*Tom Odell is announced winner of 2013 Critics' Choice Award*

*Full 2013 category list announced including...* 

*Introduction of the new BRITs Global Success Award*

 *Reinstatement of British Live Act*

Wednesday 20th February 2013 at The O2 Arena, London 

Exclusively broadcast live on ITV1- Presented by James Corden

Today the BRITs reveal Tom Odell as the winner of this year’s prestigious Critics’ Choice Award, with AlunaGeorge and Laura Mvula as runners up. Odell is the first male winner.

West Sussex-born Odell has been writing songs from the age of 13. Now 22, Tom has built up a sizeable fanbase, with support from the public and critics alike. He released his debut E.P ‘Songs From Another Love’ to much acclaim in late 2012, following the release with a performance on Later...with Jools Holland. 2013 is set to be an incredible year for this fantastic new British artist.

On winning the Critics’ Choice Award, Tom said:“I’m thrilled and honoured to win the BRITs Critics’ Choice Award. I genuinely can’t believe it. Thank you so much. Looking at the list of amazing female artists who have won the Award already, I just hope I don’t let the boys down!”

The Critics’ Choice Award is for British acts tipped by critics for mainstream success in the forthcoming year who are yet to release their debut album. In previous years it has been awarded to Emeli Sandé (2012), Jessie J (2011), Ellie Goulding (2010), Florence and the Machine (2009) and Adele (2008). The winner is chosen by a team of experts including the music editors of national newspapers, key music and lifestyle magazines, music websites and the heads of music at major radio and music TV stations.

Full category list announced including first BRITs Global Success Award
Music has always been one of the nation’s greatest global exports and for the first time the phenomenal achievement of British artists overseas will be recognised with the new BRITs Global Success Award.

The BRITs Global Success Award recipient will be the act with the highest international sales achieved during the 2012 calendar year. These figures exclude UK sales.

2013 will also see the return of British Live Act for the first time since 2009.

The BRIT Awards 2013 with MasterCard will see 11 bespoke Damien Hirst designed trophies presented on the night to those artists who have enjoyed extraordinary success over the last year, both in the UK and internationally. There is no higher accolade in British music. 

A 12th trophy will be presented to War Child in recognition of their incredible work as the charity celebrate their 20th year. Two awards (British Producer of the Year in association with the MPG Awards and the Critics’ Choice Award in association with War Child) will be presented in advance of the ceremony.

Full category list:

British Male Solo Artist 

British Female Solo Artist 

British Breakthrough Act 

British Group

British Live Act

Critics’ Choice

British Single

MasterCard British Album of the Year 

BRITs Global Success

British Producer Of The Year 

International Male Solo Artist 

International Female Solo Artist 

International Group

Special Recognition Award - To be awarded to War Child

Notes to editors:

BRIT - British Record Industry Trust

The BRIT (British Record Industry Trust) Awards is organised by the BPI – the British recorded music industry association - which has over 400 record company members large and small who between them account for in excess of 90% of UK recorded music sales.The BRIT Awards 2013 with MasterCard will be the 33rd BRIT Awards, which has raised more than £14m for The BRIT Trust charity, whose main beneficiaries are the BRIT School for Performing Arts & Technology www.brit.croydon.sch.uk, Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk and other selected charities which match the mission criteria.

Over 8,000 young people have been given free education and the opportunity to enter the BRIT School since its opening in 1991 and more than 10,000 children and adults have been helped by the extraordinary music therapy work carried out by Nordoff-Robbins.

ITV

ITV is the largest commercial television network in the UK. It is the home of popular television from the biggest entertainment events, to original drama, major sport, landmark factual series and independent news. It operates a family of channels including ITV1, ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4 and CITV which are broadcast free-to-air. ITV is also focused on delivering its programming across multiple platforms including itv.com, video on demand on cable television and other ‘closed’ platforms, mobile devices and games consoles. ITV Studios produces and sells programmes and formats in the UK and worldwide, and id comprised of ITV’s UK and international production operations, international distribution, home entertainment, publishing, merchandising and licensing.

MasterCard

MasterCard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a global payments and technology company. It operates the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard’s products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MasterCardNews, join the discussion on the Cashless Conversations Blog and subscribe for the latest news.

War Child

War Child protect children and young people from the brutal effects of conflict and help rebuild their lives.
We are on the ground in some of the worst conflict-affected places in the world, providing support that changes lives.
And we are there long after the TV cameras have gone home: for the immediate impacts and for the long-term, from emergencies to recovery. We’re there for the most vulnerable children whose homes, families and communities have been torn apart. This includes children living and working on the streets, exploited in the worst forms of child labour and child-survivors of sexual violence.

We work to change the cause and not symptoms. We do this by working with children and communities, not for them – supporting quality education for those least able to access it, safe livelihood opportunities for those who would otherwise be exploited, and daily protection from violations against children.
This is far bigger than we are. We’re on the ground helping tens of thousands of people and we’re lobbying governments and decision-makers to improve the lives of millions more.War Child currently work in Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Uganda and Syria.

You can donate to War Child and find out more by going to www.warchild.org.uk If your company wants to get involved please contact fundraising@warchild.org.uk

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