Duffy and the Kings of Leon led winners at the 2009 Brit Awards announced tonight in London.
Welsh singer Duffy was named best British female and best British breakthrough act, before taking the best album prize for “Rockferry.”
The Kings of Leon won both best international group and best international album for “Only by the Night.”
Katy Perry, known for her song “I Kissed A Girl,” was named best international female winner and Kanye West was best international male.
Coldplay (nominated in four categories!) and Radiohead surprisingly left with nothing.
Heavy metal act Iron Maiden was the surprise winner of the live act title, while the Pet Shop Boys finished the evening with a special Brit for an outstanding contribution to music.
The show at Earls Court hall was started by Irish group U2 performing its new single “Get on Your Boots.” Singer Bono, sporting eyeliner and dark suit, declared “The future needs a big kiss” and “I don’t wanna talk about war between nations.”
He was followed by co-host Kylie Minogue with a brief rendition of “Can’t Get You Out of My Head.” Girls Aloud also sang, wearing feather boas and corsets.
Jubilant record executives were celebrating with champagne by the end of the ceremony, recalling success for Britons last week at the Grammy ceremony, where Coldplay and Adele won prizes.
The BRIT Awards are the British Phonographic Industry’s annual pop-music awards, sponsored by Mastercard Inc., and presented in one form or another since 1977. Winners receive a Brit statuette and sales usually rise after a victory.
For all the award winners on the night, click the "click here to read more" link and find out.
BRIT AWARDS 2009 WINNERS:
Best British female winner: Duffy.
(Also nominated: Adele, Beth Rowley, Estelle, M.I.A.)
Best international female winner: Katy Perry.
(Also nominated Beyonce, Gabriella Cilmi, Pink, Santogold)
Best British breakthrough act: Duffy.
(Also nominated: Adele, Last Shadow Puppets, Scouting for Girls, The Ting Tings)
Best international group winner: Kings of Leon.
(Also nominated: AC/DC, Fleet Foxes, Killers, MGMT.)
Best British male winner: Paul Weller.
(Also nominated: Ian Brown, James Morrison, The Streets, Will Young.)
Best international album winner: Kings of Leon, “Only by the Night.”
(Also nominated: AC/DC, “Black Ice;” Fleet Foxes, “Fleet Foxes;” Killers, “Day & Age;” MGMT, “Oracular
Spectacular”)
Best British live act: Iron Maiden.
(Also nominated: Coldplay, Elbow, Scouting for Girls, The Verve)
Best British group winner: Elbow.
(Also nominated: Coldplay, Girls Aloud, Radiohead, Take That)
Critics’ Choice: Florence and the Machine.
Best international male winner: Kanye West.
(Also nominated: Beck, Neil Diamond, Jay-Z, Seasick Steve)
Best British single: Girls Aloud, “The Promise.”
(Also nominated: Coldplay, “Viva La Vida;” Duffy, “Mercy;” Leona Lewis, “Better in Time;”
Scouting for Girls, “Heartbeat.”)
Mastercard Best British Album winner: Duffy, “Rockferry.”
(Also nominated: Coldplay, “Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends;” Elbow, “The Seldom Seen Kid;” Radiohead, “In Rainbows;” The Ting Tings, “We Started Nothing”)
Producer of the year: Bernard Butler.
(Also nominated: Brian Eno, Steve Mac)
Outstanding Contribution to Music: Pet Shop Boys.
