Coldplay and Duffy Lead Field on Eve of BRITs

Coldplay and Welsh singer Duffy will be hoping to add to their Grammys success as they head the field at the 2009 BRITs on Wednesday night with four nominations apiece. Organizers have highlighted the global impact of British music in 2008, underlined by a flurry of Grammys, the industry's most coveted honors, earlier this month.

In the wake of those awards, Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger hailed "a great period for home-grown talent," telling the Sun newspaper: "What's so refreshing is the different styles that have been recognized. Coldplay, Duffy, Adele and Radiohead make up an eclectic bunch, proving there's a lot of fresh British talent out there."

Coldplay are up for best British group and best British album, considered the most prestigious prize at the BRITs, for their multi-million selling record "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends." The group is also competing for best British single and British live act.

Full discussion on Coldplay at the Brit Awards 2009 at the Coldplay forum here [thanks mayurshikotra & mynickismyname]

At the BRITs, Coldplay and Duffy are followed by Adele, indie pop band Scouting For Girls and alternative rockers Elbow, who all appear in three categories. The BRITs' recognition of Duffy, a relative unknown 12 months ago, caps a year during which her debut album "Rockferry" was Britain's top-selling record in 2008 and boasts worldwide sales of nearly 4.5 million copies. She has been nominated for best album, best single for "Mercy," British female solo artist and British breakthrough act. The best British single award is chosen by live public vote on the night of the awards ceremony.

In the international categories, the same five artists are competing both for best international group and international album -- AC/DC, Fleet Foxes, the Killers, Kings of Leon and MGMT.

Four other British acts -- Ting Tings, Radiohead, Girls Aloud, and Estelle -- land two nominations apiece in this year's BRITs list. BRITs organizers have announced that Take That and Coldplay will appear at the awards ceremony on February 18th, joining Pet Shop Boys, U2, Kings of Leon, Duffy and Girls Aloud.

Hosting the event, held before an audience of over 10,000 people at London's Earls Court, will be Australian star Kylie Minogue.

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Following six rounds of daily voting, Coldplay's single Viva La Vida has made it to the Brits 2009 shortlist to appear at the awards ceremony this coming Wednesday. However, the work doesn't finish there. This just in from Anchorman:

It's been announced tonight that Viva La Vida has made the final five for the Best British Single at the Brits. Thanks so much for all of your votes which helped to get it there. We'd be very grateful if you'd take the time to vote for the track, to help it win. To vote, please call - 09016 16 18 01 - Calls cost 35 pence from UK landline. Lines close at 21:00 GMT on Wednesday 18 February. For more details, please visit: http://www.brits.co.uk/news/british-single-phone-line-vot/

More on this exclusive news at the Brits voting thread here onwards. Thanks to everyone who has voted so far... make sure you're counted in the final televised round!