Brit award nominations hail the Kaiser Chiefs

The rise of the former soldier turned songwriter James Blunt has been reflected with five nominations for the Brit Awards - a tally rivalled only by fellow newcomers the Kaiser Chiefs.

The singer, whose debut Back To Bedlam sold more albums in 2005 than any other in a single year in British chart history, is in the running for British male solo artist, best album, pop act, breakthrough act and single at next month's ceremony.

He will go head-to-head with the equally-nominated Kaiser Chiefs in the album and breakthrough act categories, while his rivals for male artist include Antony and the Johnsons, Ian Brown, and Robbie Williams, the record Brits-winner.

The British album award will be a battle of giants, with Coldplay's X&Y, Gorillaz' Demon Days and Aerial, Kate Bush's first record in 12 years, in the running.

With nominations ranging from Charlotte Church and Oasis to the recent chart-toppers Arctic Monkeys and the critically-acclaimed Montreal band Arcade Fire, the event on 15 February at Earls Court, London, looks set to be as eclectic as ever. James Blunt and Kaiser Chiefs are confirmed to play, as will Coldplay and Kanye West, in a rare British live appearance. The event will be broadcast on ITV1 the following evening.

Coldplay have four nominations, while Madonna and Arcade Fire each have three. K T Tunstall, the Scottish singer- songwriter who achieved fame after appearing on Jools Holland's television show, sold the millionth copy of her album Eye to the Telescope just before Christmas and gets three nominations, including best female solo artist against Charlotte Church and Kate Bush. She is also up for best British live act in a list including Coldplay, Kaiser Chiefs, Franz Ferdinand and Oasis. Franz Ferdinand have three nominations. Dizzee Rascal will battle it out against Craig David, Kano, and Ms Dynamite in the British urban act category. Katie Melua, Kelly Clarkson and Westlife are up for best pop act while Kasabian and Hard-Fi feature in the British rock act category.

The shortlist

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO MUSIC

Paul Weller

MASTERCARD ALBUM

Coldplay, X&Y

Gorillaz, Demon Days

James Blunt, Back to Bedlam

Kaiser Chiefs, Employment

Kate Bush, Aerial

SINGLE

James Blunt, You're Beautiful

Coldplay, 'Speed of Sound'

Shayne Ward, 'That's My Goal'

Sugababes, 'Push the Button'

Tony Christie featuring Peter Kay, ' (Is This The Way To) Amarillo'

ROCK ACT

Franz Ferdinand

Hard-Fi

Kaiser Chiefs

Kasabian

Oasis

MALE SOLO ARTIST

Antony and the Johnsons

Ian Brown

James Blunt

Robbie Williams

Will Young

FEMALE SOLO ARTIST

Charlotte Church

Kate Bush

Katie Melua

K T Tunstall

Natasha Bedingfield

GROUP

Coldplay

Franz Ferdinand

Gorillaz

Hard-Fi

Kaiser Chiefs

LIVE ACT

Coldplay

Kaiser Chiefs

Franz Ferdinand

K T Tunstall

Oasis

BREAKTHROUGH ACT

Arctic Monkeys

James Blunt

Kaiser Chiefs

K T Tunstall

The Magic Numbers

URBAN ACT

Craig David

Dizzee Rascal

Kano

Lemar

Ms Dynamite

POP ACT

James Blunt

Katie Melua

Kelly Clarkson

Madonna

Westlife