LONDON, UK (Top40 Charts/ BPI) - Another year of massive achievement by countlessUK artists on the national and international stage is reflected in the nominations for
The BRIT Awards 2008 with MasterCard, unveiled today by the BPI at
The BRITs Nominations Launch held at London's legendary
Roundhouse and televised on
ITV2 at 9.00pm.
The flagship event in the British music calendar, The BRIT Awards 2008 with MasterCard marks the start of a new three-year deal with MasterCard that sees its partnership with the BPI enter a tenth consecutive year. The biggest awards ceremony in Europe will take place at London's Earls Court on February 20, with performances by many of the greatest stars of the British music year.
The Nominations List for The BRIT Awards 2008 with MasterCard is an exciting combination of new and established talent that mirrors an excellent year in which British music reached around the world.
Ged Doherty, Chairman of the BRITs Committee commented, "One of the best ways in which the British Music industry will meet the challenges it currently faces is with the continued development of great new British acts. The 2008 BRITs nominee list is certainly proof it is delivering these acts - there is some amazing talent here."
BPI Chief Executive Geoff Taylor added, "To receive a BRIT nomination means that the BRITAcademy, more than 1,000 experts from across the breadth of the media and music business, have recognised you as one of the best artists of the last year. Nominees recognise this as a huge accolade.
"Creatively, British music is in a rich vein of form as reflected in these nominations. Because of the outstanding talent in each category, I think people will be hard-pressed to pick who will win a BRIT on the night. All we can guarantee is that it will be a must-watch show on the 20th of February."
Leading the way, with an outstanding four nominations each, are record-breaking Syco Music/Sony BMG vocalist Leona Lewis; Island/Universal's breakthrough sensation Mika; and Polydor's Take That, on a remarkable lap of honour after their three BRIT Award wins in the 1990s.
The highly-prized British Group award is to be contested by Take That with Arctic Monkeys, who'll be chasing that title for a second consecutive year and BRITs glory for a third year in a row; the 2006 winners of the title, Kaiser Chiefs; chart-topping indie champions Editors; and pop heroines and chart residents Girls Aloud.
Another hugely prestigious trophy, MasterCard British Album, has Arctic Monkeys and Take That in competition again, as 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' takes on 'Beautiful World,' along with ultra-in-demand producer-DJ-artist Mark Ronson's 'Version,' Mika's triple platinum debut album 'Life In Cartoon Motion,' and Leona Lewis' first album 'Spirit,' which sold 1.55 million copies in the UK in its first seven weeks.
A quartet of acts score three nominations apiece for the 2008 Awards, with Arctic Monkeys and Kaiser Chiefs in the running alongside Mark Ronson and another of 2007's biggest new names, distinctively British songwriter-performer Kate Nash.
Selections by The BRITs Voting Academy - comprised of more than 1,000 specially invited members from across the breadth of the UK music industry: music critics, music writers, online & student press, major & independent record companies, retailers, music TV and radio producers & presenters, music publishers, artist managers, live concert promoters, NUS representatives and DJs - reveal no fewer than seven artists with two nominations each. Cutting-edge new British names Klaxons and Bat For Lashes are accompanied by adopted Brit superstar Kylie Minogue and U.S. heavyweights Arcade Fire, The Eagles, Foo Fighters and Kings of Leon.
As already announced, the 2008 award for Outstanding Contribution to Music will go to one of British music's greatest legends, Sir Paul McCartney, who will also play live for the Earls Court crowd and the multi-million ITV1 audience. The inaugural winner of the newly-minted Critics' Choice award is 19-year-old, London-born discovery ADELE.
On the eve of release of her debut album '19', ADELE also performs at tonight's Nominations Launch, which is hosted by Kelly Osbourne and Reggie Yates and screened this evening from 9pm on ITV2. ADELE is in great company on tonight's live bill with three other BRIT-nominated acts: Editors, Bat For Lashes and another of the platinum-certified class of 2007, The Hoosiers.
In the international categories, Arcade Fire's 'Neon Bible' will contest the International Album award with Kings of Leon's third album 'Because Of The Times,' Foo Fighters' 'Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace' and two 'comeback' albums, Kylie Minogue's 'X' and the Eagles' 'Long Road Out Of Eden.'
