Best album, artist, and pop/R&B act were among the four Brit Awards for which Harry Styles was nominated.
His huge hit As It Was, which won song of the year, served as the show's opening number.
"I'm aware of my privilege up here tonight," he said, mentioning Mabel, Florence Welch, Charli XCX, Rina Sawayama, and Becky Hill as women who didn't win artist of the year.
Beyonce won the best artist and song of the year international awards, and Wet Leg won best group and new artist.
Rhian Teasdale, the lead vocalist for Wet Leg, said, "This is so scary because being on the telly can be such a boys' club thing," and she thanked all the women who contributed to their debut album, saying, "I want to shout them out.
In addition, she made a reference to Alex Turner's 2014 Arctic Monkeys Brit Awards acceptance speech, saying, "That rock and roll - it just won't go away. It could occasionally go into hibernation and return to the swamp.
The Domino record label is a collaborator with both bands.
Since the organizers decided to abandon their best male and best female awards in favor of gender-neutral prizes last year, there were no women nominated for best artist this year.
Those mentioned by Styles in his speech are among the eligible women who were passed over.
The only black winner in Britain, Flo, received the rising star award, but unlike previous years, she did not get to perform that night. Instead, the award was announced beforehand.
In addition to Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, and Zayne Malik from One Direction, Styles thanked his mother for "signing me up for X Factor without telling me.".
Styles received the Brit Award for song of the year from Shania Twain, who shared the Coachella stage with him the previous year.
The singer is popular because he is "incredibly authentic, and people sense that," she previously told the BBC's Mark Savage.
She declared, "He's nice, he's likeable, he's kind, and he's a gentleman.". He has everything a fan could want in a person to follow, admire, and respect: he is obviously very talented.
We're all just residing here because it is Harry's home.
It's simple to forget that reality show contestants and ex-boyband members are typically consigned to pop culture's great dumper, never to be seen again, despite the fact that his success may seem preordained.
Zayn Malik and Liam Payne in particular scored hits that were bigger and stickier in those early, post-One Direction days, so when Harry Styles first went solo, his music was overshadowed by his bandmates.
Embracing the 70s rock sounds of his youth—Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, and Paul McCartney—he began to find his way on his second album, Fine Line. Treat People With Kindness, a personal utopian philosophy he added, helped him sell his first million copies of the upbeat and contagious Watermelon Sugar.
With the addition of 80s synths and a casual intimacy, his third album updates that style. While Boyfriends' critique of toxic masculinity is the song every girl wants Harry to sing to them while he paints their toenails, the scat singing and synth horns on Music For A Sushi Restaurant capture his quirky charisma.
Styles' voice is unusually mellow and restrained for a major pop album instead of belting out the hooks like Adele. It becomes less immediate as a result than you might anticipate, but it develops beautifully, much like dough in a proving oven.
With sales of almost 500,000, it ended the year as the best-selling album in the UK. Styles was never going to be ignored by the profit-driven Brit Awards with those kinds of numbers.
As she was unable to attend, Beyonce sent video messages for her victories. She said: "Thank you so much for loving Break my Soul - the only intention for this song was to dance.
The singer, who made history at the Grammy Awards last week by winning her 32nd trophy, thanked her supporters and made mention of her most recent album and upcoming tour, saying: "The renaissance begins.
In addition, Styles took home three Grammys, including album of the year.
Although host Mo Gilligan introduced Lewis Capaldi, who sang Forget Me, incorrectly as "Sam Capaldi," the show generally went without a hitch.
It just goes to show how potent the drinks are, Gilligan jokingly said afterward.
Another time, the presenter explained that due to "technical difficulties," a recording of Adele singing I Drink Wine from last year's ceremony had to be played.
This year, Lizzo, Cat Burns, Stormzy, Sam Smith, Ella Henderson, and Becky Hill all performed live.
Rapper Aitch, who took home the prize for best hip-hop/rap/grime artist, said, "Not to sound corny, but not many people where I'm from, especially on my side of Manchester, get the chance to stand up here and receive such an amazing gift or award.
Respect. He continued by saying that he performs "to set examples and to make people know it's possible no matter where you're from. Manchester's area code, 0161 in the building, is mentioned.
After completing her first US tour the previous year, Becky Hill won best dance act for the second year in a row. She expressed her gratitude for being nominated alongside celebrities like "the amazing Eliza Rose and the incredible Raye" and said it was "such an honor.".
"In her Grammy speech, Beyonce, in my opinion, said it best. The best genre on earth is one we can all thank the queer community for, she continued.
Lead singer Matty Healy of The 1975 said, "This is one that has been voted for by the fans so that means a lot. We won best alternative rock act, our fourth Brit Award.
Fontaines DC, an Irish rock band, won best international group. Guitarist Carlos O'Connell exclaimed, "My heart is full. I'm pleased to be present to recognize that.
Norman Cook, also known as Fatboy Slim, gave producer David Guetta his award despite the fact that he had already been named producer of the year.
Being successful for so long at what we do is a miracle, he declared. Let's party, I say.
