TV ratings for the BRIT Awards, which included performances from Robbie Williams, Kasabian and Lady Gaga as well as a duet from Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, peaked at 6.3 million viewers.

The live U.K. broadcast on ITV1 last night (Feb. 16) averaged 5.8 million viewers, earning a 21.9% audience share between 8pm and 10pm. It was hosted by comedian Peter Kay.

Ratings for the BRITs, organized by U.K. trade body the BPI and sponsored by MasterCard, were up on the 5.2 million audience for the 2009 show. The 2008 edition, hosted by the Osbournes, averaged 6.1 million.

Meanwhile, rapper Dizzee Rascal, Lady Gaga and Robbie Williams – who won the outstanding contribution award and closed the show – have enjoyed the biggest increase in album sales according to the U.K. Official Charts Company (OCC).

Based on overnight sales since the show, the OCC said Gaga’s “The Fame” (Interscope/Universal) is likely to be top five on Sunday (Feb. 21). Robbie Williams’ current Virgin set “Reality Killed The Video Star” is set to move into the top 20, while his greatest hits album is likely to enter the top 75.

While Lady Gaga’s performance at the Brit Awards on Tuesday was a heartfelt tribute to her late friend, designer Alexander McQueen, the show served as a preview for the next phase of her Monster Ball Tour, which launches in England on February 18 before moving on to New Zealand, Australia and Japan in March. In an interview with London’s 95.8 Capital-FM on Tuesday, the singer spilled a few new details on what her fans can expect.

“The show is a musical, it’s not just a pop show, there are lines and a score — there’s a lot of music that you haven’t heard before. Some of it’s very old, some of it’s new, there are scores specifically for the show itself,” Gaga said. “The show’s completely different and I have some really amazing surprises, and it’s unlike anything I’ve done before.”
She also spoke a bit about the bizarre keytar that she played during the Brit Awards, which turns out to be the Haus of Gaga’s latest innovation.


“We have this new instrument that I brought to the Brits tonight, ‘Emma,’ which is what I was playing on the stage. She’s a hybrid from all these other instruments, which is quite...

“The wait in the freezing cold queue for 4 hours was worth everything to see GaGa in all her glory! The most amazing show I’ve ever witnessed, she truly knows how to make you feel like you are the only person in the audience. When she spoke to us she spoke so serene then when she sang and danced she rocked it! No amount of soreness in any part of my body can account for what I witnessed last night. I can’t pick a best part of the show because no part could out do the other! I love Lady GaGa with all my heart, toujours une légende!”
– Anna

“Lady Gaga blew the roof of the O2 Arena in Dublin last night. From start to finish she moved with an unprecedented energy. She spoke to the crowd continuously, and made us Little Monsters feel a personal connection with her, it was really moving especially during Speechless. The set was amazing and the costume changes were fantastic! “Glitter and Grease” and “Vanity” were a nice surprise. “Poker Face”, “Bad Romance” and “Speechless” were easily the best performances I’ve ever seen live, congrats Gaga you did it again! Left me So Happy I Could Die.”