Nominations announced this evening also include British Live Act, to be decided by listeners of BBC Radio 2; British Breakthrough Act, voted on by BBC Radio 1 listeners; and the ten-strong shortlist for British Single, which will be reduced to five by the votes of UK commercial radio listeners and readers of The Sun's Bizarre column with the winner being voted for LIVE on the night of the show.
Muse, who've won British Live Act for two of the last three years, return to fight for the 2008 title with Arctic Monkeys, Kaiser Chiefs, Klaxons and Take That. Breakthrough Act nominees are Bat For Lashes, Klaxons, Leona Lewis, Mika and Kate Nash.
The list of ten titles up for British Single is an impressive highlights resume' of the UK chart year, including No.1 bestsellers by Leona Lewis, Mika, Kaiser Chiefs and Sugababes, plus equally memorable hits by Take That, James Blunt, Mutya Buena, Kate Nash, The Hoosiers and Mark Ronson featuring Amy Winehouse.
You can see the full list of nominations on the brand new BRITs website www.brits.co.uk, which is filled with all of the latest news, photographs and competitions relating to The BRITs 2008 with MasterCard.
Seven of The BRIT Award performers confirmed
The acts announced today performing live at The BRIT Awards 2008 with MasterCard are:
KAISER CHIEFS After picking up three awards at The BRIT Awards with MasterCard 2006 and nominated for a further three at this year's event, the Kaisers return for what is bound to be a show-stopping performance.
KYLIE One of the most exciting pop acts in the World, Kylie Minogue made a comeback in 2007 with her tenth studio album X, an electro odyssey that further confirmed Kylie's status as the Queen of Pop.
LEONA LEWIS Leona'srecord breaking single Bleeding Love was the biggest single of 2007, her debut album Spirit matched the success becoming the fastest selling debut album ever. A superstar in the making; 2008 will be Leona Lewis' year.
MARK RONSON Scoring three nominations at this year's BRIT Awards alongside Arctic Monkeys and Kaiser Chiefs, Mark Ronson's second album Version garnered major success in 2007 debuting at number two in the UK charts.
MIKA Like Take That and Leona Lewis, Mika is nominated for a mighty four awards at this year's BRITs. A truly breakthrough artist for 2007, he stormed the UK charts with his chart topping debut album Life In Cartoon Motion.
RIHANNA Her record breaking hit single Umbrella stayed at the top of the UK charts for a stunning 10 weeks, this year Rihanna is nominated in the International Female Solo Artist category.
The previously announced winner of the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award, Sir PAUL McCARTNEY will also be taking to The BRITs stage for a very special performance.
The BRIT Awards with MasterCard take place on 20th February 2008, at Earls Court, the event will be broadcast LIVE on ITV1.
ALL NOMINATIONS:
BRITISH MALE SOLO ARTIST**
JAMIE T /VIRGIN/EMI MUSIC
MARK RONSON /COLUMBIA/SONY BMG MUSIC
MIKA /CASABLANCA/ISLAND/UNIVERSAL MUSIC NEWTON FAULKNER /UGLY TRUTH/SONY BMG MUSIC
RICHARD HAWLEY /MUTE/EMI MUSIC
BRITISH FEMALE SOLO ARTIST**
BAT FOR LASHES /ECHO/EMIMUSIC
KATE NASH /FICTION/UNIVERSAL MUSIC
KT TUNSTALL /RELENTLESS/EMIMUSIC
LEONA LEWIS /SYCO MUSIC/SONY BMG MUSIC
PJ HARVEY /ISLAND/UNIVERSAL MUSIC
BRITISH GROUP**
ARCTIC MONKEYS /DOMINO RECORDINGS/DOMINO RECORDINGS
EDITORS /KITCHENWARE/SONYBMG MUSIC
GIRLS ALOUD /POLYDOR/UNIVERSAL MUSIC
KAISER CHIEFS /B UNIQUE/POLYDOR/B UNIQUE/UNIVERSAL
TAKE THAT /POLYDOR/UNIVERSAL MUSIC
MASTERCARD BRITISH ALBUM**
ARCTIC MONKEYS - FAVOURITE WORST NIGHTMARE
/DOMINO RECORDINGS/DOMINO RECORDINGS
LEONA LEWIS - SPIRIT SYCO MUSIC/SONY BMG MUSIC
MARK RONSON - VERSION /COLUMBIA/SONY BMG MUSIC
MIKA - LIFE IN CARTOON MOTION
/CASABLANCA/ISLAND/UNIVERSAL MUSIC
TAKE THAT - BEAUTIFUL WORLD /POLYDOR/UNIVERSAL MUSIC
BRITISH BREAKTHROUGH ACT
Top Five selected by the Academy. Winner chosen by Radio 1 listeners
BAT FOR LASHES /ECHO/EMIMUSIC
KATE NASH /FICTION/UNIVERSAL MUSIC
KLAXONS /RINSE/UNIVERSAL MUSIC
LEONA LEWIS SYCO MUSIC/SONY BMG MUSIC
MIKA /CASABLANCA/ISLAND/UNIVERSAL MUSIC
BRITISH LIVE ACT
Nominees chosen by a panel of experts in association with The Live Music Forum. Winner chosen by Radio 2 listeners.
