LONDON • Ariana Grande came back to stage her One Love Manchester concert, weeks after a suicide bombing killed 22 people after one of her gigs in the city last May.

On Wednesday, the American pop star was honoured for her defiant stand against terrorism at the NME Awards in London, where female acts took home a slew of prizes.

New Zealand songstress Lorde was hailed as the best international solo artist while Haim, a trio of sisters from California, were named best international band.

British rapper Stefflon Don was named best new artist.

"We feel really good being here because it does feel like a lot of women are nominated, but I definitely feel like the majority of awards shows are not representing females," Danielle Haim said.

Shirley Manson, lead singer of British band Garbage who was also feted, welcomed the recent focus on the treatment of women in the entertainment industry.

"I think the #MeToo campaign is an opportunity to really continue the conversation and actually facilitate change; whether it will turn out to be the case I don't know.

"It worries me a little that it's a lot of talk and little action," she said.

Other acts recognised at the event included British rockers Kasabian, who were named best live artist, while former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher, who performed a medley of his hits, was given the Godlike Genius award.

The NME, or New Musical Express, is a British music publication that was founded in the 1950s, and was highly influential for periods during the late 20th century.

REUTERS