After 41 shows across five continents, 2025 was Noel Gallagher’s busiest year for quite some time.
But one thing the Oasis star didn’t do was release any new music, meaning his upcoming victory in the Songwriter of the Year category at the Brit Awards has caused quite a stir in the songwriting community.
Gallagher, 58, is set to take home the prestigious award at the ceremony on February 28, after a year in which his band played a series of triumphant, sold-out reunion concerts.
While fans have warmly welcomed the decision, which was announced by judges on Wednesday in recognition of timeless records including Wonderwall, Don’t Look Back In Anger and Champagne Supernova, it has prompted fury among songwriters.
Despite Gallagher’s historic success, he has not released any new music since his High Flying Birds album Council Skies in 2023.
Holly “Lapsley” Fletcher, a songwriter who has collaborated with stars including Charli XCX, said that the community was “fuming” about the decision.
“By giving the award to Noel, the Brits are denying another songwriter who has had an excellent year releasing new material their opportunity to be recognised on the biggest night for UK music of the year,” she said.
“It’s highly offensive to our careers — there are only a few times we have to champion what we do — it’s a real missed opportunity.”
Charli XCX
RICH FURY/GETTY IMAGES
WhatsApp groups have been abuzz with speculation that the judges were swayed by the Brits’ move from London to Manchester for the first time in its near 50-year history. Mancunian Gallagher is expected to appear at the Co-op Arena to collect his prize.
• Brit Awards nominations 2026: it’s Olivia Dean v Lola Young
Writers are upset with judges for failing to recognise a more deserving writer in front of an audience of millions on ITV.
Previous winners in the category have included Ed Sheeran, Kid Harpoon, Raye and Charli XCX, all of whom were responsible for music released over the previous 12 months.
Raye performing in Amsterdam in January
SHUTTERSTOCK EDITORIAL
Fletcher has set up an online petition to lobby organisers to celebrate “contemporary output” by changing the eligibility to mirror its other categories, as well as rival songwriting awards such as the Ivor Novellos and the Grammys.
“This petition is not about diminishing anyone’s legacy,” she said. “It is about protecting the integrity of the award and ensuring fair recognition for today’s songwriters.”
She questioned why the category name referenced the previous 12 months if it was not a consideration for judges.
Owen Cutts, who has worked with Stormzy, said the decision was a “kick in the teeth for an already toothless section of the music industry”.
Jacob Attwooll, a record producer, added that the category should not function as a second lifetime achievement award. That prize is going to Mark Ronson this year, 19 years after Oasis collected the Outstanding Contribution to Music award.
“The industry is built on working songwriters who define the sound of the year but remain largely invisible because they’re not front-facing artists,” he said. “Those are the people this award should be celebrating.”
Jack Garratt, who has previously worked with Katy Perry, said there were many worthy winners after several of the year’s biggest releases had been co-written by “jobbing” songwriters.
Jack Garratt has previously worked with Katy Perry
JO HALE/REDFERNS
“There is a thriving industry of talented songwriters who work every day and struggle to get fair pay and recognition from the music industry,” he said.
“The Brits have missed an opportunity to shine the spotlight on one of the hundreds of active songwriters who have written new music in the last year.”
• Fancy playing Noel Gallagher’s guitar? That’ll be £20,000
These include Max Wolfgang, who contributed extensively to Olivia Dean’s The Art of Loving, Lola Young’s writing partner Conor Dickinson, and Kyle Evans who has worked closely with rapper Dave.
Lily Allen and Sam Fender were also named as singer-songwriters more deserving of recognition than Gallagher.
Danny Casio, who has worked with artists including previous Brits nominee Tom Grennan, called for the songwriter prize to be made distinct from performers amid a general lack of recognition for their efforts.
“The fact that the Brits have awarded this to an artist and a songwriter who hasn’t had any songs, is an insult to the hardest working and least remunerated people in the music industry,” he said.
Judges are understood to have wanted to celebrate Gallagher’s impact last year when the reunion concerts were considered a cultural moment that helped Oasis to sell more albums than any other artist.
• Shoppers roll with it as Oasis tour boosts non-essential spending
Announcing Gallagher’s victory, Stacey Tang, chair of the Brit Awards Committee and co-president of RCA Records said that Gallagher was responsible for crafting “bold, brilliant, and always recognisable” songs for more than three decades.
“His songs have soundtracked memories for multiple generations and defined the spirit of British music globally,” she said.
“Honouring Noel … celebrates a remarkable body of work and a creative force that continues to connect and inspire artists and fans worldwide.”