Latest news with #CoOpLive
The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Brit Awards in huge shake-up as show makes massive change for the first time in 46 year history
THE BRIT Awards are facing a huge shake-up for the first time in its 46-year history. The annual music ceremony is leaving London for the first time ever. 5 5 As part of a new strategy move, Manchester will become the home of the ceremony - with the city's Co-Op Live hosting the awards in 2026 and 2027. A new partnership means the iconic ceremony will be heading up North for the first time ever. Since 2011, it has been held at The O2 Arena and was held at iconic London venues including Earls Court and the Royal Albert Hall prior to that. 2026 marks the first year under a new three-year stewardship under Sony Music UK who will oversee the ceremony's transition to Manchester. The first ceremony to be held at Europe's biggest indoor arena - the Co-Op Live - will take place on Saturday 28th February and be broadcast on ITV. The BRITs will also unveil a new chair of their commitee as part of deal with Sony Music UK at a later date. This role includes overseeing all aspects of the show including performer bookings, hosts, show creative and categories, will be announced at a later date. Speaking of the news, Jason Iley MBE, Chairman and CEO at Sony Music UK & Ireland said: 'This is a very exciting time for The BRIT Awards. "Moving to Manchester, the home of some of the most iconic and defining artists of our lifetime, will invigorate the show and build on the BRITs legacy of celebrating and reinvesting in world-class music. "Hosting the show in Manchester, with its vibrant cultural history, perfectly captures the spirit and energy of the BRIT Awards. "I can't wait to see the show at the amazing state-of-the art Co-op Live venue.' Bev Craig, the Leader of Manchester City Council added: ' This is a massive boost for Manchester and we are delighted that The BRITs will be coming here for the first time in its history. "Manchester is at the forefront of the UK music scene, from our iconic grassroots scene through to major events and this news is a major vote of confidence in Manchester. "We have got here through a great partnership between the BPI, Co-op Live, Sony Music as well as our own businesses in the city and we hope this is the beginning of a long and successful partnership.' 5 5 Successful artists to emerge from Manchester include The Stone Roses, Joy Division, New Order, Happy Mondays, Take That, The 1975 and Aitch. The city is also home to Oasis with rumours likely to go into overdrive that the Gallagher brothers could perform at next year's ceremony in their home city following the completion of their iconic reunion tour later this year. Mastercard will continue their long-standing headline sponsorship of the ceremony which will mark their 28th year supporting the event. Further information on nominees and ceremony performers are expected to be announced in 2026. This year's ceremony was dominated by Charli XCX who picked up five awards for her iconic Brat album. Sabrina Carpenter and Jade were among the performers at the event held at The O2 Arena. 5
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Huge band demand removal of 'unethical' adverts at venue before gig
Massive Attack - which consists of bandmates Robert '3D' Del Naja and Grant 'Daddy G' Marshall - criticised Barclays in a statement ahead of a gig at Co-op Live in Manchester Massive Attack have criticised Barclays and shared their views, claiming it is an "unethical corporate identity" ahead of a gig at a venue sponsored by the company this week. The band were set to take to the stage at Co-op Live in Manchester before they made the statement. It follows the news of a partnership between the indoor arena and Barclays last month. Two weeks ago, it was announced that the bank has become a "founding partner" of Co-op Live, which opened in the city last year. Massive Attack - comprised of Robert '3D' Del Naja and Grant 'Daddy G' Marshall - hit out over the partnership in a statement shared on Instagram just hours before their concert at the venue last night. They referenced both fossil fuel extraction and Palestine, and accused Barclays of being a "profoundly unethical corporate identity". The band, known for songs such as Unfinished Sympathy and Teardrop, said that the gig would still go ahead, though. They told fans that organisers had agreed to remove Barclays promotional material from the arena for it. In their statement shared with their 401,000 followers, the band wrote: "We're so happy to be back in Manchester, and to be playing in this city tonight. We confirmed this show at Co Op Live arena back in January, not least because of the venue's strong sustainability credentials and ethical sponsorship." They continued by writing: "15 days ago, without any advance warning or notification, the arena ownership announced a new corporate sponsorship with Barclays: a commercial identity synonymous with the large-scale financing of new fossil fuel extraction, and billions of dollars of investments in arms companies that supply Israel in its genocidal onslaught of Gaza, and war crimes in the West Bank. "Objectively, Barclays is a profoundly unethical corporate identity. We believe Barclays has no place in any of our cultural or sporting arenas and only learned (with disbelief) of the arena partnership via a local media story." Massive Attack added: "As a band, we do not want to disappoint fans who have spent their hard-earned money on tickets and are looking forward to the show, especially at such short notice. Co Op Live ownership have agreed to our insistence that all physical and digital Barclays livery and logos be completely removed from both the arena itself and our show page on the arena website, and that no show tickets - for sale or complimentary - will be given to Barclays." The band's statement concluded: "At a time when the world works to tackle climate emergency, and watches on in despair and horror at the scenes of civilian slaughter in Gaza, we're stunned that the arena ownership took this decision to partner with Barclays - especially in a progressive city like Manchester - and then attempted to retroactively apply that sponsorship to artists who would have been deeply uneasy, or refused to align their performances with a venue with Barclays as partner. See you tonight, Manchester. In love and rage, Massive Attack." Shortly after releasing their statement, Massive Attack shared posts promoting the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, which is an initiative to "accelerate a transition to renewable energy". It included posting a photo of themselves as part of a group holding up a sign for it whilst in Manchester. Among the group of five was Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester. The band wrote in the caption of the photo: "Proud to be part of this story: endorsing the [initiative] with Mayor of Greater Manchester [Andy]." Co-Op Live previously said it had a "shared mission" with Massive Attack to "lead the future of sustainable live entertainment". On a page for the gig, it said it would commit to a "fully plant-based" menu for the show in alignment with the band's "longstanding dedication to environmental action".
