The Wanted
Ironik
Olly Murs
Ellie Goulding
+ more

The top award for Producer of the Year – which also earned its winner a BRIT Award for Best Producer – went to Paul Epworth, who worked with Florence and the Machine on their debut album Lungs. Florence attended the ceremony to present Paul with both his Music Producers Guild and BRIT Awards.

Other award recipients included Island Records founder Chris Blackwell who won the Outstanding Contribution to UK Music Award, sponsored by PPL. Producer Joe Boyd (Nick Drake)  accepted the Award on behalf of Chris Blackwell.  Island Records started over 50 years ago with ska and rock steady 45’s, through to Bob Marley, Steve Winwood, Roxy Music, U2 and Florence and the Machine!

Steve Levine, chairman of the Music Producers Guild, says: “These awards mean a great deal to the UK’s professional recording community because they know they are being judged by their peers. Audio professionals are positioned at the very heart of the music industry – we make the content that is the industry’s product. As an organisation, the Music Producers Guild is delighted to lead the way in recognising the wealth of production and engineering creativity we have in this country and bringing about greater awareness, both within the music industry and among the wider public, of the talent and skills involved in making great records.”

In total, 15 Awards were presented (see below for a full list of winners). Many of those recognised for their achievements over the past 12 months were cheered on by the artists they have worked with.
MUSIC PRODUCERS GUILD AWARDS 2010 – THE WINNERS
Producer of The Year – sponsored by the BPI: Paul Epworth
Shortlist: Jim Abbiss, Paul Epworth, Ethan Johns, Steve Lillywhite

Recording Engineer of The Year – sponsored by Prism Sound: Mick Glossop

Shortlist: Haydn Bendall, Mick Glossop, Tony Platt
Mix Engineer of The Year – sponsored by Avid: Cenzo Townshend
Shortlist: Andy Bradfield, Mark ‘Spike’ Stent, Cenzo Townsend

Mastering Engineer of The Year – sponsored by SADiE: Tony Cousins (Metropolis Mastering)
Shortlist: Tony Cousins (Metropolis Mastering), Ray Staff, Tim Young (Metropolis Mastering)

International Producer of the Year – sponsored by Focusrite: Rick Rubin
Shortlist: T-Bone Burnett, Brendan O’Brien, Rick Rubin

Live Album of The Year – sponsored by Shure: Van Morrison – Astral Weeks, Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Shortlist: Buena Vista Social Club – At Carnegie Hall, Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood – Live at Madison Square Garden, Van Morrison – Astral Weeks, Live at the Hollywood Bowl

UK Album of The Year (09) – sponsored by British Grove Studios: Dizzee Rascal – Tongue N Cheek
Shortlist: Dizzee Rascal –Tongue n Cheek, Florence & The Machine – Lungs, Muse – The Resistance

UK Single of The Year (09) – sponsored by Cream Studios: Muse – Uprising
Shortlist: Bat For Lashes – Daniel, Florence and the Machine –Rabbit Heart, Muse – Uprising

The Joe Meek Award for Innovation In Production – sponsored by Joemeek  by PMI Audio: Les Paul

Re-mixer of The Year– sponsored by Discovering Arts: Simian Mobile Disco (James Ford & Jas Shaw)
Shortlist: The Go! Team, Simian Mobile Disco (James Ford & Jas Shaw), SixToes, Skream (Oliver Jones)

Breakthrough Producer of The Year – sponsored by Deep Recording Studios: Paul Savage
Shortlist: Jason Boshoff, Carl Bown, Paul Savage

Breakthrough Engineer of The Year – sponsored by TL Audio: Mark Rankin
Shortlist: Mark Rankin, Jimmy Robertson, Paul Savage

Best Studio – sponsored by Robertson Taylor: Kore Studios
Shortlist: AIR Lyndhurst, British Grove Studios, Kore Studios, Livingston Studios

Outstanding Contribution to UK Music – sponsored by PPL: Chris Blackwell

Unsung Hero – sponsored by Alchemea: Chris Jenkins, Solid State Logic
  

The Music Producers Guild (UK) is an independent and democratic organisation that encourages the highest standards of music production, and actively engages with other music industry organisations to campaign and lobby on matters of important mutual interest.

The MPG represents and promotes the interests of all those involved in the production of recorded music, including producers, engineers, mixers, re-mixers, programmers and mastering engineers.

With all three acts storming ahead with three highly deserved nominations each, the categories have not been without their controversy - with The Sun today reporting that:

Outrageously, SuBo, Take That and Beyonce have all been snubbed..How can SuBo – who had the biggest selling album in the UK and US last year – not be nominated for Best Female?’

They even quoted the BRITs chairman, Ged Doherty as saying ‘I think it’s a crime’.

And they weren’t alone in their frustration – Billboard Biz also noticed the rather glaring omission of SuBo, explaining:

Despite scoring the biggest selling album of 2009 in the UK, moving 1.6 million units of ‘I Dreamed A Dream’, Boyle did not get any nominations. The Syco/Sony Music Artist will not have a presence at the ceremony, organized by UK trade body the BPI.