ARCTIC MONKEYS /DOMINO RECORDINGS/DOMINO RECORDINGS
KAISER CHIEFS /B UNIQUE/POLYDOR/B UNIQUE/UNIVERSAL
KLAXONS /RINSE/UNIVERSAL MUSIC
MUSE /HELIUM 3/WARNER BROS/WARNER MUSIC
TAKE THAT /POLYDOR/UNIVERSAL MUSIC
BRITISH SINGLE
Nominees voted for by UK Commercial Radio station listeners and The Sun Bizarre Column readers. Winner chosen live on the night.
LEONA LEWIS - Bleeding Love SYCO MUSIC/SONY BMG MUSIC
MIKA - Grace Kelly /CASABLANCA/ISLAND/UNIVERSAL MUSIC
TAKE THAT - Shine /POLYDOR/UNIVERSAL MUSIC
KAISER CHIEFS - Ruby /B UNIQUE/POLYDOR/B UNIQUE/UNIVERSAL
SUGABABES - About You Now /ISLAND/UNIVERSAL MUSIC
MARK RONSON Ft AMY WINEHOUSE - Valerie
/COLUMBIA/SONY BMG MUSIC
KATE NASH - Foundations /FICTION/UNIVERSAL MUSIC
THE HOOSIERS - Worried About Ray /RCA/SONYBMG
JAMES BLUNT - 1973 ATLANTIC/CUSTARD/WARNER MUSIC
MUTYA BUENA - Real Girl 4TH & BROADWAY/UNIVERSAL MUSIC
INTERNATIONAL MALE SOLO ARTIST**
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN /COLUMBIA/SONY BMG MUSIC
KANYE WEST /ROC-A-FELLA/UNIVERSAL MUSIC
MICHAEL BUBLE /REPRISE/UNIVERSAL MUSIC RUFUS WAINWRIGHT /GEFFEN/UNIVERSAL MUSIC
TIMBALAND /SHOCK VALUE/INTERSCOPE/UNIVERSAL MUSIC
INTERNATIONAL FEMALE SOLO ARTIST**
ALICIA KEYS /SONY BMG MUSIC
BJORK /ONE LITTLE INDIAN/ONE LITTLE INDIAN
FEIST /POLYDOR/UNIVERSAL MUSIC
KYLIE MINOGUE /PARLOPHONE/EMI MUSIC RIHANNA /DEFJAM/UNIVERSAL MUSIC
INTERNATIONAL GROUP**
ARCADEFIRE /SONOVOX/UNIVERSAL MUSIC
EAGLES /POLYDOR/UNIVERSAL MUSIC FOO FIGHTERS /RCA/SONYBMG MUSIC KINGS OF LEON /HAND ME DOWN/SONY BMG MUSIC WHITE STRIPES /XL RECORDINGS/BEGGARS GROUP INTERNATIONAL ALBUM**
ARCADEFIRE - NEON BIBLE /SONOVOX/UNIVERSAL MUSIC
EAGLES - LONG ROAD OUT OF EDEN /POLYDOR/UNIVERSAL MUSIC
FOO FIGHTERS - ECHOES SILENCE PATIENCE & GRACE /RCA/ SONY BMG MUSIC
KINGS OF LEON - BECAUSE OF THE TIMES /HAND ME DOWN/SONY BMG MUSIC
KYLIE MINOGUE - X /PARLOPHONE/EMI MUSIC
CRITICS' CHOICE AWARD
ADELE /XL RECORDINGS
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO MUSIC
SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY
** = Voted for by The BRITsACADEMY
