The BRIT Awards 2023 with Mastercard have announced that FLO are the winners of the BRITs Rising Star award, supported by BBC Radio 1.
The news was revealed by Clara Amfo on her BBC Radio 1 Future Sounds show. FLO are the first ever group to win the BRITs Rising Star award.
FLO, comprising of Renée, Jorja, and Stella, released their debut single ‘Cardboard Box’ seven months ago, which won them fans such as Brandy, JoJo, SZA, Victoria Monét, Missy Elliott, and girl group royalty Kelly Rowland and Sugababes. They have since performed ‘Cardboard Box’ on late night US TV show Jimmy Kimmel, the UK’s Later…with Jools Holland, The Glamour Women of the Year Awards, and The BET Soul Train Awards. They were also nominated for Best Newcomer at the MOBOs.
FLO released their debut EP ‘The Lead’ in summer 2022 to critical acclaim, and have now amassed over 70 million global streams.
In response to their win, FLO said: “From growing up watching the BRITs, to finding each other and forming FLO, releasing our first body of work in 2022 and winning a BRIT award in the same year!! We are so shocked and grateful. We are the first group to win the BRITs Rising Star! We’ve just made history and couldn’t have done it without our wonderful fans and supportive families. It’s truly a dream come true. We feel so empowered creating the music we love and we hope others feel that too.”
Cat Burns and Nia Archives were also shortlisted for the award, originally known as Critics’ Choice, which has successfully identified the future stars of UK music since its launch in 2008. Previous winners include Adele, Florence + The Machine, Sam Smith, Rag ‘N’ Bone Man, Ellie Goulding, Sam Fender, Celeste, Griff, and last year’s winner Holly Humberstone. The total global track streams for all previous winners reach over 50 billion.
The BRITs Rising Star award shortlist is selected by an invited panel of music editors and critics from the national press, online, heads of music at major radio and music TV stations, plus songwriters, producers, and live bookers – those working with new rising talent on a regular basis.
