Chart-topping Adele wins best female artist at Brit Awards

Adele is hoping to put a glitch-marred Grammys performance behind her with triumph at British music's Brit Awards Wednesday.

The world-conquering diva was named British female solo artist of the year in the evening's first award, and is nominated in three other categories, including album of the year for global chart-topper "25."

Singer-songwriter James Bay was named best British male solo artist.

London-born Adele was cheered to the rafters by a hometown crowd and sent a shoutout to "Tik Tok" singer Kesha, who is fighting to get out of a contract with record producer Dr. Luke, who she says sexually assaulted her.

"I'd like to take this moment to publicly support Kesha," Adele said as she accepted her statuette.

Adele is also set to sing at Wednesday's ceremony at London's O2 Arena, which was also set to feature performances from Rihanna, Coldplay and Justin Bieber. Her performance at last week's Grammy Awards was unsettled when a microphone fell into a piano during the tender song "All I Ask."

Pop princess Kylie Minogue, Duran Duran singer Simon Le Bon and quadruple nominee James Bay were among arrivals on the red carpet at the concert venue beside the River Thames.

Leading contenders include electronica trio Years and Years and DJ Calvin Harris.

The awards -- which celebrate international as well as British acts -- have been accused of failing to represent the industry's ethnic diversity, in an echo of the debate raging around the Academy Awards. All the British nominees this year are white.

Singer Jack Garratt, who has already been named winner of the critics' choice prize, said "there are a lot of people who are not here who should be here."

"It is a shame that half of U.K. music has been somehow forgotten about which is a bit disappointing and a little bit embarrassing to be honest," he said on the red carpet.

Brit Awards organizer the British Phonographic Industry has promised to look at how nominees and winners are selected, "to ensure they reflect the full range of engagement with recorded music."

The organization has also announced a new advisory committee made up of black and ethnic minority music-industry figures.

U.S. band Eagles Of Death Metal, whose concert was targeted in the November Paris attacks, is up against U2 in the international group category.

Before the show, singer Jesse Hughes thanked everyone who had supported the band, which returned to the Paris stage last week, three months after Islamic extremists massacred 89 people during the band's show at the Bataclan theater.

"The reception we've received since coming back to Europe has truly been humbling and has helped us get back to doing what we do -- playing kick-ass butt-shaking rock `n' roll music," he said.

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