Stormzy wins BBC Music’s artist of the year

Stormzy has been named artist of the year at the 2017 BBC Music Awards, capping a hugely successful year.

The south London MC, whose debut album Gang Signs & Prayer was the first grime record to reach number one, beat Ed Sheeran and Lorde to the prize.

He adds it to a collection that already includes three Mobos and the Q Award for best solo artist.

Rag N Bone Man collected album of the year, while Foo Fighters won best live performance for their Glastonbury set.

The US band headlined the festival this June, two years after they were forced to pull out when frontman Dave Grohl broke his leg.

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Taking to the stage this summer, Grohl blamed the delay on “bad traffic”, before launching into a blistering, hit-filled set.

Their performance eventually overran by 20 minutes because the crowd kept singing between songs.

“It really did just turn into this one big ball of love and energy and celebration and music,” Grohl said as he collected the BBC Music Award.

“That’s what you want every show to be, but when it’s on that scale it’s a big feeling.”

Image caption This year’s BBC Music Award winners pose with their trophies

Rag N Bone Man’s prize came in recognition of his debut album Human, which is the year’s biggest-selling debut.

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“That’s a proper good award,” he said. “I keep thinking at one point that someone is going to fishhook me off and tell me it’s a joke, but it’s not, and it’s a wonderful thing to have.”

In previous years, the BBC Music Awards have been handed out at a glitzy televised arena concert, with performances from the likes of One Direction, Little Mix and Robbie Williams.

However, after disappointing ratings (2016’s show was watched by 2.7 million people) this year’s awards were handed out during a a one-hour BBC Two special titled The Year In Music 2017.

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