Florence and the Machine (often stylised as Florence + the Machine)[1] is the recording name of British indie rock[2] artist Florence Welch and a collaboration of other artists who provide backing music for her voice. Florence and the Machine's sound has been described as a combination of various genres, including rock and soul.[3] The band's music has received praise across the music media before they gained mainstream success, especially from the BBC who played a large part in Florence and the Machine's rise to prominence by promoting her as part of BBC Introducing.[4]
The band's debut album, Lungs, was released on 6 July 2009, and held the No. 2 position for its first five weeks in the UK Album Chart.[5] On 17 January 2010, the album reached No. 1 on the UK album chart, having remained in the chart for 28 consecutive weeks up until that point.[6] The album has been within the top 40 in the United Kingdom for 65 consecutive weeks, making it one of the best selling albums of 2009 and 2010 so far. At the 2010 BRIT Awards, Lungs won the "Mastercard British Album" award.[7] Florence and the Machine performed at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards and the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize Concert. It has recently been announced that the band have been nominated for Best New Artist at the 53rd Grammy Awards
