This year’s Brit Awards nominations have been revealed, and it’s fair to say they contain some surprises.
However, it’s not so much who has been nominated that has got everyone talking, rather than who HASN’T.
After some of 2017′s biggest artists failed to scoop a single nomination - with others also confusingly absent from some categories, despite releasing material within the eligible period - we take a look those who deserved to pick up nominations.
Sam Smith
Best Male / Best Album / Best Single
Ed Sheeran aside, Sam Smith was the most sure-fire name to be nominated in the Best Male and Best Album categories, but he is mysteriously absent from from the complete list of 2018 nominees - and this is despite having one of the biggest albums of last year on both sides of the Atlantic.
He didn’t even manage to pick up a nod in the Best Single category for ‘Too Good At Goodbyes’ either, poor lad.
Rita Ora
Best Female / Best Single / Best Video
She may have had the biggest pop comeback of 2017 but that wasn’t enough for the Brits to hand Rita Ora a single nomination.
Not only did she miss out on a nod for Best Female, but one of 2017’s best tracks - ‘Anywhere’ - didn’t appear in the Best Single or Best Video lists, owing to the fact they are based on success of streams and plays.
#JusticeForRita.
Harry Styles
Best Male
While Harry Styles’s solo career may have slowed following the release of his debut album, we were still shocked to have seen him not listed from the Best Male category, given the support the Brits have shown for One Direction in the past.
Despite the success of lead track ‘Sign Of The Times’, he also missed out on a Best Single nomination, as the category is actually informed by commercial sales and radio play figures.
Clean Bandit
Best Group
Clean Bandit dominated the singles chart in 2017 but failed to receive a nod in the Best British Group category because they are yet to release their second album.
The snub must have been pretty difficult to stomach considering they’d also literally just finished performing on the nominations show when this category was revealed.
Little Mix
Best Group
Little Mix have not been nominated for Best British Group. We repeat: Little Mix have not been nominated for Best British Group.
While fans are up in arms about it, the girls were not eligible for the category because ‘Glory Days’ was released in 2016.
Anne-Marie
Best Female
While bosses have nominated fellow 2017 Critics Choice nominee Dua Lipa in this category, Anne-Marie failed to make the cut for Best Female, possibly to due to the fact we’re still waiting for her album to drop.
Cardi B
Best International Female
As one of the most exciting artists to emerge from the States over the last 12 months, Cardi B was definitely deserving of a spot in the Best International Female category, but it lost out to more established acts like Taylor Swift, Bjork and Alicia Keys - purely because she is yet to release an album, although she did release a mixtape in 2017.
Charli XCX
Best Video
Come on, if we’re going to talk about Best British Videos of the last year, Charli XCX’s efforts on ‘Boys’ *has* to be up there.
It’s all-star male cast got everyone drooling talking, but even Riz Ahmed cuddling a teddy or Khalid playing with puppies didn’t help it rack up enough views to be considered for the category.
The Brit Awards will take place on 21 February at London’s O2 Arena, hosted by Jack Whitehall.
Take a look at the full list of nominations here.
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