Critics Choice keeps it at Bay

James Bay (pictured) has been names as the winner of the 2015 Critics’ Choice Award, pipping George The Poet and Years & Years to the post.

The rising singer-songwriter will be presented with the Critics’ Choice Award at ‘The BRITs Are Coming’ nominations show on 15th January 2015. Bay will also perform live on the show alongside Clean Bandit and FKA Twigs.

James Bay said: “I’m pretty speechless. After all the years I’ve spent watching the BRITs and even after this year; watching my fan base grow so much, I never ‎thought I’d actually be getting an award myself. And what a huge honour to be following the incredible artists who’ve won before! I’m really chuffed, thank you to everyone who has supported me”.

The award essentially tips solo artists destined for commercial success, with previous winners including Adele, Ellie Goulding, Emeli Sandé, and Sam Smith. Speaking of Smith, he was also named as iTunes UK Best Artist of the year as parts of its 2014 round up- the festive parade of pointless platitude rolls on!