KEY POINTS:
Rock band Coldplay and Welsh singer Duffy lead the way in the nominations for this year's Brit Awards, with each shortlisted for four awards.
Singer-songwriter Duffy - whose debut album Rockferry has sold nearly 4.5 million copies worldwide - is up for best album, best single for chart-topper Mercy, best female solo artist and best breakthrough act.
Coldplay are up for best album, best live act, best British single and best group.
Also nominated in the best group category are man-band Take That, Radiohead, Girls Aloud and Mercury prize winners Elbow.
The prized best British album category sees Coldplay and Duffy taking on Elbow's The Seldom Seen Kid, Radiohead's In Rainbows and The Ting Tings' We Started Nothing.
In the international category, the same five bands are up for the best group and best album awards: AC/DC, Fleet Foxes, The Killers, Kings of Leon and MGMT.
US superstars Beyoncé, Pink and Katy Perry, each nominated in the international female solo category, are lined-up to perform at the awards ceremony to be held at London's Earls Court on February 18.
This year's nominees were voted by over 1,000 members from The Brits Voting Academy, made up of music industry insiders and critics.
Performers on the night include U2, Kings of Leon, Duffy, Girls Aloud and the Pet Shop Boys, who will receive an outstanding contribution to music award.
Australian singer Kylie Minogue is billed to co-host the event.
The full list of nominees:
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
British Group
Coldplay
Elbow
Girls Aloud
Radiohead
Take That
British Single
Adele - Chasing Pavements
Alexandra Burke - Hallelujah
Coldplay - Viva La Vida
Dizzee Rascal featuring Calvin Harris and 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
The X Factor Finalists - Hero
British Male Solo Artist
Ian Brown
James Morrison
Paul Weller
The Streets
Will Young
British Female Solo Artist
Adele
Beth Rowley
Duffy
Estelle
M.I.A.
British Breakthrough Act
Adele
Duffy
The Last Shadow Puppets
Scouting For Girls
The Ting Tings
British Live Act
Coldplay
Elbow
Iron Maiden
Scouting For Girls
The Verve
International Album
AC / DC - Black Ice
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
The Killers - Day & Age
Kings of Leon - Only By The Night
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
International Group
AC / DC
Fleet Foxes
The Killers
Kings of Leon
MGMT
International Male Solo Artist
Beck
Neil Diamond
Jay-Z
Kanye West
Seasick Steve
International Female Solo Artist
Beyonce
Gabriella Cilmi
Katy Perry
Pink
Santogold
British Producer of the Year
Bernard Butler
Brian Eno
Steve Mac
Outstanding Contribution Award
Pet Shop Boys - WINNER
- NZ HERALD ONLINE
