Bay follows on from chart-busting soloists Adele, Florence + the Machine, Ellie Goulding, Jessie J, Emeli Sandé, Tom Odell and Sam Smith, who have all previously won the prize.
The hotly tipped Brighton-based artist is due to release his debut album next spring through Republic Records, which is also home to songwriters James Blake and Florence + the Machine.
Bay has already turned heads this year, with a sell-out UK tour and stints on the BBC’s Radio 1’s Live Lounge.
Upcoming dates at London’s KOKO and Shepherd's Bush Empire should further raise his profile.
The 24-year-old said: ‘I'm pretty speechless. After all the years I've spent watching the BRITs and even after this year; watching my fan base grow so much, I never thought I'd actually be getting an award myself. And what a huge honour to be following the incredible artists who've won before! I'm really chuffed, thank you to everyone who has supported me.’
Bay will be presented with the Critics’ Choice Award at The BRITs Are Coming nominations show on 15 January, which will be broadcast on ITV the same evening.
He will perform on the show, alongside Clean Bandit and FKA Twigs.
The BRIT Awards 2015 with MasterCard take place on 25 February at The O2.
The hotly tipped Brighton-based artist is due to release his debut album next spring through Republic Records, which is also home to songwriters James Blake and Florence + the Machine.
Bay has already turned heads this year, with a sell-out UK tour and stints on the BBC’s Radio 1’s Live Lounge.
Upcoming dates at London’s KOKO and Shepherd's Bush Empire should further raise his profile.
The 24-year-old said: ‘I'm pretty speechless. After all the years I've spent watching the BRITs and even after this year; watching my fan base grow so much, I never thought I'd actually be getting an award myself. And what a huge honour to be following the incredible artists who've won before! I'm really chuffed, thank you to everyone who has supported me.’
Bay will be presented with the Critics’ Choice Award at The BRITs Are Coming nominations show on 15 January, which will be broadcast on ITV the same evening.
He will perform on the show, alongside Clean Bandit and FKA Twigs.
The BRIT Awards 2015 with MasterCard take place on 25 February at The O2.
