Marina & The Diamonds calls the BRITS' lack of diversity 'sickening'

The singer joins Lily Allen in criticising the lst of nominees

20:00 24th February 2016

Marina & The Diamonds is the latest artist to slam the BRIT Awards for its "sickening" lack of diversity, saying, "I don't [know] if it's just plain racism or if it's down to grime artists noot being as financially exploitable."

When the BRIT Award nominations were announced last month, Stormzy expressed his disappointment that the awards were lacking in grime nominations after it had been such a strong year for the genre, and Lily Allen swiftly agreed - saying that the industry was "blind to black talent."

"The voting academy consists of 1000 music industry figures, and here lies the problem," she wrote in a now-deleted Facebook post, "music industry figures don’t necessarily care about music, they mostly care about themselves, they vote tactically for their labels artists to win or so that their competitors at other labels DON'T."

Now, Marina Diamandis (better known as Marina & The Diamonds) has added her own thoughts to the debate, highlighting the fact that the awards are a "CORPORATE award ceremony" for which "money is the priority."

Reading about artists talking about BRIT Awards + lack of diversity. I just looked at the nominees and it’s kind of sickening…
— Marina Diamandis (@MarinasDiamonds) February 24, 2016

The truth is the BRIT Awards is a CORPORATE award ceremony. Representing diversity is not a priority. Money is the priority.
— Marina Diamandis (@MarinasDiamonds) February 24, 2016

This doesn't always mean the artists getting the awards aren't deserving of them. We just need to realise what this award ceremony is for.
— Marina Diamandis (@MarinasDiamonds) February 24, 2016

To sell records. Particularly in what would normally be considered a lull-period for the music industry. (FEBRUARY)
— Marina Diamandis (@MarinasDiamonds) February 24, 2016

Quote from the BRITS. (I added some dollar signs for translation) pic.twitter.com/xj6ajzpwtY
— Marina Diamandis (@MarinasDiamonds) February 24, 2016

So, I don’t if it’s just plain racism or if it’s down to (e.g.) grime artists not being as financially exploitable to them on a global scale
— Marina Diamandis (@MarinasDiamonds) February 24, 2016

I think what we need is an award ceremony somewhere in between the commerciality of the BRITS and the left-field Mercury's.
— Marina Diamandis (@MarinasDiamonds) February 24, 2016

Marina & The Diamonds' third album, Froot, was released last year.