The BPI's annual music awards and the British equivalent of the American Grammy Awards.

The awards began in 1977 as part of the commemoration of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee and as an annual event in 1982. The last BPI Awards show was the first of the ceremonies to be broadcast on television (by the BBC), and in 1989 they were renamed the Brit Awards. MasterCard has been the long-time sponsor of the event.