It, performed by Bob the Builder, written by Paul Joyce. Also nominated: Pure Shores; It Feels So Good
  • PRS Outstanding Contribution to British Music: The Clash (Topper Headon, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Joe Strummer)
  • Outstanding Song Collection: Roy Wood
  • International Achievement: Iron Maiden (Bruce Dickinson, Janick Gers, Steve Harris, Nicko McBrain, Dave Murray and Adrian Smith)
  • Lifetime Achievement: Pete Townshend
  • Songwriters of the Year: Craig David and Mark Hill
  • The Special International Award: Stevie Wonder

Ivor Novello Awards 2002

23rd May 2002 saw Grosvenor House in London host the Ivor Novello Awards.

  • Best Contemporary Song: Shining Light, performed by Ash, written by Tim Wheeler. Also nominated: Clint Eastwood, performed by Gorillaz, written by Damon Albarn, Jamie Hewlett and Teren Delvon JonesThank You, written by Dido Armstrong and Paul Herman
  • Best Song Musically and Lyrically: Walk On, performed by U2, written by Adam Clayton, The Edge, Bono and Larry Mullen Jnr. Also nominated: Side, performed by Travis, written by Fran Healy; Sail Away, written by David Gray
  • PRS Most Performed Work: Can’t Get You Out Of My Head, performed by Kylie Minogue, written by Cathy Dennis and Rob Davis. Also nominated: Thank You; Out of Reach, written by Gabrielle and Jonathan Shorten
  • Best Selling UK Single: Pure and Simple, performed by Hear’Say, written by Pete Kirtley, Tim Hawes and Alison Clarkson. Also nominated: Can’t Get You Out Of My HeadWhole Again, performed by Atomic Kitten, written by Andy McCluskey, Stuart Kershaw, Bill Padley and Jeremy Godfrey
  • The Ivors Dance Award: Can’t Get You Out Of My Head. Also nominated: Do You Really Like It?, performed by DJ Pied Piper, written by Eugene Nwohia, Ronald Nwohia, Paul Newman, Ashley Livingston and Steve WickhamWhere’s Your Head At, performed by Basement Jaxx, written by Felix Buxton, Simon Ratcliffe and Gary Numan
  • Best Original Music for a Television / Radio Broadcast: The Blue Planet, composed by George Fenton. Also nominated: Band of Brothers, composed by Michael KamenWild Africa, composed by Christopher Gunning
  • Best Original Film Score: Shrek, composed by Harry Gregson-Williams and John Powell. Also nominated: Quills, composed by Stephen WarbeckThirteen Days, composed by Trevor Jones
  • International Hit of the Year: Can’t Get You Out Of My Head. Also nominated: Whole Again; Hero, written by Paul Barry, Enrique Iglesias and Mark Taylor
  • PRS Outstanding Contribution to British Music: Kate Bush
  • Outstanding Song Collection: Mick Hucknall
  • International Achievement: Sting
  • Songwriter of the Year: Dido Armstrong
  • The Special International Award: Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus

Ivor Novello Awards 2003

The 48th ceremony was on 22nd May 2003 at Grosvenor House, London.

  • Best Song Musically and Lyrically: The Other Side, written by David Gray. Also nominated: Strange and Beautiful, performed by Aqualung, written by Matthew Hales and Kim OliverStop Crying Your Heart Out, performed by Oasis, written by Noel Gallagher
  • Best Contemporary Song: Weak Become Heroes, performed by The Streets, written by Mike Skinner. Also nominated: It Takes More, written by Ms Dynamite and PunchIn My Place, performed by Coldplay, written by Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion, Chris Martin
  • PRS Most Performed Work: Just A Little, performed by Liberty X, written by Michelle Escoffery, John Hammond Hagan, George Hammond Hagan. Also nominated: Love at First Sight, written by Kylie Minogue, Richard Stannard, Julian Gallagher, Ashley Howes and Martin Harrington; In Your Eyes, written by Kylie Minogue, Richard Stannard, Julian Gallagher and Ashley Howes
  • Best Selling UK Single: Anything Is Possible, performed by Will Young, written by Cathy Dennis and Chris Braide. Also nominated: Hero, written by Paul Barry, Enrique Iglesias and Mark TaylorJust a Little
  • International Hit of the Year: Complicated, written by Lauren Christy, David Alspach, Graham Edwards and Avril Lavigne. Also nominated: Electrical Storm, performed by U2, written by Adam Clayton, The Edge, Bono and Larry Mullen JrFeel, written by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers
  • The Ivors Dance Award: Lazy, performed by X-Press 2, written by Ashley Beedle, Darren House, Darren Rock and David Byrne. Also nominated: Shake UR Body, performed by Shy FX & T-Power, written by Andre Williams and Dianna Joseph; It Just Won’t Do, performed by Tim Deluxe feat. Sam Obernik, written by Tim Liken and Ben Onono
  • Best Original Film Score: The Quiet American, composed by Craig Armstrong. Also nominated: Die Another Day, composed by David Arnold; Rabbit Proof Fence, composed by Peter Gabriel
  • Best Original Music for Television: Feltham Sings, composed by Dextrous and Simon Armitage. Also nominated: Goodbye Mr Chips, composed by Colin TownsDanger in Tiger Paradise, composed by David Mitcham
  • The Ivors Classical Music Award: Boots of Lead, composed by Simon Holt. Also nominated: Dead March, composed by Gerald BarrySophie’s Choice, composed by Nicholas Maw
  • Songwriters of the Year: Coldplay (Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin)
  • International Achievement: UB40 (Astro, James Brown, Ali Campbell, Robin Campbell, Earl Falconer, Norman Hassan, Brian Travers and Michael Virtue)
  • PRS Outstanding Contribution to British Music: Bryan Ferry
  • Outstanding Song Collection: U2 (Bono, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jnr and The Edge)
  • The Special International Award: Brian Wilson

Ivor Novello Awards 2004

The 2004 Ivor Novello Awards were hosted at Grosvenor House on 27th May.

  • Best Song Musically and Lyrically: Leave Right Now, performed by Will Young, written by Francis Eg White. Also nominated: White Flag, written by Dido Armstrong, Rollo Armstrong and Richard Nowels; Step Into My Office Baby, performed by Belle and Sebastian, written by Stuart Murdoch, Stephen Jackson, Christopher Geddes, Richard Colburn, Michael Cooke, Sarah Martin and Robert Kildea
  • Best Contemporary Song: Stronger Than Me, written by Amy Winehouse and Salaam Remi. Also nominated: Jus’ a Rascal, performed by Dizzee Rascal, written by Dylan Mills, Tesmond Rowe and Vegard Vardoen; Slow, written by Dan Carey, Emiliana Torrini and Kylie Minogue
  • Best Original Music for Television: The Young Visitors, composed by Nicholas Hooper. Also nominated: Second Generation, composed by Nitin SawhneyThe Key, composed by Anne Dudley
  • Best Original Film Score: Max, composed by Dan Jones. Also nominated: In America, composed by Gavin Friday and Maurice SeezerBodySong, composed by Jonny Greenwood
  • The Ivors Dance Award: Strict Machine, performed by Goldfrapp, written by Alison Goldfrapp, Will Gregory and Nick Batt. Also nominated: Shining Through, performed by Layo & Bushwacka, written by Layo Paskin and Matthew BenjaminFamiliar Feeling, performed by Moloko, written by Róisín Murphy, Mark Brydon and Edmond Stevens
  • PRS Most Performed Work: Superstar, performed by Jamelia, written by Mich Hansen, Joseph Belmaati and Mikkel Sigvardt. Also nominated: Clocks, performed by Coldplay, written by Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin; Hole in the Head, performed by Sugababes, written by Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins, Timothy Powell, Nicholas Coler, Niara Scarlett, Keisha Buchanan, Mutya Buena and Heidi Range
  • International Hit of the Year: White Flag, written by Dido Armstrong, Rollo Armstrong and Richard Nowels. Also nominated: Feel, written by Robbie Williams and Guy ChambersSlow, written by Dan Carey, Emiliana Torrini and Kylie Minogue
  • Best Selling UK Single: Mad World, performed by Michael Andrews and Gary Jules, written by: Roland Orzabal
  • The Ivors Classical Music Award: Richard Rodney Bennett
  • Outstanding Song Collection: 10cc (Lol Crème, Kevin Godley, Graham Gouldman and Eric Stewart)
  • International Achievement: Radiohead (Colin Greenwood, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O’Brien, Phil Selway and Thom Yorke)
  • PRS Outstanding Contribution to British Music: Errol Brown
  • Songwriters of the Year: The Darkness (Ed Graham, Dan Hawkins, Justin Hawkins and Frankie Poullain)
  • The Special International Award: Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland and Eddie Holland

Ivor Novello Awards 2005

Reaching its fiftieth anniversary, the Ivor Novello Awards were held on 26th May 2005 at Grosvenor House, London.

  • PRS Most Performed Work: Toxic, performed by Britney Spears, written by Cathy Dennis, Bloodshy, Henrik Jonback and Avant. Also nominated: Amazing, written by George Michael and Jonathan Douglas; Thank You, written by Jamelia Davies, Carsten Schack and Peter Biker
  • Best Contemporary Song: Take Me Out, performed by Franz Ferdinand, written by Robert Hardy, Alex Kapranos, Nick McCarthy and Paul Thomson. Also nominated: For Lovers, performed by Wolfman, written by Peter Wolfe, Pete Doherty, Julian Taylor, Edmund Scott, Matt White, David Banks and Matt Scott; Blinded by the Lights, performed by The Streets, written by Mike Skinner
  • Best Original Film Score: Enduring Love, composed by Jeremy Sams. Also nominated: Deep Blue, composed by George FentonMan on Fire, composed by Harry Gregson-Williams
  • The Ivors Classical Music Award: John Tavener
  • Best Selling UK Single: Do They Know It’s Christmas?, performed by Band Aid 2000, written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure. Also nominated: All This Time, performed by Michelle McManus, written by Wayne Hector, Steve Mac and Ali Tennant; Call On Me, written by Steve Winwood, Eric Prydz and Will Jennings
  • Best Song Musically and Lyrically: Dry Your Eyes, performed by The Streets, written by Mike Skinner. Also nominated: These Words, written by Stephen Kipner, Andrew Frampton, Natasha Bedingfield and Wayne Wilkins; Everybody’s Changing, performed by Keane, written by Tim Rice-Oxley, Tom Chaplin and Richard Hughes
  • Best Original Music for Television: Blackpool, composed by Rob Lane. Also nominated: Fallen, composed by Paul Leonard-MorganNorth and South, composed by Martin Phipps
  • International Hit of the Year: Vertigo, performed by U2, written by Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. Also nominated: Behind Blue Eyes, performed by Limp Bizkit, written by Pete Townshend; Do They Know It’s Christmas?
  • International Achievement: Robert Smith
  • Songwriters of the Year: Keane (Tom Chaplin, Richard Hughes and Tim Rice-Oxley)
  • Album Award: Final Straw, performed by Snow Patrol, written by: Iain Archer, Nathan Connolly, Gary Lightbody, Mark McClelland and Jonny Quinn
  • PRS Outstanding Contribution to British Music: Duran Duran (Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, Andy Taylor, John Taylor and Roger Taylor)
  • Outstanding Song Collection: Queen (John Deacon, Brian May, Freddie Mercury and Roger Taylor)
  • The Special International Award: Lou Reed
  • The Ivors Special Award for Songwriting: Mick Jagger and Keith Richards

Ivor Novello Awards 2006

25th May 2006 saw the hosting of the 51st Ivor Novello Awards ceremony at Grosvenor House, London.

