Coldplay Nominated For Four Brit Awards

Former Brit winners Coldplay have four nominations in this year's Brit Awards, for British Group, Album for X&Y, Live Act, and British Single (Speed of Sound).

James Blunt is up for British Male Solo Artist, Album, Pop Act, Breakthrough Act and British Single while the Kaiser Chiefs have been nominated for British Group, Album, Live Act, Rock Act and British Breakthrough Act. The band have enjoyed both critical acclaim and chart success with hits like I Predict A Riot and Oh My God.

KT Tunstall, who was largely unknown when her debut album Eye to the Telescope was released in December 2004, is in the running for three awards. The Scottish star is up for British Female Solo Artist, Breakthrough Act and British Live Act. She will battle it out for British Female with classical singer turned wild-child Charlotte Church, Kate Bush, Katie Melua, and Natasha Bedingfield. Bush also has a nomination for best Album for Aerial, her first album in 12 years.

Madonna and the band Arcade Fire dominate the international categories with three nominations each. The queen of pop is up for best Pop Act, International Female Solo Artist, and International Album, for Confessions on a Dancefloor while Arcade Fire are up for best International Group, Album and Breakthrough Act.

Former Blur star Damon Albarn's band Gorillaz have two nominations for British Group and Album, for Demon Days, and Franz Ferdinand, who won two awards last year, are up for three awards including British Live Act, Rock Act and Group.

The Magic Numbers, who famously stormed off Top of the Pops after presenter Richard Bacon made a joke about their weight, have a nomination for best Breakthrough Act. They are up against the Arctic Monkeys, who were rocketed to success with I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor, for the award.

Rock newcomers Hard-Fi are nominated in the British Group and Rock Act categories while Oasis are up for British Live Act and Rock Act. Robbie Williams, who holds the record for the largest number of Brit wins, is up for British Male Solo Artist, with Mercury Prize winning Antony and the Johnsons, Ian Brown, Blunt, and former Pop Idol Will Young. U2 and Green Day also have two nominations each including International Group and Album.

Paul Weller, who will perform at the Brits on February 15, will be presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award.

Coldplay, James Blunt, Kaiser Chiefs, Kelly Clarkson, Kanye West and KT Tunstall will also perform at the event at London's Earl's Court.The shortlist for this year's Brit Awards, to be held in London on 15 February.

British male solo artist: Anthony and the Johnsons, Ian Brown, James Blunt, Robbie Williams, Will Young.

British female solo artist: Charlotte Church, Kate Bush, Katie Melua, KT Tunstall, Natasha Bedingfield.

British album: Coldplay - X&Y, Gorillaz - Demon Days, James Blunt - Back To Bedlam, Kaiser Chiefs - Employment, Kate Bush - Aerial.

British group: Kaiser Chiefs, Coldplay, Hard-Fi, Franz Ferdinand, Gorillaz

British rock act: Franz Ferdinand, Hard-Fi, Kaiser Chiefs, Kasabian, Oasis.

British urban act: Craig David, Dizzee Rascal, Kano, Lemar, Ms Dynamite.

Pop act: James Blunt, Katie Melua, Kelly Clarkson, Madonna, Westlife.

British breakthrough act: Arctic Monkeys, James Blunt, Kaiser Chiefs, KT Tunstall, Magic Numbers.

International breakthrough act: Arcade Fire, Black Eyed Peas, Green Day, U2, White Stripes.

British live act: Oasis, KT Tunstall, Kaiser Chiefs, Coldplay, Franz Ferdinand

British single: Coldplay - Speed of Sound, James Blunt - You're Beautiful, Shayne Ward - That's My Goal, Sugababes - Push The Button, Tony Christie - (Is This The Way To) Amarillo.

International male solo artist: Beck, Bruce Springsteen, Jack Johnson, John Legend, Kanye West.

International female solo artist: Bjork, Kelly Clarkson, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Missy Elliott.

International group: Arcade Fire, Black Eyed Peas, Green Day, U2, White Stripes.

International album: Arcade Fire - Funeral, Green Day - American Idiot, Kanye - Late Registration, Madonna - Confessions On A Dancefloor, U2 - How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.

Oustanding contribution to music: Paul Weller