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Rockers Muse and acid-tongued songstress Lily Allen have dominated nominations for Britain's music industry awards, the Brits.
Muse took three nominations - best British group, best British live act and best British album - for Black Holes and Revelations.
Allen, 21, garnered four nominations: British female solo artist, best British album, British single shortlist (Smile) and British breakthrough act.
Three of the leading singer-songwriters in Britain - Amy Winehouse, Corinne Bailey Rae and James Morrison - secured two nominations each.
Two nominations also went to the Arctic Monkeys, the masters of viral hype who led an Internet revolution in the music business and boasted the fastest selling debut album of all time in Britain. They already boast a Mercury Music award.
Competition for Best International Male Solo Artist provided an intriguing shortlist spanning the pop generations - Beck, Bob Dylan, Jack Johnson, Justin Timberlake and Damien Rice.
Beyonce, Pink, Nelly Furtado, Christina Aguilera and Cat Power will battle to be named Best International Female Solo Artist when the awards are announced on Valentine's Day, February 14.
- REUTERS