  • Best Song Musically & Lyrically: Suddenly I See, written by KT Tunstall. Also nominated: Fix You, performed by Coldplay, written by Guy Berryman, Jonathan Buckland, William Champion and Chris MartinI Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor, performed by Arctic Monkeys, written by Alex Turner
  • PRS Most Performed Work: You’re Beautiful, written by James Blunt, Amanda Ghost and Sacha Skarbek. Also nominated: Shiver, written by Natalie Imbruglia, Sheppard Solomon and Francis Eg White; Speed of Sound, performed by Coldplay, written by Guy Berryman, Jonathan Buckland, William Champion and Chris Martin
  • Best Television Soundtrack: Elizabeth I, composed by Rob Lane. Also nominated: A Waste Of Shame: The Mystery of Shakespeare and His Sonnets, composed by Kevin SargentColditz, composed by Richard Harvey
  • Outstanding Song Collection: New Order (Philip Cunningham, Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner)
  • Best Selling UK Single: That’s My Goal, performed by Shayne Ward, written by: Jorgan Elofsson, Jeremy Godfrey and Bill Padley
  • Album Award: Employment, performed by Kaiser Chiefs, written by: Nick Baines, Nick Hodgson, Simon Rix, Andrew White and Ricky Wilson
  • The Ivors Classical Music Award: Harrison Birtwistle
  • International Hit of the Year: You’re Beautiful, written by James Blunt, Amanda Ghost and Sacha Skarbek. Also nominated: Speed of SoundTripping, written by Stephen Duffy and Robbie Williams
  • Best Original Film Score: Evil, composed by Francis Shaw. Also nominated: Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch & the Wardrobe, composed by Harry Gregson–WilliamsPride and Prejudice, composed by Dario Marianelli
  • Best Contemporary Song: Wires, written by Joel Pott, Steven Roberts, Timothy Wanstall and Carey Willetts. Also nominated: DARE, written by Damon Albarn, Brian Burton and Jamie Hewlett; I Predict a Riot, written by Nick Baines, Nick Hodgson, Simon Rix, Andrew White and Ricky Wilson
  • International Achievement: Ian Anderson
  • Songwriters of the Year: Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett
  • PRS Outstanding Contribution to British Music: Ray Davies
  • The Special International Award: Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff
  • BASCA Fellowship: Bee Gees (Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb and Robin Gibb)

Ivor Novello Awards 2007

2007’s Ivor Novello ceremony took place on 24th May at Grosvenor House, London.

  • International Hit of the Year: Sorry, written by Madonna and Stuart Price. Also nominated: I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’, performed by Scissor Sisters, written by Elton John, Scott Hoffman and Jason SellardsRudebox, written by Robbie Williams, Danny Spencer, Kelvin Andrews, Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, William “Earl” Collins, Bill Laswell and Edmund “Carl Jr” Aiken
  • Album Award: Whatever People Say I Am That’s What I’m Not, performed by Arctic Monkeys, written by: Alex Turner
  • Best Contemporary Song: Rehab, written by Amy Winehouse. Also nominated: Over and Over, performed by Hot Chip, written by Joseph Goddard, Alexis Taylor and Felix MartinYeah Yeah, performed by Bodyrox feat. Luciana, written by Nick Bridges, Jon Pearn, Nathan Thomas, Luciana Caporaso and Nick Clow
  • Best Television Soundtrack: The Virgin Queen, composed by Martin Phipps. Also nominated: Hotel Babylon, composed by John Lunn and Jim Williams; Shiny Shiny Bright New Hole In My Heart, composed by Alex Heffes
  • Best Selling UK Single: A Moment Like This, performed by Kelly Clarkson, written by Jorgen Elofsson and John Reid
  • Outstanding Song Collection: Yusuf Islam
  • The Ivors Classical Music Award: John Rutter
  • PRS Most Performed Work: I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’. Also nominated: Put Your Records On, written by Corinne Bailey Rae, John Beck and Steve ChrisanthouSorry, written by Madonna and Stuart Price
  • Best Original Film Score: Ice Age: The Meltdown, composed by John Powell. Also nominated: Casino Royale, composed by David ArnoldSeverance, composed by Christian Henson
  • PRS Outstanding Contribution to British Music: Norman Cook
  • Best Song Musically and Lyrically: Elusive, written by Scott Matthews. Also nominated: Sophia, written by Nerina PallotWhen the Sun Goes Down, written by Alex Turner
  • Songwriters of the Year: The Feeling (Dan Gillespie Sells, Ciaran Jeremiah, Kevin Jeremiah, Richard Jones and Paul Stewart)
  • Lifetime Achievement: Peter Gabriel
  • The Special International Award: Quincy Jones

Ivor Novello Awards 2008

The 2008 Ivor Novello Awards were on 22nd May at Grosvenor House.

  • Best Selling British Song: Beautiful Liar, performed by Beyoncé and Shakira, written by Ian Dench, Mikkel Eriksen, Amanda Ghost, Tor Erik Hermansen and Beyoncé Knowles. Also nominated: Grace Kelly, written by Jodi Marr, John Merchant, Mika and Dan WarnerRehab, written by Amy Winehouse
  • International Achievement: Phil Collins
  • Best Contemporary Song: People Help the People, performed by Cherry Ghost, written by Simon Aldred. Also nominated: Foundations, written by Paul Epworth and Kate NashGolden Skans, performed by Klaxons, written by Jamie ReynoldsJames Righton and Simon Taylor-Davies
  • Best Television Soundtrack: Oliver Twist, composed by Martin Phipps. Also nominated: Primo, composed by Jonathan GoldsteinWho Killed Mrs de Ropp?, composed by Paul Moessl
  • Album Award: In Rainbows, performed by Radiohead, written by Colin Greenwood, Jonny Greenwood, Edward O’Brien, Philip Selway and Thom Yorke. Also nominated: Man on the Roof, written by Stephen FretwellThirst for Romance, performed by Cherry Ghost, written by Simon Aldred
  • The Ivors Inspiration Award: Jazzie B
  • PRS Most Performed Work: Shine, performed by Take That, written by Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Stephen Robson. Also nominated: Ruby, performed by Kaiser Chiefs, written by Nicholas Baines, Nick Hodgson, James Rix, Andrew White and Ricky Wilson; Starz in Their Eyes, performed by Just Jack, written by Jack Allsopp
  • The Ivors Classical Music Award: Jonathan Dove
  • Best Song Musically & Lyrically: Love is a Losing Game, written by Amy Winehouse. Also nominated: Let Me Out, written by Rosi Golan and Jamie Hartman; You Know I’m No Good, written by Amy Winehouse
  • Outstanding Song Collection: Gabrielle
  • Best Original Film Score: Atonement, composed by Dario Marianelli. Also nominated: Becoming Jane, composed by Adrian Johnston; La Vie en Rose, composed by Christopher Gunning
  • PRS Outstanding Contribution to British Music: Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook
  • Songwriter of the Year: Mika
  • The Special International Award: Diane Warren
  • Lifetime Achievement: David Gilmour

Ivor Novello Awards 2009

Closing the decade, the 2009 Ivor Novello ceremony was on 21st May at Grosvenor House, London.

  • BASCA Fellowship: David Ferguson
  • Best Contemporary Song: Grounds for Divorce, performed by Elbow, written by Guy Garvey, Richard Jupp, Craig Potter, Mark Potter and Peter Turner. Also nominated: Dance Wiv Me, performed by Dizzee Rascal, written by Nicholas Detnon, Calvin Harris, Dylan Mills and Tyrone; That’s Not My Name, performed by The Ting Tings, written by Julian De Martino and Katie White
  • Album Award: We Started Nothing, performed by The Ting Tings, written by Julian De Martino and Katie White. Also nominated: Rockferry, written by Bernard Butler and Duffy; Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends, performed by Coldplay, written by Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin
  • Best Television Soundtrack: Wallace and Gromit (A Matter of Loaf and Death), composed by Julian Nott. Also nominated: Fiona’s Story, composed by Ben BartlettTrial and Retribution 2008, composed by Anne Dudley
  • Outstanding Song Collection: Vince Clarke
  • The Ivors Classical Music Award: James MacMillan
  • Best Selling British Song: Viva La Vida, performed by Coldplay, written by Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin. Also nominated: Mercy, written by; Steve Booker and Duffy; Paper Planes, performed by M.I.A., written by Maya Arulpragasam, Topper Headon, Mick Jones, Thomas Wesley Pentz, Paul Simonon and Joe Strummer
  • PRS for Music Outstanding Contribution to British Music: Massive Attack (Robert Del Naja, Grant Marshall and Andrew Vowles)
  • Best Song Musically and Lyrically: One Day Like This, performed by Elbow, written by Guy Garvey, Richard Jupp, Craig Potter, Mark Potter and Peter Turner. Also nominated: My Mistakes Were Made For You, performed by Last Shadow Puppets, written by Miles Kane and Alex Turner; The Last of the Melting Snow, performed by The Leisure Society, written by Nicholas Hemming
  • Best Original Film Score: There Will Be Blood, composed by Jonny Greenwood. Also nominated: Quantum of Solace, composed by David Arnold; The Escapist, composed by Benjamin Wallfisch
  • The Ivors Inspiration Award: Edwyn Collins
  • PRS for Music Most Performed Work: Mercy, written by Steve Booker and Duffy. Also nominated: Sweet About Me, written by Gabriella Cilmi, Nicholas Coler, Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins, Timothy Larcombe and Tim Powell; Viva La Vida, performed by Coldplay, written by Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin
  • Songwriter of the Year: Eg White
  • The Special International Award: Smokey Robinson
  • BASCA Fellowship: Don Black

Further Reading

NME Award Winners 1994-2018 (Part Two)

Let’s now complete our summary of the NME Awards, with all the winners in one single, easy-to-digest place. So, as an extension of part two of the NME Poll Winners 1952-1992, here’s the final part!

