Labels wise, once again it was an event organised by major labels for major
labels. Only that runaway Beggars imprint XL could break through for the
independent sector with Basement Jaxx taking Best Dance and White Stripes
Best International Group. Universal, BMG, Warners and Sony all got their
fair share - but a bit of a poor showing for EMI who - having dominated many
an awards event of late with Robbie, Coldplay and Radiohead - had to make do
with that pre-announced Outstanding Contribution award for Duran Duran.

Production wise things seemed to go well on the night, despite the return of
the backstage bar. No major bust ups, no leaked winners lists, no major no-shows - and a swish TV package followed on ITV two hours later.

Whether that's a good thing is, of course, debatable. There are those who feel that swish well produced events just aint rock 'n' roll. That camp argue that live performances at the Brits rely too heavily on big American artists and the ITV-led format turns the whole thing into a very expensive edition of CD:UK - something that doesn't truly demonstrate the diversity, excitement and rawness of the British music scene. Then again, perhaps they think about things too much, the Brits have, after all, never been (or even claimed to have been) the coolest night out of the year.

Anyway - enough rambling, winners as follows:

British Male Solo Artist: Daniel Bedingfield (Universal/Polydor)
British Female Solo Artist: Dido (BMG / Cheeky)
MasterCard British Album: The Darkness - Permission to Land (Warners/Must
Destroy)
British Group: The Darkness (Warners/Must Destroy)
British Single: Dido - White Flag (BMG / Cheeky)
British Rock Act: The Darkness (Warners/Must Destroy)
British Urban Act: Lemar (Sony)
British Dance Act: Basement Jaxx (Beggars / XL)
British Breakthrough Artist: Busted (Universal)
Pop Act - Busted (Universal)
International Male Solo Artist: Justin Timberlake (BMG/Jive)
International Female Solo Artist: Beyonce (Sony)
International Album: Justin Timberlake - Justified (BMG / Jive)
International Group: White Stripes (Beggars / XL)
International Breakthrough Artist: 50 Cent (Universal/Interscope)
Outstanding Contribution to Music: Duran Duran (EMI)