With four nominations, the Darkness lead the field for the 2004 Brit Awards, to be held Feb. 17 at Earls Court in London. The band is up for best British group, rock act, British breakthrough act and album for "Permission To Land" (Must Destroy/Warner Music).

Dido, Dizzee Rascal, Daniel Bedingfield, and Busted each have three nominations; Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera each have three nods in the international categories.


As previously reported, Duran Duran will be honored with an outstanding contribution award at the ceremony, in recognition of its 25-year-career. The group will also perform at the event.

The nominations were announced at a launch party today (Jan. 12) in London that featured live performances by nominees Busted, Amy Winehouse and Goldfrapp.

Here are the 2004 Brit Award nominations:

British Male Solo Artist:
Badly Drawn Boy
Daniel Bedingfield
David Bowie
Dizzee Rascal
Will Young

British Female Solo Artist:
Amy Winehouse
Annie Lennox
Dido, Jamelia
Sophie Ellis Bextor

British Album:
Blur, "Think Tank"
The Coral, "Magic and Medicine"
Daniel Bedingfield, "Gotta Get Thru This"
The Darkness, "Permission To Land"
Dido, "Life for Rent"

British Group:
Busted
The Coral
The Darkness
Radiohead
Sugababes

British Single:
Dido, "White Flag"
Gareth Gates, "Spirit in the Sky"
Jamelia, "Superstar"
Mis-teeq, "Scandalous"
Rachel Stevens, "Sweet Dreams My LA Ex"

British Rock Act:
The Darkness
Feeder
Muse
Primal Scream
Stereophonics

British Urban Act:
Amy Winehouse
Big Brovaz
Dizzee Rascal
Lemar
Mis-teeq

British Dance Act:
Basement Jaxx
Goldfrapp
Groove Armada
Kosheen
Lemon Jelly

British Breakthrough Artist:
Busted
The Darkness
Dizzee Rascal
Jamie Cullum
Lemar

Pop Act:
Black Eyed Peas
Busted
Christina Aguilera
Daniel Bedingfield
Justin Timberlake

International Male Solo Artist:
50 Cent
Beck
Damien Rice
Justin Timberlake
Sean Paul

International Female Solo Artist:
Alicia Keys
Beyonce
Christina Aguilera
Kylie Minogue
Missy Elliott

International Album:
Beyonce, "Dangerously in Love"
Christina Aguilera, "Stripped"
Justin Timberlake, "Justified"
OutKast, "Speakerboxx" / "The Love Below"
White Stripes, "Elephant"

International Group:
Black Eyed Peas
Kings Of Leon
OutKast
The Strokes
White Stripes

International Breakthrough Artist:
50 Cent
Evanescence
Kings Of Leon
Sean Paul
The Thrills

Outstanding Contribution:
Duran Duran


-- Lars Brandle, London

I'd like to see Blur or Basement Jaxx win some categories.

Tay's predictions

British Male Solo Artist:
Dizzee Rascal

British Female Solo Artist:
Amy Winehouse

British Album:
The Darkness, "Permission To Land"

British Group:
The Darkness

British Single:
Dido, "White Flag"

British Rock Act:
The Darkness

British Urban Act:
Dizzee Rascal

British Dance Act:
Basement Jaxx

British Breakthrough Artist:
The Darkness

Pop Act:
Justin Timberlake

International Male Solo Artist:
Sean Paul

International Female Solo Artist:
Beyonce

International Album:
White Stripes, "Elephant"

International Group:
White Stripes

International Breakthrough Artist:
50 Cent

Outstanding Contribution:
Duran Duran