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LONDON (AP) — The Latest on the Brit Awards ceremony (all times local):
9:42 p.m.
The Brit Award for album of the year has been awarded to David Bowie for "Blackstar."
It is the latest posthumous honor for Bowie, and the second Brit Award he won Wednesday.
His son, film director Duncan Jones, accepted the award on his behalf, noting that his father died the same year Jones became a father.
Jones said his father had "always been there supporting people who think they're a little bit weird or a little bit different ... This award is for all the kooks, and all the people who make the kooks."
"Kooks" is the name of a song Bowie wrote for his son when he was born.
Bowie also was awarded the British male solo artist award, which was accepted by actor Michael C. Hall on his behalf.
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9:18 p.m.
Beyonce, Drake and A Tribe Called Quest have won the Brit Awards for best international artists.
The British music industry named Beyonce as the best female international solo artist and Drake the best international male solo artist.
Hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest was also named the best international group during Wednesday's awards ceremony.
Beyonce beat out her sister Solange and fellow artists Rihanna, Sia and Christine and the Queens for the honor.
Drake beat out Bon Iver, Bruno Mars, Leonard Cohen and The Weeknd in the category.
None of the acts attended the ceremony to accept their awards in person, although Drake did record a message thanking fans and saying he was honored to have won.
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8:53 p.m.
The Brit Award for best British single has been awarded to Little Mix.
The girl group formed in 2011 won their first Brit Award for "Shout Out To My Ex."
They opened the award ceremony — the U.K.'s equivalent of the Grammy awards — with a high-energy performance featuring dancers painted in silver.
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8:45 p.m.
The Brit Awards have paid tribute to George Michael, who died on Christmas Day at age 53.
His Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley said that with Michael's death, "a supernova in a firmament of shining stars has been extinguished."
Coldplay singer Chris Martin performed a moving rendition of Michael's "A Different Corner" — dueting with a recording of Michael himself as an orchestra of violinists accompanied them onstage.
Michael first enjoyed success with Ridgeley and Wham! before he ventured off into a solo career that made him a huge star, a level of fame that Michael expressed ambivalence about.
"His wonderful way with words spoke to everyone," said ex-Wham! backing vocalist Shirlie Holliman. "And his beautiful voice will live on forever as a gift to us all."
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8:20 p.m.
Rag 'n' Bone Man has been named best British Breakthrough Act at the Brit Awards in London.
"His single "Human" has gotten air play on both sides of the Atlantic.
The soulful, big-voiced singer from England's south coast started his career in hip-hop music before he moved to blues and soul.
"Oh my days," said the singer, whose real name is Rory Graham. "I'm nearly speechless.
The breakthrough artist award is one of the few not decided by the British music academy. BBC's Radio 1 listeners pick the winner.
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8:07 p.m.
David Bowie has won the Brit Award for best male artist, the latest posthumous honor for the superstar.
Bowie died in January 2016 and has received numerous honors for his last album, "Blackstar."
He won four Grammy Awards earlier this month. "Blackstar" is also nominated for British album of the year, which will be presented later in the ceremony.
The solo artist award was accepted on his behalf by actor Michael C. Hall, star of Lazarus, a stage musical based on the late artist's songs.
"If David Bowie could be here tonight, he probably wouldn't be here tonight," Hall said of the famously elusive musician.
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7:56 p.m.
The 1975 has been named best British group at the Brit Awards in London.
The band's latest album is "I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It" included the song "Somebody Else."
Lead singer Matt Healy noted that: "We've been in the same lineup since we were 13 years old and this kind of thing doesn't happen."
Healy told entertainers with a platform not to heed advice to "stay in your lane when it comes to social issues."
He said that "if you have a platform, don't do that. Please don't do that."
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7:44 p.m.
Emeli Sandé is the Brit Award winner for best female solo artist.
It is her second win in the category and her fourth Brit Award. Her second album, "Long Live the Angels," was released last year and includes the single "Hurts."
The best female solo artist category was the first award handed out at Wednesday's ceremony.
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4:34 p.m.
The Brit awards — which celebrate international as well as British acts — have been accused of failing to represent the industry's ethnic diversity.
All last year's British nominees were white, and protesters rallied under the hashtag #britssowhite.
Organizers responded by expanding the diversity of the voter base of 1,000 music-industry figures.
This year's list is more diverse, with chanteuse Emeli Sande, soul singer Michael Kiwanuka and singer-songwriter Lianne La Havas among non-white British contenders, along with the three grime performers.
Grime artists Stormzy and Kano are among the contenders, reflecting the growing artistic and commercial clout of the distinctly British rap genre.
Keith Harris, who was appointed to head a diversity taskforce for the British music industry, said "people feel there might actually be a breakthrough."
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3:41 p.m.
Britain's music industry will salute chart-topping talent and departed icons at Wednesday's Brit Awards, where nominees include Drake, Beyonce and David Bowie.
Bowie, who died in January 2016, is nominated in the album of the year category for valedictory release "Blackstar" and male British artist category at the U.K. equivalent of the Grammys.
Organizers said the show will also include a tribute to George Michael, who died on Christmas Day at age 53.
Performers during the flashy show at London's O2 Arena include pop-friendly Ed Sheeran, Katy Perry and Bruno Mars, as well as grime musician Skepta, nominated for British breakthrough artist.
Adele, who took four Grammys last week, is not up for the Brits because her album "25" was eligible last year, and took four Brits.
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