British singer-songwriter and record producer Raye has made history at the Brit Awards, taking home a total of six prizes, including songwriter of the year — a first for a female artist.
She surpassed the previous record of four wins at a single ceremony, held by Blur, Adele and Harry Styles. Before the awards, she’d already made history by being the most nominated artist in a single year, with seven nominations.
Accepting the Songwriter Of The Year award, the 26-year old called on music executives to allow songwriters to receive royalty payments.
“I think we need to have a conversation,” she said. “I want to normalise giving songwriters master royalty points.”
“It doesn’t have to be at your expense, but it just means that if the songs win big, then the writers get to win big too. Please allow that to happen. Please, please, please. Thank you.”
Winning Song Of The Year for ‘Escapism’, the biggest-selling single by a female artist last year, Raye said, “I don’t really know what to say but thank you to my team.”
“I’ve always dreamed of saying that…thank you to my team. Thank you to my distribution company who are called Human Re Sources, a small little imprint in America. No one else would take my songs but, Jay, thank you for believing in my music,” she said, referring to head of Human Re Sources, J. Erving.
Winning Best R&B Act, Raye reflected on the importance of the genre.
“When I was about 15, 16 year old, I wanted to be an R&B artist, and I was told a lie, that R&B wouldn’t sell in the UK.”
“R&B is so important and there are so many incredible R&B artists in the UK who are eating it up.”
She thanked fellow British artist Mahalia — “who campaigned for this award,” and Cleo Sol, “who is immaculate” and Georgia Smith.
Accepting her award for Best New Artist, Raye thanked her parents, and her grandmother, before explaining how that despite having spent years releasing her songs, she still feels like a ‘new artist.’
“I released my first song when I was 15…but I do feel like a new artist. I got to start again. The artist I was three years ago wouldn’t believe the sight she’s seeing today. I’m in control. I’m my own boss.”
Collecting her prize for Album of the Year, Raye was accompanied by her grandmother on stage, who comforted her granddaughter as she broke down in tears.
“You just don’t understand what this means to me,” she said. “My grandma was awake till three am praying for me and my beautiful sister. My middle name is Agatha, and this is Agatha Dawson.”
“I want to thank all the writers and the musicians who are part of this.”
“I’m ugly crying on national television. I’m so proud of this album. All I ever wanted to be was an artist, and now I’m an artist with an album of the year. Thank you so much, this is too much – come on Grandma, let’s go.”