Best Newcomer

Continuing the list that saw Cliff Richard and The Stone Roses share the limelight previously, these are the more recent newcomers.

Best New Artist

  • 1994 – Elastica (Best New Band), Credit to the Nation (Best New Solo Act)
  • 1995 – Oasis
  • 1996 – Supergrass
  • 1997 – Kula Shaker
  • 1998 – Embrace
  • 1999 – Gomez
  • 2000 – Muse
  • 2001 – Coldplay
  • 2002 – The Strokes
  • 2003 – The Libertines
  • 2004 – Kings of Leon
  • 2005 – Razorlight
  • 2006 – Arctic Monkeys
  • 2007 – Klaxons
  • 2008 – The Enemy
  • 2009 – MGMT
  • 2010 – Bombay Bicycle Club
  • 2011 – Hurts
  • 2012 – The Vaccines
  • 2013 – Palma Violets
  • 2014 – Drenge
  • 2015 – Royal Blood
  • 2016 – Rat Boy
  • 2017 – Dua Lipa
  • 2018 – Stefflon Don

Philip Hall Under the Radar Award

  • 1995 – Gene
  • 1996 – Rocket from the Crypt
  • 1997 – Super Furry Animals
  • 2000 – Terris
  • 2001 – Starsailor
  • 2002 – The Coral
  • 2003 – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
  • 2005 – Kaiser Chiefs
  • 2006 – The Long Blondes
  • 2007 – The Twang
  • 2008 – Glasvegas
  • 2009 – The Big Pink
  • 2010 – The Drums
  • 2011 – The Naked and Famous
  • 2012 – The Child of Lov
  • 2014 – Fat White Family
  • 2018 – Pale Waves

Best Live Music Categories

Most award ceremonies now seem to recognise live music, but the NME Awards have been doing it since way back in the early 1990s.

Best Live Act

  • 1995 – Blur
  • 1996 – Oasis (Best Live Act), Pulp (NME Live Act of the Year)
  • 1997 – Manic Street Preachers
  • 2000 – Super Furry Animals (Best Live Act), Mogwai (NME Live Act of the Year)
  • 2001 – Moby
  • 2002 – U2
  • 2003 – The Datsuns
  • 2004 – Queens of the Stone Age
  • 2005 – Muse
  • 2006 – Franz Ferdinand
  • 2007 – Kasabian
  • 2008 – Muse
  • 2009 – Muse
  • 2010 – Arctic Monkeys
  • 2011 – Biffy Clyro
  • 2012 – Arctic Monkeys
  • 2013 – The Rolling Stones
  • 2014 – Arctic Monkeys
  • 2015 – Royal Blood
  • 2016 – Wolf Alice
  • 2017 – The 1975
  • 2018 – Kasabian

Best Festival Headliner

  • 2017 – Adele
  • 2018 – Muse

Best Live Event

  • 1994 – Megadog
  • 1995 – Orbital at Glastonbury Festival
  • 1996 – Glastonbury Festival
  • 1997 – Oasis at Knebworth (Best Musical Event)
  • 1998 – Glastonbury Festival (Best Musical Event)
  • 1999 – Glastonbury Festival (Best Musical Event)
  • 2000 – Glastonbury Festival (Best Musical Event)
  • 2001 – Carling Weekend – Reading and Leeds (Best Musical Event)
  • 2002 – Ozzfest (Best Musical Event)
  • 2003 – Carling Weekend – Reading and Leeds (Best Musical Event)
  • 2005 – Glastonbury Festival
  • 2006 – Carling Weekend – Reading and Leeds (Best Musical Event)
  • 2007 – Carling Weekend – Reading and Leeds
  • 2008 – Carling Weekend – Reading and Leeds
  • 2009 – Glastonbury Festival
  • 2010 – Blur at Hyde Park

Best Festival

  • 2010 – Glastonbury Festival
  • 2011 – Glastonbury Festival
  • 2012 – Glastonbury Festival
  • 2013 – Carling Weekend – Reading and Leeds
  • 2014 – Glastonbury Festival
  • 2015 – Glastonbury Festival
  • 2016 – Glastonbury Festival
  • 2017 – Glastonbury Festival
  • 2018 – Glastonbury Festival

Best Small Festival

  • 2011 – RockNess
  • 2012 – RockNess
  • 2013 – Festival No. 6
  • 2014 – Sŵn
  • 2015 – Liverpool Psych Fest
  • 2016 – End of the Road
  • 2017 – End of the Road
  • 2018 – Festival No. 6

Radio Session of the Year

  • 1997 – Suede (Radio 1 Evening Session of the Year)
  • 1998 – Radiohead (Radio 1 Evening Session of the Year)
  • 1999 – Junior Carter (Breezeblock Mix of the Year)
  • 2000 – Supergrass (Radio 1 Session of the Year), Ooberman (Best NME Premier Show Performance)
  • 2001 – Coldplay (Radio 1 Session of the Year)
  • 2002 – The Charlatans (Radio 1 Session of the Year)

Best Club / Live Venue

  • 1994 – The Forum
  • 1995 – Brixton Academy
  • 1996 – Brixton Academy
  • 1997 – Brixton Academy
  • 1998 – Brixton Academy
  • 1999 – Brixton Academy
  • 2000 – Brixton Academy
  • 2001 – Cream
  • 2003 – London Astoria
  • 2004 – Brixton Academy
  • 2005 – Brixton Academy
  • 2006 – Brixton Academy
  • 2007 – Brixton Academy
  • 2008 – Wembley Stadium

Tour Award

  • 2001 – Amen / JJ72 / Alfie
  • 2002 – Lostprophets / Andrew WK / The Coral

Genre-Specific Artist Categories

These are just a selection of the artist categories that relate to a particular genre of music.

Best Dance Act

  • 1994 – Orbital
  • 1996 – The Prodigy (Best Dance Act), Goldie (Vibes Award for Best Dance Act)
  • 1997 – The Prodigy (Best Dance Act), Orbital (Vibes Award for Best Dance Act)
  • 1998 – The Prodigy
  • 1999 – Fatboy Slim
  • 2000 – The Chemical Brothers (Best Dance Act), Death in Vegas (On the Decks Award for Best Dance Act)
  • 2001 – Fatboy Slim
  • 2002 – Basement Jaxx

Best Hip Hop / Rap Act

  • 1994 – Cypress Hill
  • 1995 – Warren G
  • 2001 – Eminem
  • 2002 – Missy Elliott

Best Metal Act

  • 2001 – Marilyn Manson
  • 2002 – Lostprophets

Best Rock Act

  • 2001 – U2

Best Pop Act

  • 2001 – All Saints
  • 2002 – Kylie Minogue

Best R&B / SOUL Act

  • 2001 – Kelis
  • 2002 – Aaliyah

One-off awards

There are a whole load of odd, eclectic, and occasionally wonderful one-off awards. Here are all the ones I could find.

One-off Awards

  • 1996 – Special Award for Services Beyond the Call of Duty – Tony Crean
  • 1999 – Brain That Should Be Kept Alive for Posterity – Nicky Wire
  • 1999 – Would Make the Best Drugs Czar – Shaun Ryder
  • 1999 – Would To See On A Blind Date – Marilyn Manson and Billie Piper
  • 1999 – Would Most Like as Your Doctor – Natalie Imbruglia
  • 1999 – Would Most Like to Go Shopping with – Brian Molko
  • 1999 – Would Most Like to Cook You a Meal – Tiny Woods
  • 1999 – Would Most Like to Be Marooned on a Desert Island with – Louise
  • 1999 – Would Most Like as Prime Minister – Nicky Wire
  • 1999 – Most Like as Your Driving Instructor – Jay Kay
  • 1999 – Most Like to See in a Ring with Mike Tyson – Billie Piper
  • 2004 – Fight of the Year – Jack White vs. Jason von Bondie
  • 2004 – Living Legend – Arthur Lee
  • 2004 – Most Missed – Johnny Cash
  • 2005 – Special Award for Lifelong Service to Music – John Peel
  • 2010 – Giving it Back Fan Award – Lily Allen
  • 2014 – Songwriters’ Songwriter – Paul McCartney
  • 2016 – Best Actor – Idris Elba
  • 2016 – Best Actress – Vicky McClure
  • 2016 – Vlogger of the Year – KSI

Best Solo Artist

In earlier decades, this award had been split pretty arbitrarily, and this continues. I’ve grouped these into British and International, since this is what they are currently going with, but we’re actually looking at about six different award categories here.

Best British Solo Artist

  • 1995 – Paul Weller (Best Solo Artist)
  • 1996 – Paul Weller (Best Solo Artist)
  • 1999 – Robbie Williams (Best Solo Artist)
  • 2001 – Badly Drawn Boy (Best Solo Artist)
  • 2002 – Ian Brown (Best Solo Artist)
  • 2005 – Graham Coxon (Best Solo Artist)
  • 2007 – Jamie T (Best Solo Artist)
  • 2008 – Kate Nash (Best Solo Artist)
  • 2009 – Pete Doherty (Best Solo Artist)
  • 2010 – Jamie T (Best Solo Artist)
  • 2011 – Laura Marling (Best Solo Artist)
  • 2012 – Florence + the Machine (Best Solo Artist)
  • 2013 – Florence + the Machine (Best Solo Artist)
  • 2014 – Lily Allen (Best Solo Artist)
  • 2015 – Jake Bugg (Best Solo Artist)
  • 2016 – Charlie XCX
  • 2017 – M.I.A. (Female), Skepta (Male)
  • 2018 – Loyle Carner

Best International Solo Artist

  • 1994 – Björk (Best Solo Artist)
  • 1997, 1998, 2000 – Beck (Best Solo Artist)
  • 2003-2004 – Ryan Adams (Best Solo Artist)
  • 2006 – Kanye West (Best Solo Artist)
  • 2016 – Taylor Swift
  • 2017 – Christine and the Queens (Female), Frank Ocean (Male)
  • 2018 – Lorde

Best DJ

  • 2000 – Fatboy Slim
  • 2001 – Carl Cox

Best Group

Next, here are the categories for best group – of which there are still many.

