The sheer depth and diversity of British music talent, on the national and international stage, is showcased in the nominations for The BRIT Awards 2009 with MasterCard, announced today.

The nominations list features an awesome range of artists who have enjoyed UK and global success over the past year. 2008 saw British acts dominate domestic and worldwide markets, achieving both huge critical success and multi-platinum sales, and their achievements are further recognised in The BRITs announcement today. The showpiece of the British music calendar will take place at London’s Earls Court on Wednesday February 18, screened live by ITV1 with two hours of surrounding programming on ITV2.

Leading the way with four nominations apiece are Coldplay and Duffy. In a year in which British artists claimed an amazing 13 out of 20 nominations in the four main categories at next month’s American Grammy Awards, Coldplay led a 2008 British invasion of the States. Their quartet of appearances on The BRITs shortlist includes both British Group and the big trophy – the MasterCard British Album for the multi-million-selling “Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends.”

Duffy’s recognition follows an incredible launch year, which saw her debut album “Rockferry” become not just the UK’s bestselling album of 2008, but achieve sales around the world now approaching 4.5 million copies. The album is also in The BRITs big one to win, the blue ribbon category -The MasterCard British Album. The lead single “Mercy” is up for British Single, to be chosen from an eventual list of five via a live vote on the awards night. The Welsh vocalist is also nominated as British Female Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act. The winner of the latter category will be voted by Radio 1 listeners.

Adele, another of the acts that emerged in a brilliant year for female talent in the UK, is one of three artists with three nominations apiece – alongside Scouting for Girls and Elbow. Still only 20, and up for Grammy’s, the north London-born singer-songwriter is up alongside Duffy, Estelle, Beth Rowley and M.I.A for British Female, British Breakthrough Act and British Single for “Chasing Pavements.”

Adele was a BRIT Award winner last year as a debut artist, when she won the inaugural Critics’ Choice title, voted by a panel of media experts. Her successor, who will receive the title at next month’s ceremony, is much-heralded new act Florence and the Machine, the recording name of Florence Welch. She takes the award ahead of two more highly promising British acts, Little Boots and White Lies.

2008 was an extraordinary culmination of more than a decade and a half of underdog creativity by Elbow, as underlined by their three nominations. The word-of-mouth success of their album “The Seldom Seen Kid,” is recognised with nods for MasterCard British Album and British Group, and they’re also listed for the British Live Act award, to be selected by listeners of Radio 2.

British Live Act is one of three categories to feature another great British success story of last year, Scouting For Girls. Their self-titled debut was released in September 2007, but hit the top of the UK charts four months later and has sold more than 700,000 copies in the UK alone. They go into battle for the coveted Live Act award with Iron Maiden, Elbow, Coldplay and The Verve. They’re also up for British Breakthrough Act and their top ten hit “Heartbeat” is on the shortlist of ten for British Single.

Four other eclectic British acts – Ting Tings, Radiohead, Girls Aloud, and Estelle land two nominations apiece in this year’s BRITs list, again reflecting home- grown excellence in a variety of genres.

In the international categories, the roll of honour produces the highly unusual scenario of the same five artists competing for International Group and International Artist: AC/DC, Fleet Foxes, the Killers, Kings of Leon and MGMT.

Ged Doherty, Chairman of The BRITs Committee said, “The BRITs Academy has chosen a very wide ranging list of nominations this year. The list highlights the continued investment in British talent across the UK record industry and I wish all the nominees the best of luck.”

The BRIT Awards 2009 with MasterCard will also welcome a trophy back into the fold, with the Producer Award returning for the first time since 1998. The nominees, Bernard Butler, Brian Eno and Steve Mac, have been shortlisted by members of the Music Producers Guild, and the presentation will be made in advance of the BRITS ceremony at the MPG Awards at London’s Café de Paris on February 12.

As previously announced, the culmination of The BRIT Awards 2009 with MasterCard ceremony will see the Pet Shop Boys presented with the highly coveted Outstanding Contribution to Music title.

The BRIT Awards 2009 with MasterCard take place on 18th February at London’s Earls Court Arena and will be televised live on ITV1.

Hosted by Kylie Minogue, James Corden and Mathew Horne.

Performers announced so far are Pet Shop Boys, U2, Kings of Leon, Duffy and Girls Aloud.


The Brits

The Nominations in summary:

Full list of Nominees...

Best British male - Ian Brown, James Morrison, Paul Weller, Will Young

Best British female - Adele, Beth Rowley, Duffy, Estelle, MIA

Best British group - Coldplay, Elbow, Girls Aloud, Radiohead, Take That

Best British live act - Coldplay, Elbow, Iron Maiden, Scouting For Girls, The Verve

Best British single
Adele - Chasing Pavements
Alexandra Burke - Hallelujah
Coldplay - Viva La Vida
Dizzee Rascal/Calvin Harris/Chrome - Dance Wiv Me
Duffy - Mercy
Estelle Ft Kanye West - American Boy
Girls Aloud - The Promise
Leona Lewis - Better in Time
Scouting for Girls - Heartbeat
X Factor Finalists - Hero

Best British Album
Coldplay - Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends
Duffy - Rockferry
Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
Radiohead - In Rainbows
The Ting Tings - We Started Nothing

Best British breakthrough act
Adele
Duffy
Last Shadow Puppets
Scouting For Girls
The Ting Tings

Best international album
AC/DC - Black Ice
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
Killers - Day & Age
Kings of Leon - Only By The Night
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular

Best international male - Beck, Neil Diamond, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Seasick Steve

Best international female - Beyonce, Gabriella Cilmi, Katy Perry, Pink, Santogold

Best international group - AC/DC, Fleet Foxes, Killers, Kings of Leon, MGMT

Critics' Choice: Florence and the Machine

Outstanding Contribution To Music: Pet Shop Boys

go go Adele!

I love Fleet Foxes, but the albums from Kings of Leon and MGMT also are quite good.

it is a tough competition this year.

Thanks for posting Bettina!

There is a massive hurly-burly over the Take That boards regaring this nomination! And apparently, most people don't think that PSB deserve the award as Outstanding Contribution to Music - different POVs, in my opinion but hey, if The Brits don't like TT then... what am I to do? Demand them? Pfffft...!!

isn't the album from the ending of 2007? maybe is that the reason why they aren't nominated.
plus Radiohead, Coldplay and Elbow had fantastic comebacks.
oh, and I was forgetting The Verve.

No, theyve released a new album on Dec, 1st!

Yeh I know... I just simply dont care much about The Brits... theyve never liked TT back in the day, especially after the issue with Robbie... Oh well...

Yay! Adele, Adele! o/

Can't decide between Coldplay and Elbow...

Voting is now open for the 2009 BRIT Awards for the best 'British Live Act' and the best 'British Single'. Click here to cast your vote.

hum...I would chose Elbow

let Robbie he hasn't been working either way. I miss his music so much. the gig he gave in Lisbon 7 years ago was fantastic! he never came back.

It's good to know you can sell a million albums in a short space of time and sell out over a million concert tickets and still get ignored by the snobs (sorry judges) of the Brits!!

Ah, TT don't need them!

Oh, but--- No, I'd better zip my mouth or maybe some snob judge from the Brits comes over to Argentina and kick me butt!


Anyways, that's exactly what I think Tray - and that's one of the reasons I don't mind The Brits anymore!


Go TT!! *puts hand in the air and nods her head as--- Shania Twain is singing* *changes song* Better! *sings to 'Hold up a light'*