Brits Nominations Revealed

Muse, Lily Allen and Gnarls Barkley led the field with three nominations apiece when the shortlist was announced on Tuesday for the Brit awards, annual showcase for an industry struggling to adapt to the digital age.

Muse and Lily Allen will be competing against each other for the coveted British Album award after a year in which homegrown artists accounted for seven of the top ten albums. Barkley bids for a clean sweep in the international awards.

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.