Best British Band

  • 1994 – Suede (Best Band)
  • 1995 – Blur (Best Band)
  • 1996-1997 – Oasis (Best Band)
  • 1998 – The Verve (Best Band)
  • 1999 – Manic Street Preachers (Best Band)
  • 2000 – Blur (Best Band), Travis (NME Band of the Year)
  • 2001 – Radiohead (Best Band)
  • 2003 – Oasis (Best British Band and NME Band of the Year)
  • 2004-2005 – The Libertines
  • 2006 – Arctic Monkeys
  • 2007 – Muse
  • 2008 – Arctic Monkeys
  • 2009 – Oasis
  • 2010-2011 – Muse
  • 2012 – Kasabian
  • 2013 – Biffy Clyro
  • 2014 – Arctic Monkeys
  • 2015 – Kasabian
  • 2016 – The Maccabees
  • 2017 – Biffy Clyro
  • 2018 – Alt-J

Best International Band

  • 2002 – The Strokes (Best Band)
  • 2003 – The Hives
  • 2004 – Kings of Leon
  • 2005 – The Killers
  • 2006 – The Strokes
  • 2007 – My Chemical Romance
  • 2008-2009 – The Killers
  • 2010 – Paramore
  • 2011 – My Chemical Romance
  • 2012 – Foo Fighters
  • 2013 – The Killers
  • 2014 – Haim
  • 2015 – Foo Fighters
  • 2016 – Run the Jewels
  • 2017 – Metallica
  • 2018 – Haim

Best Band Ever

  • 2000 – The Beatles

Worst Band

  • 1997 – Oasis
  • 2003 – Nickelback
  • 2005 – Insane Clown Posse
  • 2006 – Son of Dork
  • 2007 – Panic! At the Disco
  • 2008 – The Hoosiers
  • 2009-2011 – Jonas Brothers
  • 2012-2013 – One Direction
  • 2014 – The 1975
  • 2015-2017 – 5 Seconds of Summer

Best Collaboration

  • 2018 – Craig David and Bastille

Most Dedicated Fans / Best Fan Community

  • 2012-2013 – Muse
  • 2014 – Arctic Monkeys
  • 2015 – Muse
  • 2016 – The Libertines

Best of All Time Awards

Finally, NME introduced the Godlike Genius Award in 1994, and have therefore followed with a suite of “best of all time” awards.

Godlike Genius Award

  • 1994 – John Peel
  • 1995 – Alan McGee
  • 1996 – Michael Eavis
  • 1997 – Mark E. Smith
  • 1999 – Massive Attack
  • 2000 – Shaun Ryder
  • 2001 – U2
  • 2002 – Nick Kent and Pennie Smith
  • 2005 – New Order and Joy Division
  • 2006 – Ian Brown
  • 2007 – Primal Scream
  • 2008 – Manic Street Preachers
  • 2009 – The Cure
  • 2010 – Paul Weller
  • 2011 – Dave Grohl
  • 2012 – Noel Gallagher
  • 2013 – Johnny Marr
  • 2014 – Blondie
  • 2015 – Suede
  • 2016 – Coldplay
  • 2017 – Pet Shop Boys
  • 2018 – Liam Gallagher

Outstanding Contribution to Music

  • 2002 – The Charlatans
  • 2009 – Elbow
  • 2010 – The Specials
  • 2011 – PJ Harvey
  • 2012 – Pulp
  • 2013 – The Cribs
  • 2014 – Belle and Sebastian
  • 2017 – WIley

The Fuck Me! / John Peel Award for Innovation / NME Innovation Award

  • 2003 – The Polyphonic Spree
  • 2004 – Dizzee Rascal
  • 2005 – The Others
  • 2006 – Gorillaz
  • 2007 – Enter Shikari
  • 2008 – Radiohead
  • 2011 – Crystal Castles
  • 2014 – Damon Albarn
  • 2018 – Boy Better Know

NME Icon

  • 2018 – Shirley Manson

And that concludes the results of the NME Polls and Awards, from 1954 to 2018. Join us in 2019 for another new ceremony!

NME Award Winners 1994-2018 (Part One)

The final step we need to take with the NME Awards is to summarise all the winners in one single, easy-to-digest place. So, continuing with the part one of two-part NME Poll Winners 1952-1992, let’s do that!

Best and Worst Single, Video and Album Categories

Here are all the winners for specific singles, videos, albums, films, and books!

Best Single / Track

  • 1994 – Radiohead – Creep
  • 1995 – Oasis – Live Forever (Best Single), Blur – Girls and Boys (NME Single of the Year)
  • 1996 – Oasis – Wonderwall (Best Single), Black Grape – Reverend Black Grape (NME Single of the Year)
  • 1997 – Manic Street Preachers – A Design for Life (Best Single), Underworld – Born Slippy (NME Single of the Year)
  • 1998 – The Verve – Bittersweet Symphony
  • 1999 – Manic Street Preachers – If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
  • 2000 – Blur – Tender (Best Single), Aphex Twin – Windowlicker (NME Single of the Year)
  • 2001 – Coldplay – Yellow
  • 2002 – Ash – Burn Baby Burn
  • 2003 – The Vines – Get Free (Best Single), Doves – There Goes the Fear (NME Single of the Year)
  • 2004 – The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army
  • 2005 – Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out
  • 2006 – Arctic Monkeys – I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor
  • 2007 – The View – Wasted Little DJs
  • 2008 – Arctic Monkeys – Fluorescent Adolescent
  • 2009 – MGMT – Time to Pretend
  • 2010 – The Big Pink – Dominos
  • 2011 – Foals – Spanish Sahara
  • 2012 – Florence + the Machine – Shake it Out
  • 2013 – Foals – Inhaler
  • 2014 – Disclosure – White Noise
  • 2015 – Jamie T – Zombie
  • 2016 – Wolf Alice – Giant Peach
  • 2017 – Christine and the Queens – Tilted
  • 2018 – Charli XCX – Boys

Best Single Ever

  • 2000 – Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit

Best Dance Single / Dancefloor filler / Anthem

  • 1998 – The Prodigy – Smack My Bitch Up
  • 1999 – Fatboy Slim – The Rockafeller Skank
  • 2008 – The Wombats – Let’s Dance to Joy Division
  • 2009 – Dizzee Rascal and Calvin Harris – Dance Wiv Me
  • 2010 – La Roux – In for the Kill (Skream Remix)
  • 2011 – Professor Green – Jungle
  • 2012 – Katy B – Broken Record
  • 2013 – Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch – Sweet Nothing
  • 2015 – Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX – Fancy

Worst Single

  • 1994 – Meat Loaf – I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)
  • 1995 – Whigfield – Saturday Night
  • 1996 – Robson Green and Jerome Flynn – I Believe
  • 1997 – Spice Girls – Wannabe
  • 1998 – Aqua – Barbie Girl
  • 1999 – Billie Piper – Because We Want To
  • 2000 – The Vengaboys – We’re Going to Ibiza
  • 2003 – Robbie Williams – Feel
  • 2004 – Fast Food Rockers – Fast Food Song

Best Music Video

  • 1995 – Blur – Parklife
  • 1996 – Pulp – Common People
  • 1997 – The Prodigy – Firestarter
  • 1998 – The Verve – Bittersweet Symphony
  • 1999 – Manic Street Preachers – If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
  • 2000 – Blur – Coffee and TV
  • 2002 – Radiohead – Pyramid Song
  • 2003 – Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Whatever Happened to My Rock and Roll (Punk Song)
  • 2004 – Radiohead – There There
  • 2005 – Green Day – American Idiot
  • 2006 – Oasis – The Importance of Being Idle
  • 2007 – The Killers – Bones
  • 2008 – Arctic Monkeys – Teddy Picker
  • 2009 – The Last Shadow Puppets – My Mistakes Were Made for You
  • 2010 – Biffy Clyro – The Captain
  • 2011 – My Chemical Romance – Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)
  • 2012 – Hurts – Sunday
  • 2013 – Arctic Monkeys – R U Mine?
  • 2014 – Eagulls – Nerve Endings
  • 2015 – Jamie T – Zombie
  • 2016 – Slaves – Cheer Up London
  • 2017 – Slaves – Consume or Be Consumed
  • 2018 – The Big Moon – Sucker

Best Album / LP

  • 1994 – The Boo Radleys – Giant Steps
  • 1995 – Blur – Parklife (Best Album), Oasis – Definitely Maybe (NME Album of the Year)
  • 1996 – Oasis – (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? (Best Album), Tricky – Maxinquaye (NME Album of the Year)
  • 1997 – Manic Street Preachers – Everything Must Go (Best Album), Beck – Odelay (NME Album of the Year)
  • 1998 – Radiohead – OK Computer
  • 1999 – Manic Street Preachers – This is My Truth, Tell Me Yours
  • 2000 – The Flaming Lips – The Soft Bulletin (Best Album and NME Album of the Year)
  • 2001 – Primal Scream – XTRMNTR
  • 2002 – The Strokes – This is It
  • 2003 – Coldplay – A Rush of Blood to the Head (Best Album and NME Album of the Year)
  • 2004 – Radiohead – Hail to the Thief
  • 2005 – Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand
  • 2006 – Kaiser Chiefs – Employment
  • 2007 – Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not
  • 2008 – Klaxons – Myths of the Near Future
  • 2009 – Kings of Leon – Only by the Night
  • 2010 – Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
  • 2011 – Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
  • 2012 – The Horrors – Skying
  • 2013 – The Maccabees – Given to the Wild
  • 2014 – Arctic Monkeys – AM
  • 2015 – Kasabian – 48:13
  • 2016 – Foals – What Went Down
  • 2017 – Bastille – Wild World
  • 2018 – J Hus – Common Sense

Best Album Ever

  • 2000 – The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses

Worst Album

  • 2003 – Robbie Williams – Escapology
  • 2005 – Insane Clown Posse – Carnival of Carnage
  • 2006 – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam
  • 2007 – Robbie Williams – Rudebox
  • 2008 – Britney Spears – Blackout
  • 2009 – Jonas Brothers – A Little Bit Longer
  • 2010 – Jonas Brothers – Lines, Vines, and Trying Times
  • 2011 – Justin Bieber – My World
  • 2012 – Justin Bieber – Under the Mistletoe

Best Album Artwork

  • 2004 – Radiohead – Hail to the Thief
  • 2008 – The Good, The Bad & The Queen – The Good, The Bad & The Queen
  • 2009 – Muse – HAARP
  • 2010 – Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
  • 2011 – Klaxons – Surfing the Void
  • 2012 – Friendly Fires – Pala

Best Reissue

  • 2012 – The Smiths – The Complete Re-issues
  • 2013 – Blur – 21
  • 2014 – The Clash – Sound System
  • 2015 – Manic Street Preachers – The Holy Bible
  • 2016 – David Bowie – Five Years (1969-1973)
  • 2017 – Oasis – Be Here Now
  • 2018 – Radiohead – OK NOT OK

Best DVD / Best Music DVD / Best Music Film

  • 2005 – Oasis – Definitely Maybe
  • 2006 – Various Artists – Live 8
  • 2007 – Arctic Monkeys – Scrummy Man
  • 2008 – Nirvana – MTV Unplugged in New York
  • 2009 – Arctic Monkeys – Live at the Apollo
  • 2010 – The Mighty Boosh Live – Future Sailors Tour
  • 2012 – Foo Fighters – Back and Forth
  • 2013 – The Rolling Stones – Crossfire Hurricane
  • 2014 – The Stone Roses – Made of Stone
  • 2015 – Pulp – A Film About Life, Death and Supermarkets
  • 2016 – Blur – New World Towers
  • 2017 – Oasis – Supersonic
  • 2018 – Lady Gaga – Five Foot Two

Best Mixtape

  • 2018 – Avelino – No Bullshit

Best Book

  • 2011 – John Lydon – Mr. Rotten’s Scrapbook
  • 2012 – Noel Fielding – The Scribblings of a Madcap Shambleton
  • 2013 – Mike Skinner – The Story of the Streets
  • 2014 – Morrissey – Autobiography
  • 2015 – Viv Albertine – Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys
  • 2016 – Patti Smith – M Train
  • 2017 – Johnny Marr – Set the Boy Free
  • 2018 – Wiley – Eskiboy

Media Categories

The group of media awards, for radio, TV, films, and venues.

