Today, 26th January, NME proudly announces Wiley as this year’s recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award. Wiley is confirmed to attend the ceremony to collect the gong and is set to storm the stage with a special live performance. Tickets for the ceremony on 15 February at London’s O2 Academy Brixton are on sale at nme.com/tickets. 

With a decade and a half in the industry, Wiley began his career in UK garage crew Pay As You Go Cartel before going on to found influential grime crew Roll Deep in the mid 2000s. He later found mainstream success with breakthrough track ‘Wearing My Rolex’ in 2008 and later with his first UK chart #1 ‘Heatwave’. He will be awarded the Outstanding Contribution To Music Award following the recent release of his 11th album, Godfather. Heralded by NME as a ‘statement of intent’ in their recent five star review, Godfather ‘sees Wiley come to reclaim the genre that he helped create’, with features from Skepta, Flowdan, Frisco, Devlin and JME. He is now looking forward to a sold out headline show at London’s Roundhouse on the 9th February. 

Wiley says: “Thank you for everyone’s support and thank you NME for this award. It’s because of the fans support that I am here, and my family and friends who’ve been behind me from day one. This for all the massive and the crew"

On presenting Wiley with the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award NME editor-in-chief Mike Williams says: “Wiley isn’t just the Godfather of grime, he’s the inventor of it too. He’s the man the rest of the scene looks up to, and the figurehead of the most exciting musical movement in a generation. Without Wiley, the entire landscape of British music would look very different, so it’s a huge honour to recognise his influence and talents by awarding him NME’s Outstanding Contribution to Music. This year’s ceremony has just got even more exciting.” 

Two more incredible acts are also today confirmed to perform at the legendary ceremony, with Huw Stephens confirmed to once again host the proceedings. Following the release of their massive 2016 album ‘Wild World’ is the Best British Band (supported by Zig-Zag), Best Live Band (supported by Nikon) Best Album (supported by HMV) and Best Track (Good Grief) nominees Bastille. Last year the global best selling band completed a European Arena tour including sold out London O2 shows and will take to the Brixton stage to perform what is set to be a captivating performance. Tipped as one to watch, also joining the thrilling line-up is Best New Artist (supported by TOPMAN) nominee Dua Lipa, the rising star who has captured the attention of music fans around the world. The past 12 months have seen her feature on Sean Paul’s track ‘No Lie’ and rise up the charts with self-penned songs ‘Hotter Than Hell’ and ‘Blow Your Mind (Mwah)’. Speaking of performing at the VO5 NME Awards, Dua Lipa said: “I'm so excited to perform at the NME awards, it’s gonna be really special. Have loved the NME forever - someone pinch me!”

This year’s nominees were revealed and celebrated at the Nikon Presents the NME Awards Nominations Party which saw Biffy Clyro perform an intimate acoustic set at London’s Omeara. Beyoncé leads the polls with a huge five nominations including Best Album, Hero of the Year, Music Moment of the Year, Best International Female (supported by VO5) and Best Video for Formation. The 1975, Skepta, Bastille and Christine and the Queens follow close behind with four nominations apiece, going head-to-head in key categories such as Best British Band (supported by Zig-Zag), Best Album (supported by HMV) and Best Track (supported by Red Stripe). Other hotly anticipated categories include Best British Male (supported by the Pilot Pen Company), with nominees such as Zayn Malik, Skepta and Jamie T and Best International Band (supported by Austin, Texas) with nominees including Kings of Leon, Green Day, Tame Impala and more. Fans can vote for who they want to see scoop an award at www.nme.com/awardsvote. 

Renowned for tipping who will be the next big thing, the annual NME Awards Tour has famously featured the likes of the Arctic Monkeys, Coldplay, The Killers, Bloc Party, Florence and the Machine and many more. This year will see Blossoms headline the VO5 NME Awards Tour with hotly-tipped newcomers Cabbage and indie pop prodigy Rory Wynne also joining the bill. The VO5 NME Awards Tour 2017 kicks off in Keele on March 16. Tickets are on sale now, with some dates sold out. 

Tickets for the VO5 NME Awards 2017 are on sale at nme.com/tickets

VO5 NME Awards Tour date tickets can be purchased at:

www.NME.com/tickets  
www.gigsandtours.com  
www.ticketmaster.co.uk

For more details keep checking www.nme.com