3. Embrace anarchy

Where was the chaos? The most memorable Brits happen when there’s turmoil, tension or bad behaviour on the floor. I’m not advocating a return to the Nineties, when John Prescott was doused with water by Chumbawamba or Blur and Oasis nearly came to blows and stole each other’s awards, but it says a lot about this year’s show that the most interesting ‘moment’ was Anne-Marie twisting her ankle on stage. 

Where was the sense of anarchy? Where were the politics? There is an awful lot of be angry about in 2022, but this was nowhere to be seen. Boris Johnson got just one mention that I saw, from Gilligan. At one point Jama told us that there were “a lot of bladdered people around” but I didn’t see any (perhaps she was talking about Number 10 after all). Behaviour is reflective of the culture, and perhaps the culture in music just isn’t that rock n’ roll any more. Social distancing may not have helped, but the party needs to return to that Brits floor once again.

4. Celebrate live music

The Brits should reinstate the award for Best Live Act. This was canned in 2010 but live performance is increasingly important for artists and audiences alike. Before the pandemic hit, the value of Britain’s live music sector hit record highs. This should continue once life returns to normal, particularly since performers get so little income from streaming. Production values at live shows are constantly improving. Chuck in the dizzying possibilities afforded by technology (we’re just three months from the opening of ABBA’s much-hyped ‘ABBA-tar’ show), and you have a thriving part of the music ecosystem. The pandemic itself also led to some spectacular virtual concerts, such as Dua Lipa’s Studio 2054 and Gorillaz’ Song Machine Live from Kong, both of which were staged with the help of Glastonbury creative stalwarts Block9, who also designed the Brits set. Live music should surely be recognised.

5. Pick presenters who make sense 

As brilliant as Mo Farrah and Brian Cox may be, the sportsman and actor seemed out of place presenting two of the Brits’ most major awards, Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year, to Adele and Ed Sheeran respectively.

Where was Paul McCartney, who has been close to ubiquitous in recent months due to Get Back and his best-selling Lyrics book? What about Tom Jones, who has had a number one album in the last year, or Iron Maiden, who got to number two? Rod Stewart and Shirley Bassey reached number five (separately) and Joan Armatrading and Diana Ross both went top 10. I know Elton John played at the ceremony last year, but his recent Lockdown Sessions album featured Dua Lipa, Rina Sawayama and Lil Nas X, all of whom are loved by the youth to whom the Brits is so keen to appeal. Surely one of them would have picked up the phone?