Best Radio Show

  • 1994 – John Peel (BBC Radio 1)
  • 1996-1997 – The Evening Session (BBC Radio 1)
  • 1998-1999 – Mark and Lard (BBC Radio 1)
  • 2000-2002 – The Evening Session (BBC Radio 1)
  • 2003 – The Evening Session / Lamacq Live (BBC Radio 1)
  • 2005-2008 – Zane Lowe (BBC Radio 1)

Best TV Show

  • 1995 – Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge
  • 1996-1998 – Shooting Stars
  • 1999 – South Park
  • 2000 – The Royle Family
  • 2001 – The League of Gentlemen
  • 2002 – The Office
  • 2003 – The Osbournes
  • 2004 – The Office
  • 2005 – Little Britain
  • 2006 – Gonzo
  • 2007-2009 – The Mighty Boosh
  • 2010 – The Inbetweeners
  • 2011 – Skins
  • 2012-2013 – Fresh Meat
  • 2014 – Breaking Bad
  • 2015 – Game of Thrones
  • 2016 – This is England ’90
  • 2017 – Fleabag
  • 2018 – Stranger Things

Worst TV Show

  • 2009 – Big Brother

Best Film

  • 1994 – Reservoir Dogs
  • 1995 – Pulp Fiction
  • 1996 – The Usual Suspects
  • 1997 – Trainspotting
  • 1998 – The Full Monty
  • 1999 – Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
  • 2000 – The Blair Witch Project
  • 2001 – Gladiator
  • 2002 – Moulin Rouge
  • 2004 – The Lord of the Rings – The Return of the King
  • 2005 – Shaun of the Dead
  • 2006 – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
  • 2007 – Pirates of the Caribbean – Dead Man’s Chest
  • 2008 – Control
  • 2010 – Inglourious Basterds
  • 2011 – Inception
  • 2012 – Submarine
  • 2013 – The Hobbit – An Unexpected Journey
  • 2015 – Northern Soul
  • 2016 – Beasts of No Nation
  • 2017 – My Scientology Movie
  • 2018 – Baby Driver

Best Website

  • 2000 – NME
  • 2003 – NME
  • 2004 – NME
  • 2005 – NME
  • 2006 – NME
  • 2007 – YouTube
  • 2008 – Facebook
  • 2009 – YouTube
  • 2010 – Muse

Best Band Blog / Twitter / Social Media

  • 2008 – The Modern Age (Best Music Blog), Radiohead (Best Band Blog)
  • 2009 – Noel Gallagher / Oasis
  • 2010 – Radiohead
  • 2011 – Hayley Williams
  • 2012 – Lady Gaga
  • 2013 – Alana Haim
  • 2014 – Alana Haim
  • 2015 – Liam Gallagher

People Categories

Continuing the odd and eclectic categories from 1954-1992, the NME Awards still give slightly odd awards out to individuals.

Genius/HERO of the Year

  • 2000 – Ali G
  • 2001 – Liam Gallagher
  • 2003 – Ozzy Osbourne
  • 2004 – Pete Doherty
  • 2005 – John Peel
  • 2006 – Bob Geldof
  • 2007 – Gerard Way
  • 2008 – Pete Doherty
  • 2009 – Barack Obama
  • 2010 – Rage Against the Machine
  • 2011 – Lady Gaga
  • 2012 – Matt Bellamy
  • 2013 – Barack Obama
  • 2014-2015 – Alex Turner
  • 2016 – Dave Grohl
  • 2017 – Beyoncé
  • 2018 – Ariana Grande

Bastard/Git/Arse/Dickhead/Waster/Villain of the Year

  • 1994 – John Major
  • 1996 – Damon Albarn
  • 1997-1999 – Liam Gallagher
  • 2000, 2001, 2003 – Robbie Williams
  • 2004 – George W. Bush, (Villain of the Year), Pete Doherty (Waster of the Year)
  • 2005-2009 – George W. Bush
  • 2010 – Kanye West
  • 2011 – David Cameron
  • 2012 – Justin Bieber
  • 2013-2014 – Harry Styles
  • 2015 – Nigel Farage
  • 2016 – Donald Trump
  • 2017 – Nigel Farage
  • 2018 – Piers Morgan

Best Dressed / Most Stylish

  • 1996 – Jarvis Cocker
  • 2003 – The Hives
  • 2005 – Brandon Flowers
  • 2006 – Ricky Wilson
  • 2007 – Faris Rotter
  • 2008 – Noel Fielding
  • 2009 – Alexa Chung
  • 2010 – Lady Gaga
  • 2011 – Brandon Flowers

Worst Dressed / Least Stylish

  • 1996 – Jarvis Cocker
  • 1997 – Liam Gallagher
  • 2003 – Christina Aguilera
  • 2005 – Jonathan Ross
  • 2006 – Justin Hawkins
  • 2007 – Jonathan Ross
  • 2008-2009 – Amy Winehouse
  • 2010 – Lady Gaga
  • 2011 – Justin Bieber

Best Comedian

  • 1995-1996 – Steve Coogan

Political and Real World Categories

Continuing some of the odder categories from the earlier NME Polls. For clarity, I’ve separated the “live” events from the other “musical” events, although I think the award category was sometimes the same.

Musical Moment / Event of the Year

  • 1996 – Skinner, Baddiel and The Lightning Seeds – Three Lions
  • 2012 – The Stone Roses reunite
  • 2013 – Olympics opening ceremony
  • 2014 – Noel Gallagher and Damon Albarn come together for Teenage Cancer Trust
  • 2015 – Jamie T’s comeback
  • 2016 – The Libertines’ secret Glastonbury set
  • 2017 – Coldplay’s Viola Beach tribute at Glastonbury
  • 2018 – One Love Manchester

Greatest Musical Event Ever

  • 2000 – Woodstock

Non-Musical Event of the Year

  • 1994 – Unity March
  • 1995 – Glastonbury Festival
  • 1996 – French Nuclear Testing

Bummer / Disappointment

  • 1995 – Kurt Cobain’s Suicide
  • 1997 – The Stone Roses breaking up

Hype of the Year

  • 1994 – Jurassic Park

Object of Desire / Most Desirable / Hottest / Sexiest Woman

  • 1994 – Björk (Object of Desire)
  • 1995 – Kylie Minogue (Object of Desire)
  • 1997 – Louise (Most Desirable Human Being)
  • 1998 – Louise (Most Desirable Human Being)
  • 1999 – Natalie Imbruglia (Most Desirable Human Being)
  • 2003 – Avril Lavigne
  • 2004 – Brody Dalle
  • 2005 – Barbara Knox
  • 2006 – Madonna
  • 2007 – Kate Moss
  • 2008 – Kylie Minogue
  • 2009 – Hayley Williams
  • 2010 – Karen O
  • 2011 – Alison Mosshart
  • 2012 – Hayley Williams
  • 2013 – Amy Lee

Most Desirable / Hottest / Sexiest Man

  • 1996 – Liam Gallagher (Most Desirable Human Being)
  • 2003 – Chris Martin
  • 2004 – Har Mar Superstar
  • 2005 – Brandon Flowers
  • 2006 – Pete Doherty
  • 2007 – Matt Bellamy
  • 2008 – Noel Fielding
  • 2009-2011 – Matt Bellamy
  • 2012 – Jared Leto
  • 2013 – Matt Bellamy

Best Haircut

  • 2003 – Liam Gallagher
  • 2004 – Caleb Followill

Worst Haircut

  • 2003 – Jack Osbourne

Join us again next week, when we’ll finish this list off!

NME Awards – 2015-2017

Finally, by the current decade, NME seemed to have regained their taste. Several decades after being obsessed with guitars and the lower reaches of the charts, they finally even decided to associate themselves with acts such as Pet Shop Boys. Let’s complete our journey through the history of their awards, with the last few years.

