BRIT Awards 2010: Lady Gaga, Lily Allen, Pixie Lott among top nominees

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On January 18, The BRIT Awards announced its 2010 nominations for the best pop music of the year. Leading the way with three BRIT nominations each are Lady Gaga, Florence & The Machine, Lily Allen, and Pixie Lott.

In the international categories, Lady Gaga leads the way with nominations for International Breakthrough Act, International Female Solo Artist, and International Album for The Fame.

2009 BRIT Critics' Choice Award winner Florence & The Machine is up for British Female Solo Artist, British Breakthrough Act, and British Album for her debut album Lungs. Lily Allen takes nominations for British Female Solo Artist, British Album for It's Not You, It's Me, and British Single of the Year for The Fear. And Pixie Lott will compete for British Single of the Year for "Mama Do," British Female Solo Artist, and British Breakthrough Act.

JLS - the British boyband who came in second in UK reality TV contest The X Factor in 2008 - is nominated for British Breakthrough Act, British Group, and British single for 'Beat Again'.

Dizzee Rascal, Jay-Z, Paolo Nutini, La Roux, Empire of the Sun, and Animal Collective all received two nominations.

Ellie Goulding is the 2010 Critics' Choice winner, and Robbie Williams - also nominated in the British Male category - will be honored for Outstanding Contribution To Music.

Comic Peter Kay will host the BRIT Awards ceremony on February 16 at London's Earls Court.

BRIT 2010 nominations in select categories:

British Male Solo Artist
Calvin Harris
Dizzee Rascal
Mika
Paolo Nutini
Robbie Williams

British Female Solo Artist
Bat For Lashes
Florence And The Machine
Leona Lewis
Lily Allen
Pixie Lott

British Breakthrough Act
Florence And The Machine
Friendly Fires
JLS
La Roux
Pixie Lott

British Group
Doves
Friendly Fires
JLS
Kasabian
Muse

Mastercard British Album
Dizzee Rascal - Tongue 'N Cheek
Florence And The Machine - Lungs
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
Lily Allen - It's Not Me, It's You
Paolo Nutini - Sunny Side Up

British Single
Alesha Dixon - "Breathe Slow"
Alexandra Burke ft. Flo Rida - "Bad Boys"
Cheryl Cole - "Fight For This Love"
Joe McElderry - "The Climb"
JLS - "Beat Again"
La Roux - "In For The Kill"
Lily Allen - '"The Fear"
Pixie Lott - "Mama Do"
Taio Cruz - "Break Your Heart"
Tinchy Stryder ft. N-Dubz - "Number 1"

International Male Solo Artist
Bruce Springsteen
Eminem
Jay-Z
Michael Buble
Seasick Steve

International Female Solo Artist
Lady Gaga
Ladyhawke
Norah Jones
Rihanna
Shakira

International Breakthrough Act
Animal Collective
Daniel Merriweather
Empire Of The Sun
Lady Gaga
Taylor Swift

International Album
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
Black Eyed Peas - The E.N.D.
Empire Of The Sun - Walking On Dream
Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3
Lady Gaga - The Fame

Begun in 1977, the BRIT Awards are the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. An equivalent awards ceremony for classical music, called the Classical BRIT Awards, is held each May.

For a full list of nominations, visit: http://www.BRITs.co.uk