For the second year running, the Brit Awards categories for best artist and best international artist are gender neutral, a move that was introduced in order to make the awards “as inclusive and as relevant as possible”.

The 2022 ceremony ended up being a banner event for female artists. Adele cleaned up, taking the best artist, best album and best song trophies (“I understand why this has changed, but I really love being a woman and a female artist – I’m really proud of us,” she said in one acceptance speech) while Wolf Alice were crowned best group. Fast-forward just under a year to the announcement of the 2023 nominations, though, and the latest shortlist presents a very different picture.

While women like Lizzo, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé have been recognised in the best international artist category, not a single female artist appears in the shortlist for best artist.

Instead, the Brits have celebrated five male acts: Central Cee, Fred Again, George Ezra, Harry Styles and Stormzy; worthy, successful artists, no doubt, but we could think of plenty of women who are equally deserving of a spot on the list. How about Florence & The Machine or Charli XCX, to name just a few?

The Brit Awards failed to nominate a single woman in the best artist category