NME Awards 2015

  • Godlike Genius Award: Suede
  • Best British Band: Kasabian. Also nominated: Alt-J, Arctic Monkeys, Chvrches, Royal Blood, The Libertines
  • Best Album: Kasabian, for 48:13
  • Also nominated: Jamie T, for Carry On The Grudge, La Roux, for Trouble In Paradise, Royal Blood, for Royal Blood, Run The Jewels, for Run The Jewels 2, St Vincent, for St Vincent
  • Best International Band: Foo Fighters. Also nominated: Arcade Fire, Haim, Interpol, Queens Of The Stone Age, Tame Impala
  • Best Live Band: Royal Blood. Also nominated: Arctic Monkeys, Fat White Family, Foo Fighters, Kasabian, The Libertines
  • Best New Band: Royal Blood. Also nominated: Circa Waves, FKA Twigs, Jungle, Slaves, Superfood
  • Best Solo Artist: Jake Bugg. Also nominated: Jack White, Jamie T, La Roux, Lana Del Rey, St Vincent
  • Best Festival: Glastonbury. Also nominated: Bestival, Isle Of Wight Festival, Latitude, Reading & Leeds, T In The Park
  • Best Track: Jamie T, for Zombie. Also nominated: Future Islands, for Seasons (Waiting On You), Jungle, for Busy Earnin, Kasabian, for Eez-Eh, Noel Gallagher, for In The Heat Of The Moment, Royal Blood, for Little Monster
  • Best Video: Jamie T, for Zombie. Also nominated: Fat White Family, for Touch The Leather, FKA Twigs, for Two Weeks, Jungle, for Busy Earnin’, Peace, for Lost On Me, Royal Blood, for Figure It Out
  • Best Music Film: Pulp, for A Film About Life, Death and Supermarkets. Also nominated: 20,000 Days On Earth, Finding Fela, Kasabian, for Summer Solstice, Supermensch: The Legend Of Shep Gordon, The Possibilities Are Endless
  • Best Film: Northern Soul. Also nominated: Boyhood, Frank, Get On Up, God Help The Girl, The Inbetweeners 2
  • Best TV Show: Game of Thrones. Also nominated: Girls, Foo Fighters, for Sonic Highways, Peaky Blinders, Sherlock, True Detective
  • Best Dancefloor Filler: Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX, for Fancy. Also nominated: Jamie T, for Zombie, Kasabian, for Eez-Eh, Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars, for Uptown Funk, Metronomy, for Love Letters, SBTRKT feat. Ezra Koenig, for New Dorp. New York
  • Worst Band: 5 Seconds of Summer. Also nominated: , Bastille, Blink 182, One Direction, The 1975, U2
  • Villain of the Year: Nigel Farage. Also nominated: Bono, David Cameron, Harry Styles, Russell Brand, Taylor Swift
  • Hero of the Year: Alex Turner. Also nominated: Dave Grohl, Kate Bush, Noel Gallagher, Russell Brand, Taylor Swift
  • Music Moment of the Year: Jamie T‘s comeback. Also nominated: Alex Turner’s Brit Awards speech, Kasabian headline Glastonbury, Kate Bush returns, The Libertines reunite, Nirvana reunite at The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
  • Best Fan Community: Muse. Also nominated: Jamie T, Kasabian, La Roux, Peace, Royal Blood
  • Small Festival of the Year: Liverpool Psych Fest. Also nominated: End Of The Road, Festival No. 6, Field Day, The Great Escape, Tramlines
  • Book of the Year: Viv Albertine, for Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys
  • Also nominated: Bernard Sumner, for Chapter And Verse, Ian Curtis, Deborah Curtis and Jon Savage, for So This Is Permanence, Jesse Frohman, for Kurt Cobain: The Last Session, John Lydon, for Anger Is An Energy: My Life Uncensored, Steve Hanley, for The Big Midweek: Life Inside The Fall
  • Reissue of the Year: Manic Street Preachers, for The Holy Bible. Also nominated: Led Zeppelin, for Led Zeppelin II, Oasis, for Definitely Maybe, Pixies, for Doolittle, Public Enemy, for It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, Smashing Pumpkins, for Adore
  • Best Band Social Media: Liam Gallagher‘s Twitter. Also nominated: Questlove’s Twitter, Alana Haim’s Twitter, Albert Hammond Jr’s Twitter, Fat White Family’s Facebook, Slaves’ Facebook

NME Awards 2016

  • Godlike Genius Award: Coldplay
  • Best British Band: The Maccabees. Also nominated: The Libertines, Foals, Wolf Alice, The 1975, Catfish and the Bottlemen
  • Best International Band: Run the Jewels. Also nominated: Tame Impala, Foo Fighters, The Strokes, The Killers, Alabama Shakes
  • Best New Artist: Rat Boy. Also nominated: Hinds, Halsey, Yak, Låpsley, Formation
  • Best British Solo Artist: Charli XCX. Also nominated: Adele, Noel Gallagher, Ed Sheeran, Florence Welch, Skepta
  • Best International Solo Artist: Taylor Swift. Also nominated: Kendrick Lamar, Lana Del Rey, Courtney Barnett, Kanye West, Grimes
  • Best Live Band: Wolf Alice. Also nominated: The Maccabees, The Libertines, Foals, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Royal Blood
  • Best Album: Foals, for What Went Down. Also nominated: Wolf Alice, for My Love Is Cool, The Maccabees, for Marks to Prove it, Kendrick Lamar, for To Pimp a Butterfly, Tame Impala, for Currents, Grimes, for Art Angels
  • Best Track: Wolf Alice, for Giant Peach. Also nominated: Coldplay, for Adventure of a Lifetime, The Libertines, for Gunga Din, The Weeknd, for I Can’t Feel My Face, Skepta, for Shut Down, Foals, for What Went Down
  • Best TV Show: This is England ’90. Also nominated: The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, American Horror Story, Peep Show, Gogglebox
  • Best Film: Beasts of No Nation. Also nominated: Ex Machina, Spectre, Mad Max: Fury Road, Whiplash, Kill Your Friends
  • Best Music Film: Blur, for New World Towers. Also nominated: Amy, Montage of Heck, Straight Outta Compton, What Happened, Miss Simone, The Reflektor Tapes
  • Best Music Video: Slaves, for Cheer Up London. Also nominated: Rihanna, for Bitch Better Have My Money, The Libertines, for Heart Of The Matter, Wolf Alice, for You’re a Germ, Blur, for Ong Ong, Tame Impala, for The Less I Know The Better
  • Best Actor: Idris Elba. Also nominated: Tom Hardy, Eddie Redmayne, Nicholas Hoult, Stephen Graham, Daniel Radcliffe
  • Best Actress: Vicky McClure. Also nominated: Jennifer Lawrence, Emilia Clarke, Gemma Chan, Amy Schumer, Saoirse Ronan
  • Best Reissue: David Bowie, for Five Years (1969–1973). Also nominated: A Tribe Called Quest, for People’s Instinctive Travels And the Paths Of Rhythm, The Velvet Underground, for Loaded, Rolling Stones, for Sticky Fingers, Tori Amos, for Under The Pink, Faith No More, for Angel Dust
  • Best Book: Patti Smith, for M Train. Also nominated: Grace Jones, for I’ll Never Write My MemoirsElvis Costello, for Unfaithful Music & Disappearing InkCarrie Brownstein, for Hunger Makes Me A Modern GirlProfessor Green, for LuckyTom Jones, for Over The Top And Back
  • Best Festival: Glastonbury. Also nominated: Reading & Leeds, V Festival, T in the Park, Bestival, Isle of Wight
  • Best Small Festival: End of the Road. Also nominated: Sŵn, Festival No. 6, Green Man, Liverpool Sound City, Kendall Calling
  • Music Moment of the Year: The Libertines‘ secret Glastonbury set. Also nominated: The return of AdeleDave Grohl breaks leg and carries on, Florence + The Machine headlines Glastonbury, Kanye at The Brits, One Direction ‘split’
  • Best Fan Community: The Libertines. Also nominated: Hurts, Muse, Catfish and the Bottleman, The 1975, Wolf Alice
  • Worst Band: 5 Seconds of Summer. Also nominated: One Direction, Little Mix, Sleaford Mods, U2, Nickelback
  • Villain of the Year: Donald Trump. Also nominated: David Cameron, Chris Moyles, Kanye West, George Osbourne, Simon Cowell
  • Hero of the Year: Dave Grohl. Also nominated: Adele, Jeremy Corbyn, Florence Welch, Kanye West, Taylor Swift
  • Vlogger of the Year: KSI. Also nominated: Vikkstar123, Charlie McDonnell, Joe Weller, Danisnotonfire, Savannah Brown

NME Awards 2017

  • Godlike Genius Award: Pet Shop Boys
  • Best British Band: Biffy Clyro. Also nominated: Wolf Alice, The 1975, Bastille, Years & Years, The Last Shadow Puppets
  • Best International Band: Metallica. Also nominated: Tame Impala, Kings Of Leon, Green Day, A Tribe Called Quest, Tegan and Sara
  • Best New Artist: Dua Lipa. Also nominated: Blossoms, Zara Larsson, Sunflower Bean, Christine and The Queens, Anderson .Paak
  • Best British Female Artist: M.I.A.. Also nominated: Dua Lipa, Adele, Charli XCX, Kate Tempest, PJ Harvey
  • Best British Male Artist: Skepta. Also nominated: Zayn Malik, Kano, Jamie T, Michael Kiwanuka, Richard Ashcroft
  • Best International Female Artist: Christine and the Queens. Also nominated: Sia, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Solange, Tove Lo
  • Best International Male Artist: Frank Ocean. Also nominated: Kanye West, Drake, The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar, Chance The Rapper
  • Best Festival Headliner: Adele. Also nominated: Coldplay, Radiohead, Biffy Clyro, Foals, The Stone Roses
  • Best Live Band: The 1975. Also nominated: Bastille, Slaves, Bring Me The Horizon, Christine And The Queens, Wolf Alice
  • Best Album: Bastille, for Wild World. Also nominated: Kanye West, for The Life Of Pablo, Skepta, for Konnichiwa, The 1975, for I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It, Radiohead, for A Moon Shaped Pool, Beyoncé, for Lemonade
  • Best Track: Christine and the Queens, for Tilted. Also nominated: Tove Lo, for Cool Girl, Charli XCX, for After The Afterparty, Skepta, for Man, Bastille, for Good Grief, The 1975, for Somebody Else
  • Best TV Show: Fleabag. Also nominated: Stranger Things, Game Of Thrones, Black Mirror, Humans, People Just Do Nothing
  • Best Film: My Scientology Movie. Also nominated: DeadpoolCaptain America: Civil War, Suicide Squad, Everybody Wants Some!!, Hunt For The Wilderpeople
  • Best Music Film: Oasis, for Supersonic, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, for One More Time With Feeling, Sing Street, Gimme Danger, The Rolling Stones, for Havana Moon, The Beatles, for Eight Days A Week – The Touring Years
  • Best Music Video: Slaves, for Consume or Be Consumed. Also nominated: Kanye West, for Famous, Beyoncé, for Formation, Radiohead, for Burn The Witch, Rat Boy, for Get Over It, Wolf Alice, for Lisbon
  • Best Reissue: Oasis, for Be Here Now. Also nominated: R.E.M., for Out Of Time, Pink Floyd, for Meddle, Michael Jackson, for Off The Wall, DJ Shadow, for Endtroducing, Blur, for Leisure
  • Best Book: Johnny Marr, for Set the Boy Free
  • Best Festival: Glastonbury. Also nominated: Reading & Leeds, Download, Isle Of Wight, Primavera, V Festival
  • Best Small Festival: End of the Road. Also nominated: Y Not, Green Man, Festival No. 6, Kendall Calling, Slam Dunk
  • Music Moment of the Year: Coldplay‘s Viola Beach tribute at Glastonbury. Also nominated: Bring Me The Horizon invade Coldplay’s table at NME Awards 2016, Beyoncé drops Lemonade, Skepta wins Mercury Prize, Pete Doherty plays The Bataclan, The Stone Roses’ first new music in 20 years
  • Worst Band: 5 Seconds of Summer. Also nominated: The Chainsmokers, Clean Bandit, Honey G, Nickelback, Twenty One Pilots
  • Villain of the Year: Nigel Farage. Also nominated: Donald Trump, David Cameron, Boris Johnson, Martin Shkreli, Katie Hopkins
  • Hero of the Year: Beyoncé. Also nominated: David Bowie, Adele, Millie Bobby Brown, Gary Lineker, Liam Gallagher
  • Outstanding Contribution to Music: Wiley

See also

NME Awards – 2012-2014

By 2012, the NME Awards were positively contemporary. Let’s take a look at the awards through to 2014.

