Birmingham basks in the spotlight at BBC Music Awards
BIRMINGHAM basked in the entertainment spotlight as it successfully hosted the latest BBC Music Awards.
Thousands of music fans packed out the Genting Arena for last night’s event, which was hosted by Chris Evans and Fearne Cotton and attended by an array of performers from the UK and further afield.
Boy band One Direction opened the show, with other performers including Irish singer Hozier, Ellie Goulding, Little Mix, The Stereophonics, Faithless and Rod Stewart.
Singer Adele was the big winner on the night carrying off British Artist of the Year and BBC Live Performance of the Year. However, the singer, who has sold out four nights at the venue next year, was not at the show and accepted her awards via a pre-recorded video.
Other awards went to Taylor Swift (International artist of the Year); Hozier – Take Me to the Church (Song of the Year); and Jack Garratt (BBC Introducing Act).
Birmingham was heavily featured in the show, with video links shown at the event pre-recorded at venues such as the new Grand Central shopping centre.
Insiders said they were delighted that the arena was able to secure the event and said the opening of the new £150m Resorts World Birmingham complex next to the venue had been a key factor in the BBC’s decision to move the awards show out of London for the first time.
