British star Adele led the charge at the BRIT Awards in London, with four wins including best British female artist, best single for her record-breaking hit "Hello," and best album for "25," a smash hit on both sides of the Atlantic.
Adele used the platform to publicly support Kesha, who had a legal challenge to annul a recording contract thrown out, following her allegation of sexual assault against record producer Dr. Luke.
The ceremony, the British equivalent of the Grammys, was tinged with a sense of loss as the UK music industry paid tribute to David Bowie, who died of cancer in January , shortly after releasing his final album, "Blackstar."
Singer Annie Lennox called the much-loved Bowie, posthumous winner of the BRIT Icon Award , a "quintessential visionary" and "the ultimate iconoclast."