NME Awards 2012

Below is the full list of nominations for the event, which will be held at the O2 Academy Brixton on February 29.

  • Godlike Genius Award: Noel Gallagher
  • Outstanding Contribution to Music: Pulp
  • Best British Band: Kasabian. Also nominated: Arctic Monkeys, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Horrors, Muse
  • Best International Band: Foo Fighters. Also nominated: Arcade Fire, JusticeOdd Future, The Strokes
  • Best Solo Artist: Florence + the Machine. Also nominated: Adele, Frank Turner, Laura Marling, Miles Kane, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
  • Best New Band: The Vaccines. Also nominated: Foster The People, Lana Del Rey, Tribes, Wu Lyf
  • Best Live Band: Arctic Monkeys. Also nominated: Kasabian, Muse, Pulp, Two Door Cinema Club
  • Best Album: The Horrors, for Skying. Also nominated: Arctic Monkeys, for Suck It And SeeNoel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, for Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, PJ Harvey, for Let England Shake, The Vaccines, for What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?
  • Best Track: Florence + the Machine, for Shake It Out. Also nominated: Arctic Monkeys, for The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala, Bombay Bicycle Club, for Shuffle, Hurts, for Sunday, Lana Del Rey, for Video Games
  • Best Video: Hurts, for Sunday. Also nominated Arctic Monkeys, for Suck It And See, Beyoncé, for Countdown, Lana Del Rey, for Video Games, Tyler, The Creator, for Yonkers
  • Best Festival: Glastonbury. Also nominated: Bestival, Reading & Leeds, T In The Park, V Festival
  • Best TV Show: Fresh Meat. Also nominated: Doctor Who, Misfits, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, This Is England ’88
  • Best Film: Submarine. Also nominated: Black Swan, Drive, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2, The Inbetweeners Movie
  • Best Music Film: Foo Fighters, for Back and Forth. Also nominated: George Harrison, for Living In The Material World, Kings Of Leon, for Talihina Sky, The Libertines, for There Are No Innocent Bystanders, Upside Down – The Creation Records Story
  • Best Dancefloor Anthem: Katy B, for Broken Record. Also nominated: Azealia Banks, for 212, Foster The People, for Pumped Up Kicks, Justice, for Civilization, Metronomy, for The Bay
  • Hero of the Year: Matt Bellamy. Also nominated: Alex Turner, Dave Grohl, Noel Fielding, Noel Gallagher
  • Villain of the Year: Justin Bieber. Also nominated: David Cameron, Lady Gaga, Liam Gallagher, Nick Clegg
  • Worst Album: Justin Bieber, for Under the Mistletoe. Also nominated: Coldplay, for Mylo Xyloto, Lady Gaga, for Born This Way, One Direction, for Up All Night, Viva Brother, for Famous First Words
  • Worst Band: One Direction. Also nominated: Beady Eye, Coldplay, Muse, Viva Brother
  • Hottest Male: Jared Leto (30 Seconds To Mars). Also nominated: Andy Biersack (Black Veil Brides), Dominic Howard (Muse), Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance), Matt Bellamy (Muse)
  • Hottest Female: Hayley Williams (Paramore). Also nominated: Amy Lee (Evanescence), Florence Welch (Florence + the Machine), Katy Perry, Marina Diamandis (Marina And The Diamonds)
  • Best Album Artwork: Friendly Fires, for Pala. Also nominated: Arctic Monkeys, for Suck It And See, Bombay Bicycle Club, for A Different Kind Of Fix, Björk, for Biophilia, Jay-Z and Kanye West, for Watch The Throne
  • Best Band Blog or Twitter: Lady Gaga, for @LadyGaga. Also nominated: Example, for @Example, Frank Turner, for Frank-Turner.com/blog, Kanye West, for @KanyeWest, Hurts, for @Theohurts
  • Most Dedicated Fans: Muse. Also nominated: 30 Seconds To Mars, Arctic Monkeys, Hurts, My Chemical Romance
  • Best Book: Noel Fielding, for The Scribblings of a Madcap Shambleton, Jared Leto, for Notes From The Outernet, Jarvis Cocker, for Mother, Brother, Lover: Selected Lyrics, Malcolm X, for A Life Of Reinvention, Shaun Ryder, for Twisting My Melon
  • Best Small Festival: RockNess. Also nominated: Field Day, Hop Farm, Kendal Calling, Latitude
  • Best Reissue: The Smiths, for Complete Re-issues. Also nominated: Manic Street Preachers, for National Treasures, Nirvana, for Nevermind, Primal Scream, for Screamadelica, The Rolling Stones, for Some Girls
  • Greatest Music Moment of the Year: The Stone Roses reunite. Also nominated: Brian May joins My Chemical Romance onstage at Reading Festival, Kasabian see in 2012 with their epic London O2 Arena show, Noel Gallagher launches his solo career with press conference, Pulp steal the show at Glastonbury with secret set

NME Awards 2013

London’s Troxy on Wednesday, February 27, 2013:Host: Russell Kane

  • Godlike Genius Award: Johnny Marr
  • Philip Hall Radar Award: The Child of Lov
  • Teenage Cancer Trust Outstanding Contribution to Music: The Cribs
  • Best British Band: Biffy Clyro. Also nominated: Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian, The Vaccines, The Maccabees, The Cribs
  • Best International Band: The Killers. Also nominated: Tame Impala, The Black Keys, Odd Future, Crystal Castles, Foo Fighters
  • Best Solo Artist: Florence + the Machine. Also nominated: Jake Bugg, Noel Gallagher, Miles Kane, Grimes, Paul Weller
  • Best New Band: Palma Violets. Also nominated: Alt-J, Peace, Django Django, Alabama Shakes, Haim
  • Best Live Band: The Rolling Stones. Also nominated: The Maccabees, The Cribs, Blur, Biffy Clyro, Foals
  • Best Album: The Maccabees, for Given to the Wild. Also nominated: Frank Ocean, for Channel Orange, Jake Bugg, for Jake Bugg, Alt-J, for An Awesome Wave, The Vaccines, for Come Of Age, Tame Impala, for Lonerism
  • Best Track: Foals, for Inhaler. Also nominated: Arctic Monkeys, for R U Mine?, Haim, for Don’t Save Me, MIA, for Bad Girls, Palma Violets, for Best Of Friends, Tame Impala, for Elephant
  • Best Music Video: Arctic Monkeys, for R U Mine?. Also nominated: Grimes, for Oblivion, MIA, for Bad Girls, David Bowie, for Where Are We Now?, Haim, for Don’t Save Me, Tame Impala, for Feels Like We Only Go Backwards
  • Best Festival: Reading & Leeds. Also nominated: T In The Park, Bestival, Primavera, Latitude, Isle of Wight
  • Best TV Show: Fresh Meat. Also nominated: Breaking BadNoel Fielding’s Luxury ComedySherlockThe Thick Of ItDoctor Who
  • Best Film: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Also nominated: TediLL ManorsThe Dark Knight RisesSkyfallThe Perks Of Being A Wallflower
  • Best Music Film: The Rolling Stones, for Crossfire Hurricane. Also nominated: Searching For Sugar ManLCD Soundsystem, for Shut Up And Play The HitsHit So Hard: The Life & Near Death Story of Patty Schemel Marley, Led Zeppelin, for Celebration Day
  • Dancefloor Anthem: Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch, for Sweet Nothing. Also nominated: Mosca featuring Katy B, for What You Came For, Psy, for Gangnam Style, MIA, for Bad Girls, Kanye West and Jay-Z, for Paris, Solange, for Losing You
  • Hero of the Year: Barack Obama. Also nominated: David Bowie, Bradley Wiggins, Pussy Riot, Frank Ocean, Dave Grohl
  • Villain of the Year: Harry Styles. Also nominated: David Cameron, Skrillex, Psy, Fred Macpherson, Azealia Banks
  • Worst Band: One Direction. Also nominated: Muse, Mumford & Sons, Alt-J, Justin Bieber, Ed Sheeran
  • Hottest Man: Matthew Bellamy
  • Hottest Woman: Amy Lee
  • Best Band Blog or Twitter: Alana Haim (Haim), for @babyhaim. Also nominated: Muse, for @muse, Fred Macpherson (Spector), for @fredmacpherson, Theo Hutchcraft (Hurts), for @theohurts, Wiley, for @EskiDance, MIA, for @MIAuniverse
  • Best Fan Community: Muse. Also nominated: Hurts, 30 Seconds To Mars, Manic Street Preachers, The Killers, Enter Shikari
  • Best Book: Mike Skinner (The Streets), for The Story of the Streets. Also nominated: David Byrne, for How Music Works, Neil Young, for Waging Heavy Peace, Tim Burgess, for Telling Stories, The Rolling Stones, for 50, Peter Hook, for Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division
  • Best Small Festival: Festival No. 6. Also nominated: Sŵn, The Great Escape, Field Day, End Of The Road, Constellations
  • Best Reissue: Blur, for 21. Also nominated: Manic Street Preachers, for Generation Terrorists, The Prodigy, for The Fat Of The Land, Interpol, for Turn On The Bright Lights, Smashing Pumpkins, for Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness, Ian Brown, for Collected
  • Music Moment of the Year: 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony. Also nominated: David Bowie‘s comeback, The Stone Roses comeback shows at Heaton Park, The Rolling Stones 50th anniversary show at London’s O2 Arena, Green Day‘s secret set at Reading Festival, Pussy Riot‘s punk prayer

