Adele and Jessie J are the leading ladies at this year’s BRIT Awards after nabbing three nominations apiece, while 20-year-old Halifax, West Yorkshire native Ed Sheeran got the most nods of all, with four. Sheeran’s 2011 UK hit “The A Team” will compete with nine other songs in the British Single category — including Adele’s “Someone Like You”, Jessie J’s “Price Tag” and The Wanted’s “Glad You Came”.
Ed Sheeran — ”The A Team”
Adele is also up for British Female Solo Artist and British Album Of The Year, the latter of which also garnered nominations for Florence + The Machine’s Ceremonials, Coldplay’s Mylo Xyloto, PJ Harvey’s Let England Shake and Ed Sheeran’s +.
American acts who stand to win at the BRITs include Bruno Mars, Bon Iver and Ryan Adams, who are up for International Male Solo Artist, and International Female Solo Artist nominees Beyonce and Lady Gaga.
Likewise, Foo Fighters, Jay-Z and Kanye West (known together as The Throne), Maroon 5 and Lady Antebellum were recognized in the International Group category, while the International Breakthrough Act pool (Nicki Minaj, Lana Del Rey, Foster The People, Aloe Blacc and Bon Iver) is entirely comprised of acts from the States. (Well, technically, Minaj wasn’t born in the States, but she was raised here after the age of 5.)
As previously announced, Emeli Sande will be the recipient of this year’s Critics’ Choice Award at the BRITs. She’ll also compete with Jessie J for British Breakthrough Act.
Damon Albarn’s pre-Gorillaz band Blur have been singled out for Outstanding Contribution To Music this year. The 32nd BRIT Awards will be held on February 21.
2012 BRIT AWARDS NOMINEES
British Male Solo Artist
Ed Sheeran
James Blake
James Morrison
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
Professor Green
British Female Solo Artist
Adele
Florence + the Machine
Jessie J
Kate Bush
Laura Marling
British Breakthrough Act
Anna Calvi
Ed Sheeran
Emeli Sandé
Jessie J
The Vaccines
British Group
Arctic Monkeys
Chase & Status
Coldplay
Elbow
Kasabian
British Single
Adele, “Someone Like You”
Ed Sheeran, “The A Team”
Example, “Changed The Way You Kissed Me”
Jessie J feat. B.o.B, “Price Tag”
JLS feat. Dev, “She Makes Me Wanna”
Military Wives/Gareth Malone, “Wherever You Are”
Olly Murs feat. Rizzle Kicks, “Heart Skips A Beat”
One Direction, “What Makes You Beautiful”
Pixie Lott, “All About Tonight”
The Wanted, “Glad You Came”
Mastercard British Album of the Year
Adele, 21
Coldplay, Mylo Xyloto
Ed Sheeran, +
Florence + The Machine, Ceremonials
PJ Harvey, Let England Shake
International Male Solo Artist
Aloe Blacc
Bon Iver
Bruno Mars
David Guetta
Ryan Adams
International Female Solo Artist
Beyoncé
Bjork
Feist
Lady Gaga
Rihanna
International Group
Fleet Foxes
Foo Fighters
Jay Z & Kanye West
Lady Antebellum
Maroon 5
International Breakthrough Act
Aloe Blacc
Bon Iver
Foster The People
Lana Del Rey
Nicki Minaj
Outstanding Contribution to Music
Blur
Critics’ Choice
1st – Emeli Sandé
2nd – Maverick Sabre
3rd – Michael Kiwanuka
British Producer
Paul Epworth
Flood
Ethan Jones
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