Launched in 1977, the BRIT Awards with Mastercard are the annual showcase for the UK music industry. The organising company BRIT Awards Limited, is a fully owned subsidiary of the BPI. Both the BRITs and sister events the Classic BRITs & BRITs Icon celebrate not just the biggest successes in music but also operate as an important platform to introduce and promote new talent. Substantial proceeds from both shows go to the BRIT Trust, the charitable arm of the BPI