Brits Billion Award

BRIT Billion Award
Awarded forAchievement of over 1 billion digital streams in the UK
CountryUnited Kingdom (UK)
Presented byBritish Phonographic Industry (BPI)
First awarded2023
Currently held byVarious (see Recipients)
Websitewww.brits.co.uk/brit-billion

The BRIT Billion Award is a special award given by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) to artist who have achieved over one billion digital streams in the United Kingdom. An extension of the BPI's music certification system, the number of streams is verified using data calculated by the Official Charts Company and is the first time in the fifty-year history of the system that an artist's combined success over multiple projects has been recognized as a collective total. The one billion career streams include tracks where the artist is the primary performer, as well as tracks where they appear as a featured artist.[1][2]

The award was established in 2023 and first presented on May 4, 2023, to thirteen artists. To date, thirty-two recipients have received the BRIT Billion Award. The most recent recipient is Eminem, who was presented with the award in July 2024. At 20 years old, Olivia Rodrigo is the youngest recipient. Ed Sheeran is the first (and only) artist to be awarded the gold version of the award for reaching ten billion streams. James Bay received his Brit Billion on October 8, 2024 as well.

Creation

[edit]

The award was created to reflect the growing importance of streaming in the UK. In a statement announcing the initial recipients, Sophie Jones, Chief Executive of the BPI, explained: "for a recording artist, there can be few greater sources of pride than having a Platinum or Gold disc on their wall, but in an era when success in measured in the hundreds of millions and indeed billions of streams, it was clear that we needed a new and additional way to recognise and celebrate outstanding achievement in recorded music, and I feel certain that having a BRIT Billion Award will become equally prized."[3]

The trophy itself is manufactured by Gaudio Awards in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire.[4]

Recipients

[edit]
Date Image Recipient Country of Origin Ref.
4 May 2023 ABBA  Sweden [5]
AJ Tracey  United Kingdom
Anne-Marie
Coldplay
Ellie Goulding
George Ezra
Headie One
Mariah Carey  United States
Lewis Capaldi  United Kingdom
Raye
Rita Ora
Sam Smith
Whitney Houston  United States
26 May 2023 James Arthur  United Kingdom [6]
4 June 2023 Years & Years [7]
11 June 2023 Becky Hill [8]
5 July 2023 Clean Bandit
9 July 2023 Lana Del Rey  United States [9]
20 July 2023 Queen  United Kingdom [10]
30 July 2023 Wizkid  Nigeria [11]
16 August 2023 Olivia Rodrigo  United States [12]
29 August 2023 Billie Eilish [13]
28 September Zara Larsson  Sweden
4 October 2023 Ed Sheeran  United Kingdom
30 October 2023 The Rolling Stones
1 December 2023 Ella Henderson
13 December 2023 Joel Corry
27 April 2024 Jess Glynne
16 May 2024 Mabel [14]
16 July 2024 Burna Boy  Nigeria [15]
Camila Cabello  Cuba [16]
24 July 2024 Eminem  United States [17]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "BRIT Billion is the landmark Award from the BRIT Certified scheme, celebrating a total of one billion UK streams". Brits.com. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  2. ^ Koneman, Liam (19 December 2022). "BPI to launch BRIT Billion award in new landmark for BRIT Certified scheme". BBC News. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  3. ^ Smith, Carl (4 May 2023). "Lewis Capaldi, Mariah Carey and more honoured with new BRIT Billion award". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  4. ^ Ayers, Dan (29 May 2023). "BRIT Billion awards being made in Gloucestershire". BBC News. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  5. ^ Walcott, Escher (4 May 2023). "Lewis Capaldi, ABBA and Ellie Goulding among recipients of inaugural BRIT Billion award". Evening Standard. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  6. ^ "James Arthur receives BRIT Billion Award live on BBC's The One Show". Brits.com. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  7. ^ "Olly Alexander receives a BRIT Billion Award for Years & Years at Mighty Hoopla". Brits.com. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Becky Hill receives BRIT Billion Award at Manchester's Parklife Festival". Brits.com. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  9. ^ BRIT Awards (July 13, 2023). "Presented with her BRIT Billion Award ahead of her headline show at @BSTHydePark on the weekend, Lana Del Rey is the latest artist to celebrate one billion UK streams! 💫". Twitter. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  10. ^ "Queen Receives Brit Billion Award for Streaming Milestone: 'We Are Still Around and We Hope to Entertain You a Little'". Variety. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  11. ^ "WIZKID BAGS BRIT BILLION AWARD FOR 1B STREAMS". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  12. ^ "Olivia Rodrigo becomes youngest act to receive Brit Billion Award". STV News. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Billie Eilish Receives BRIT Billion Award". Billboard. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  14. ^ "x.com". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  15. ^ "Burna Boy receives plaque for historic 2 billion UK streams". Pulse.ng). Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  16. ^ "Camila Cabello joins the BRIT Billions club". KS95 94.5FM. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  17. ^ "Eminem Tops 7 Billion U.K. Streams, Receives Brit Billion Award". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
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