Craig David, Coldplay Lead Brit Award Nominees

U2 will receive Outstanding Contribution to Music honor at February 26 ceremony in London.


British R&B star Craig David and "Yellow" rockers Coldplay topped the list of Brit Award contenders announced Monday (January 15), with four and three nominations, respectively.
The U.K. equivalent of the Grammy Awards, the Brit Awards — including an Outstanding Contribution to Music honor for U2 — will be presented in a London ceremony on February 26. Several artists are up for two awards, including colorful pop star Robbie Williams, Radiohead, Badly Drawn Boy, pop singer Sonique, Irish boy band Westlife and David Gray. Badly Drawn Boy, the stage name of eccentric singer/songwriter Damon Gough, won U.K.'s prestigious Mercury Music Prize for best album last summer, but is not among the Brit Award nominees for Best British Album, which include Coldplay's Parachutes, David's Born to Do It, Radiohead's Kid A, Gray's Lost Songs and Williams' Sing When You're Winning. David, whose Born to Do It will be released Stateside by Atlantic Records in May, is also up for Best British Male Solo Artist, Best British Dance Act and Best British Newcomer. Coldplay are up for Best British Group and Best British Newcomer in addition to Best British Album. The long list of Best Newcomer nominees also includes two-step stars Artful Dodger, electronica duo Death in Vegas and Sonique.
Perhaps the most tightly contested races of the 15 Brit Awards categories will be for the international honors. Eminem, Wyclef Jean, Ronan Keating, Ricky Martin and Sisqó will compete for Best International Male Solo Artist, while Madonna takes on Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue, Pink and Jill Scott for Best International Female Solo Artist.
Scott, who is nominated for a Best New Artist Grammy, received a Best International Newcomer nod, along with Kelis, Lene Marlin, Pink and Westlife, who will also battle U2, the Corrs, Savage Garden and Santana for Best International Group.
U2, Westlife, David and Williams, who holds the all-time record with nine Brit Awards, will perform at the ceremony, which will be held at Earls Court 2 and broadcast on U.K. television on February 27.
Brit Award nominees are determined by an academy of more than 1,000 members, with the exception of Best British Newcomer, Best British Video, Best British Single and Best Pop Act, which are determined by public voting.

by segun omolola