Blunt And Kaiser Chiefs Lead Brit Nominations

Singer/songwriter James Blunt and English rockers Kaiser Chiefs are leading the nominations at next month's (15FEB06) Brit Awards with five nods each.

Former soldier Blunt is up for British Male Solo Artist, Pop Act, British Breakthrough Act, British Album for Back To Bedlam and Best Single for YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL, while Leeds band Kaiser Chiefs are nominated for British Group, British Rock Act, British Live Act, British Breakthrough Act and British Album for EMPLOYMENT.

Following close behind are Coldplay with four nods, including British Group and British Live Act, thanks to the huge success of their third album X+Y.

Meanwhile, Scots rockers Franz Ferdinand and KT Tunstall, superstar Madonna and Canadian newcomers Arcade Fire have all received three nods each at the annual music bash, which will take place in London's Earl Court venue on 15 February (06).

Double nominees on the night include Oasis, Gorillaz, Kate Bush, Kanye West, John Legend, Green Day, U2 and Kelly Clarkson.

Former THE JAM singer Paul Weller will also be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement gong at the awards, which will be hosted by English radio DJ CHRIS EVANS.

The full list of nominees is as follows:

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:

COLDPLAY

GORILLAZ

FRANZ FERDINAND

Hard-Fi

KAISER CHIEFS

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

Daniel Powter

Jack Johnson

JOHN LEGEND

THE Pussycat Dolls

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

THE Black Eyed Peas

GREEN DAY

U2

White Stripes

International Album:

ARCADE FIRE - FUNERAL

GREEN DAY - AMERICAN IDIOT

KANYE WEST - LATE REGISTRATION

MADONNA - CONFESSIONS ON A DANCEFLOOR

U2 - HOW TO DISMANTLE AN ATOMIC BOMB.