NME reveals the highly anticipated shortlist for the VO5 NME Awards 2018.
Fans, who have voted in their thousands to whittle the long list down to a highly competitive shortlist, have cast their votes and pop’s most powerful females look a dead cert to dominate the proceedings.
Topping the shortlist with an incredible four nominations each are global megastars Lorde and Charli XCX, followed closely behind by Dua Lipa and St. Vincent both receiving three nods for hotly contested categories such as Best Track, Best Video, Best International Solo Artist, Best British Solo Artist, Best Album and many more.
Waving the flag for guitar heroes are Wolf Alice, Kasabian and Foo Fighters who also topped the polls with three nominations a pop for classic categories such as Best British Band and Best Live Artist.
All winners will be revealed at the most ‘rock ‘n’ roll’ night of the year at London’s O2 Academy Brixton on 14th February.
Limited tickets for the event, which will feature a career-spanning set from 2018’s VO5 NME Awards Godlike Genius Liam Gallagher, are available now from nme.com/tickets. Voting for winners is now open at awards.nme.com.
In a first for the VO5 NME Awards, NME announce today new categories Best Mixtape and Best Collaboration, both of which reflect the wide tastes of NME readers and celebrate changing trends in pop culture.
The NME Villain of the Year category remains politically charged with world leaders Donald Trump, Theresa May and Kim Jong-un battling it out for the title alongside British Conservative Party politician Jeremy Hunt.
Good Morning Britain’s Piers Morgan and two-time nominated Villain of the Year Katie Hopkins all deemed worthy of the unfavourable gong.
The Hero of the Year shortlist includes pop princess Ariana Grande following the tragic terrorist attack at Manchester Arena and her incredible work in pulling together the ‘One Love Manchester’ fundraising concert.
Rose McGowan following her heroic call for action against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, national treasure David Attenborough, Man’s Not Hot’s viral comedian Big Shaq, Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn following an incredible year for political youth engagement.
Plus Wolf Alice’s Ellie Rowsell – who alongside the release of the incredible Visions of a Life album, used her platform to support Labour in the general election.
Following a jam-packed year of unforgettable musical releases, collaborations, headline sets and more, NME fans shortlisted Music Moment of the Year, to include: #Grime4Corbyn, Ariana Grande’s One Love Manchester, Noel Gallagher playing Don’t Look Back In Anger at Manchester Arena, Lady Gaga’s Super Bowl Half Time Show, The Killers’ surprise set at Glastonbury and Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington tribute concert.
Other category shortlist announced today include Best TV Show, Best Mixtape, Best Festival, Best Collaboration, Best Film and many more.
VO5 NME Awards 2018 shortlist selection:
BEST BRITISH BAND SUPPORTED BY ZIG-ZAG:
Alt-J
Kasabian
Wolf Alice
The 1975
The xx
Bastille
BEST INTERNATIONAL BAND SUPPORTED BY 19 CRIMES:
Haim
The National
Foo Fighters
The Killers
Paramore
Migos
BEST BRITISH SOLO ARTIST SUPPORTED BY VO5:
Dua Lipa
Liam Gallagher
Ed Sheeran
Stormzy
Loyle Carner
Charli XCX
BEST INTERNATIONAL SOLO ARTIST:
Kendrick Lamar
Taylor Swift
Lorde
Lana Del Rey
St. Vincent
Father John Misty
BEST NEW ARTIST:
Stefflon Don
J Hus
The Magic Gang
Sigrid
SZA
Shame
BEST ALBUM SUPPORTED BY ORANGE AMPLIFICATION:
‘Melodrama’ Lorde
‘Common Sense’ J Hus
‘Visions Of A Life’ Wolf Alice
‘Humanz’ Gorillaz
‘Yesterday’s Gone’ Loyle Carner
‘Sleep Well Beast’ The National
BEST TRACK SUPPORTED BY ESTRELLA GALICIA:
‘Bless This Acid House’ Kasabian
‘Humble’ Kendrick Lamar
‘Green Light’ Lorde
‘Something To Remember Me By’ The Horrors
‘New Rules’ Dua Lipa
‘Boys’ Charli XCX
BEST LIVE ARTIST:
Kasabian
Stormzy
Lorde
Royal Blood
LCD Soundsystem
Liam Gallagher