Ged Doherty, again, also confirmed that ‘Susan won’t be performing on the show, not this year’.

SuBo aside, the X Factor alumni cleaned up last night, with runners up JLS being nominated for Best British Breakthrough Act, Best British Group and Best British Single for Beat Again. Alexandra Burke, Cheryl Cole and the boys are all competing for the Best British Single – alongside La Roux and Alesha Dixon.

JLS’ Marvin Humes told Billboard Biz that ‘2009 was an amazing year for us, hopefully it’s going to continue in 2010′.

The Daily Mail had a list of the acts expected to perform at the Earls Court ceremony on February 16th, including Robbie Williams, Kasabian, Lady GaGa and Florence + The Machine who will be performing alongside Dizzee Rascal.

And while most categories seem too close to call, the Guardian have already started predicting which moment in the award cermonys colourful history will be voted the best performance by industry executives…’whether Jarvis Cocker’s bottom-baring during Michael Jackson’s Earth Song could win it for late prince of pop remains to be seen’.

What do you think of this year’s BRIT nominations? What do you think of SuBo, Beyonce et al being left off the list?

As ever, the nominations list is both eclectic and impressive – with artists who have enjoyed success both in the UK and around the world – and it seems that 2010 will be the year of the girl – with some of the UK’s most successful female artists leading the way with three nominations each – Florence & The Machine, Lily Allen and Pixie Lott – alongside transatlantic phenomenon, Lady Gaga.

Not to say that our male talent has gone unnoticed either, with Dizzee Rascal taking on Jay-Z with two nominations each, and going up against Calvin Harris, Mika, Robbie Williams and Paolo Nutini in the British Male Solo Artist category.

Rounding off the female dominated year, divisive singer, La Roux was nominated for two nominations for British Breakthrough Act and British Single of the Year for ‘In For the Kill’.

The excitement at last night’s event was palpable, as we caught up with the likes of Critics Choice nominee Ellie Goulding, who also performed, as well as top nominee Pixie Lott who performed her debut single, Mama Do.

X Factor success story, JLS were also in attendance to hear their nomination for British Breakthrough Act – alongside the pioneers of British grime scene N-Dubz and Tinchy Stryder, who performed their Best British Single nominee Number One.

Sounds like the perfect way to celebrate the BRITs 30th anniversary!

Full List of Nominees

British Female Solo Artist
Bat for Lashes
Florence & the Machine
Leona Lewis
Lily Allen
Pixie Lott

British Male Solo Artist
Calvin Harris
Dizzee Rascal
Mika
Paolo Nutini
Robbie Williams

British Breakthrough Act
Florence & the Machine
Friendly Fires
JLS
La Roux
Pixie Lott

British Group
Doves
Friendly Fires
JLS
Kasabian
Muse

MasterCard British Album
Dizzee Rascal – Tongue n’Cheek
Florence & the Machine – Lungs
Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
Lily Allen – It’s Not Me, It’s You
Paolo Nutini – Sunny Side Up

British Single
Alesha Dixon – Breathe Slow
Alexandra Burke Ft Flo Rida – Bad Boys
Cheryl Cole – Fight For This Love
Joe McElderry – The Climb
JLS – Beat Again
La Roux – In For The Kill
Lily Allen – The Fear
Pixie Lott – Mama Do
Taio Cruz – Break Your Heart
Tinchy Stryder Ft N-Dubz – Number 1

Critics’ Choice
Ellie Goulding
Delphic
Marina and the Diamonds

BRITs Album of 30 Years
Coldplay – A Rush of Blood to the Head
Dido – No Angel
Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms
Duffy – Rockferry
Keane – Hopes & Fears
Oasis – (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?
Phil Collins – No Jacket Required
Sade – Diamond Life
The Verve – Urban Hymns
Travis – The Man Who

The BRITs Hits 30
Coming Soon

International Female Solo Artist
Lady Gaga
Ladyhawke
Norah Jones
Rihanna
Shakira

International Male Solo Artist
Bruce Springsteen
Eminem
Jay-Z
Michael Buble
Seasick Steve

International Album
Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
Black Eyed Peas – The End
Empire of the Sun – Walking on a Dream
Jay-Z – The Blueprint 3
Lady Gaga – The Fame

International Breakthrough Act
Animal Collective
Daniel Merriweather
Empire of the Sun
Lady Gaga
Taylor Swift

Outstanding Contribution Award
Robbie Williams

Of course, t5m was there getting all the exclusive gossip – we talk to the Pet Shop Boys about their views on pop music, chat to Jamie Cullum about his forthcoming album and swap outfit tips with Justin from The Darkness.  Plus, a behind the scenes tour of Earls Court and one-off footage from the night itself.
And if you thought those outfits were impressive don’t forget to check out t5m for London Fashion Week to keep on top of all next season’s trends…

She tells us how ‘exciting’ it is to be at the ceremony and how she loved Kings of Leon and Coldplay’s performances. ‘Every time I hear Chris Martin sing I start welling up.’

And as for what she’s up to next, ‘we shall see…’