NME Awards 2014

February 26 at London’s O2 Academy in Brixton. Host: Huw Stephens

  • Godlike Genius Award: Blondie
  • Songwriters’ Songwriter: Paul McCartney
  • Award For Innovation: Damon Albarn
  • Teenage Cancer Trust Outstanding Contribution to Music Award: Belle and Sebastian
  • Best British Band: Arctic Monkeys. Also nominated: Foals, Palma Violets, Biffy Clyro, Disclosure, Two Door Cinema Club
  • Best International Band: Haim. Also nominated: Arcade Fire, Queens Of The Stone Age, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Phoenix, Vampire Weekend
  • Best Solo Artist: Lily Allen. Also nominated: Lorde, Jake Bugg, Paul McCartney, Kanye West, David Bowie
  • Best New Band: Drenge. Also nominated: Swim Deep, Chvrches, Jagwar Ma, Wolf Alice, Courtney Barnett
  • Best Live Band: Arctic Monkeys. Also nominated: Palma Violets, Biffy Clyro, Haim, Queens of the Stone Age, Savages
  • Best Album: Arctic Monkeys, for AM. Also nominated: Queens Of The Stone Age, for Like Clockwork, Peace, for In Love, Kanye West, for Yeezus, Savages, for Silence Yourself, Drenge, for Drenge
  • Best Track: Disclosure, for White Noise. Also nominated: Arctic Monkeys, for Do I Wanna Know?, Lily Allen, for Hard Out Here, Arcade Fire, for Reflektor, Primal Scream, for 2013, Daft Punk, for Get Lucky
  • Best Music Video: Eagulls, for Nerve Endings. Also nominated: Arctic Monkeys, for Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?, Pharrell, for Happy, Arcade Fire, for Reflektor, Lily Allen, for Hard Out Here, Haim, for Falling
  • Best Festival: Glastonbury. Also nominated: Reading & Leeds, T In The Park, Latitude, Bestival, V
  • Best TV Show: Breaking Bad. Also nominated: Fresh Meat, Sherlock, Game Of Thrones, Misfits, Doctor Who
  • Best Music Film – The Stone Roses, for Made of Stone. Also nominated: Muscle ShoalsSound CityThe National, for Mistaken For StrangersGood VibrationsMuse
  • Philip Hall Radar Award: Fat White Family
  • Best Reissue – The Clash, for Sound System. Also nominated: Nirvana, for In Utero: 20th Anniversary Edition, The Beta Band, for The Regal Years: 1997-2004, The Breeders, for LSXX (Last Splash 20th Anniversary Edition), Bob Dylan, for Bootleg Series, Vol. 10: Another Self Portrait (1969-1971), The Velvet Underground, for White Light/White Heat 45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition
  • Best Band Blog Or Twitter – Alana Haim (Haim). Also nominated: Jehnny Beth (Savages), Albert Hammond Jr, James Blunt, Theo Hutchcraft (Hurts), Grimes
  • Best Book: Morrissey, for Autobiography. Also nominated: Alan McGee, for Creation Stories, Bob Stanley, for Yeah Yeah Yeah, Mark Lewisohn, for The Beatles – All These Years: Volume One: Tune In, Beck, for Song Reader, Richard Hell, for I Dreamed I Was A Very Clean Tramp
  • Best Small Festival: Sŵn. Also nominated: RockNess, Y Not, Kendall Calling, Green Man, Festival Number 6
  • Best Fan Community: Arctic Monkeys. Also nominated: Hurts, Haim, Muse, Peace, Morrissey
  • Music Moment of the Year: Noel Gallagher and Damon Albarn come together for Teenage Cancer Trust. Also nominated: Pussy Riot are freed, Arctic Monkeys headline Glastonbury, Rolling Stones headline Glastonbury, Morrissey‘s autobiography is released, Kanye West brings Jesus impersonator on stage
  • Worst Band: The 1975. Also nominated: One Direction, The Wanted, Imagine Dragons, 30 Seconds To Mars, Muse
  • Hero of the Year: Alex Turner. Also nominated: David Bowie, Este Haim, Russell Brand, Pussy Riot, Lou Reed
  • Villain of the Year: Harry Styles. Also nominated: Miley Cyrus, Robin Thicke, David Cameron, Vladimir Putin, Russell Brand

See also

NME Awards – 2004-2006

I’ve split the more recent years of the NME Awards out into multiple posts, as there’s a lot more to say about them. So here’s 2004-2006:

NME Awards 2004

Hosted on 12 Feb 2004, by Vernon Kay.

  • Best Video: Radiohead, for There There. Also nominated: Radiohead, for There ThereThe Darkness, for I Believe in a Thing Called LoveThe White Stripes, for The Hardest Button To ButtonMuse, for Time is Running Out
  • Best Album: Radiohead, for Hail to the Thief. Also nominated: The White Stripes, for ElephantMuse, for AbsolutionThe DarknessThe Strokes
  • Best New Band: Kings of Leon
  • Best International Band: Kings of Leon. Also nominated: The White Stripes
  • Living Legend: Arthur Lee
  • Best Live Band: Queens of the Stone Age. Nominated: RadioheadMuse
  • Best UK Band: The Libertines. Nominated: RadioheadQueens of the Stone AgeMuse
  • Best Single: The White Stripes, for Seven Nation Army. Also nominated: Radiohead, for There ThereThe Darkness, for I Believe in a Thing Called Love
  • Best Solo Artist: Ryan Adams
  • Worst Single: Fast Food Rockers, for Fast Food Song
  • Most Missed: Johnny Cash
  • Best Website: NME.com
  • Hero of the Year: Pete Doherty
  • Villainof the Year: George H. W. Bush
  • Fight of the Year : Jack White vs Jason von Bondie
  • Waster of the Year: Pete Doherty
  • Sexiest Man: Har Mar Superstar
  • Sexiest Woman: Brody Dalle
  • Best Haircut: Caleb Followill
  • Best Live Venue: Brixton Academy
  • Best Album Artwork: Radiohead, for Hail to the Thief
  • Best TV Show: The Office
  • Best Film: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
  • The Fuck Me! Award For Innovation: Dizzee Rascal

Shockwaves NME Awards 2005

Host: Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.

  • Best Radio Show: Zane Lowe. Also nominated: Steve LamacqChris MoylesColin Murray and Edith BowmanChristian O’Connell
  • Best Solo Artist: Graham Coxon. Also nominated: Ian BrownEminemMorrisseyThe Streets
  • Best Live Band: Muse. Also nominated: BabyshamblesFranz FerdinandThe LibertinesRazorlight
  • Best Track: Franz Ferdinand, for Take Me Out. Also nominated: The Libertines, for Can’t Stand Me NowRazorlight, for Golden TouchThe Streets, for Dry Your EyesU2, for Vertigo
  • Best Music DVD: Oasis, for Definitely Maybe. Also nominated: Nirvana, for With the Lights OutPixies, for PixiesScissor Sisters, for We are Scissor Sisters and So Are YouThe White Stripes, for Live Under Blackpool Lights
  • Philip Hall Radar Award: Kaiser Chiefs
  • Best TV Show: Little Britain
  • Best International Band: The Killers. Also nominated: Kings of LeonScissor SistersThe StrokesU2
  • Best New Band: Razorlight. Also nominated: BabyshamblesBloc PartyKasabianThe Killers
  • Best Video: Green Day, for American Idiot. Also nominated: Beastie Boys, for Triple TroubleEminem, for MoshFranz Ferdinand, for Take Me OutThe Streets, for Fit But You Know It
  • Special Award for Lifelong Service to Music: John Peel
  • John Peel Award for Musical Innovation: The Others
  • Best Film: Shaun of the Dead
  • Best Album: Franz Ferdinand, for Franz Ferdinand. Also nominated: Green Day, for American IdiotThe Libertines, for The LibertinesScissor Sisters, for Scissor SistersThe Streets, for A Grand Don’t Come for Free
  • Best Live Event: Glastonbury
  • Best British Band: The Libertines. Also nominated: KasabianFranz FerdinandMuseSnow Patrol
  • Godlike Genius Award: New Order & Joy Division
  • Best Dressed: Brandon Flowers, of The Killers
  • Worst Dressed: Jonathan Ross
  • Best Live Venue: London Carling Brixton Academy
  • Best Website: NME.com
  • Hero of the Year: John Peel
  • Sexiest Man: Brandon Flowers
  • Sexiest Woman: Barbara Knox
  • Worst Album: Insane Clown Posse, for Carnival of Carnage
  • Worst Band: Insane Clown Posse

Shockwaves NME Awards 2006

Host: Russell Brand

  • Best New Band: Arctic Monkeys. Also nominated: Editors, Magic NumbersMaximo ParkWe Are Scientists
  • Best Video: Oasis, for The Importance of Being Idle. Also nominated: Franz Ferdinand, for Do You Want ToGorillaz, for DareKaiser Chiefs, for I Predict a RiotThe Strokes, for Juicebox
  • Best International Band: The Strokes. Also nominated: Arcade FireGreen DayThe KillersFoo Fighters
  • Best TV Show: Gonzo. Also nominated: Little BritainLostThe Mighty BooshPeep Show
  • Best Solo Artist: Kanye West. Also nominated: Antony and the JohnsonsRichard AshcroftIan BrownGraham Coxon
  • Philip Hall Radar Award: The Long Blondes
  • Best Radio Show: Zane Lowe. Also nominated:, Steve LamacqChris MoylesLauren LaverneColin Murray and Edith Bowman
  • Best Event: Carling Weekend: Reading and Leeds Festivals. Also nominated: Glastonbury, Live8, T in the Park, V Festival
  • Best Live Band: Franz Ferdinand. Also nominated: Arctic MonkeysGreen DayKaiser ChiefsOasis
  • Best Music DVD: Live 8. Also nominated: Dig!Green Day, for Bullet in a BibleKaiser Chiefs, for EnjoymentMorrissey, for Who Put the M in Manchester
  • Best Film: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Also nominated: Batman BeginsCharlie and the Chocolate FactoryKing KongSin City
  • John Peel Music Innovation Award: Gorillaz
  • Best Track: Arctic Monkeys, for I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor. Also nominated: Babyshambles, for Fuck ForeverFranz Ferdinand, for Do You Want ToKaiser Chiefs, for I Predict a RiotOasis, for The Importance of Being Idle
  • Best Album: Kaiser Chiefs, for Employment. Also nominated: Babyshambles, for Down in AlbionBloc Party, for Silent AlarmFranz Ferdinand, for You Could Have it So Much BetterOasis, for Don’t Believe the Truth
  • Best British Band: Arctic Monkeys. Also nominated: Bloc PartyKaiser ChiefsFranz FerdinandOasis
  • Godlike Genius Award: Ian Brown
  • Best Website: NME.com. Also nominated: Kaiser Chiefs, MySpace.com, OasisWe Are Scientists
  • Best Venue: London Brixton Carling Academy. Also nominated: Glasgow Barrowlands, London Astoria, London KOKO, Manchester Apollo
  • Hero of the Year: Bob Geldof. Also nominated: Carl BarâtPete DohertyLiam GallagherAlex Turner
  • Villain of the Year: George W. Bush. Also nominated: Tony BlairJames BluntPete DohertyJustin Hawkins
  • Best Dressed: Ricky Wilson. Also nominated: Pete DohertyBrandon FlowersLiam GallagherAlex Kapranos
  • Worst Dressed: Justin Hawkins. Also nominated: Pete DohertyChris MartinJack WhiteRobbie Williams
  • Worst Album: James Blunt, for Back to Bedlam. Also nominated: Babyshambles, for Down in AlbionThe Bravery, for The BraveryThe Darkness, for One Way Ticket to Hell… And BackMcFly, for Wonderland
  • Worst Band: Son of Dork. Also nominated: BabyshamblesColdplayThe DarknessMcFly
  • Sexiest Man: Pete Doherty
  • Sexiest Woman: Madonna

See also

Edited 12 June 2018 – added some winners