LONDON, UK  [Wednesday Jan.11.2006]  /WMQT.com/ -- James Blunt, Coldplay and Kanye West are among the nominees for 26th Annual BRIT Awards.

Singer-songwriter James Blunt and alternative act the Kaiser Chiefs received the most BRIT nominations, scoring five nods a piece. Blunt is in the running for British Male Solo Artist, Pop Act, Breakthrough Act, Best Single for 'You're Beautiful,' and British Album for his CD, "Back To Bedlam."

The Kaiser Chiefs' nominations include British Group, Breakthrough Act, Live Act, Rock Act, and British Album for their debut release "Employment."

Coldplay follows close behind Blunt and the Kaiser Chiefs with four nominations, including British Group, British Live Act, British Single for "Speed of Sound," and British Album for "X&Y."

Representing the USA, Kanye West scored a pair of nominations for International Male Solo Artist and International Album for his latest disc, "Late Registration."

Some of the other nominees for the 2006 BRIT Awards include Franz Ferdinand, the Gorillaz, John Legend, Oasis, Mariah Carey, Jack Johnson, U2, Green Day, Madonna, and Kelly Clarkson.

The winners of the BRIT Award will be announced on February 15th, during a ceremony at Earl's Court in London. During the show, solo artist Paul Weller -- who fronted such influential bands as The Jam and The Style Council -- will receive the Outstanding Contribution To Music Award.

For more information on the BRIT Awards, visit the official BRIT Awards web site.

Here is the full list of BRIT Award nominees:

BRITISH MALE SOLO ARTIST
Antony 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 GROUP
Coldplay
Franz Ferdinand
Gorillaz
Hard-Fi
Kaiser Chiefs

BRITISH ALBUM
Coldplay - X&Y
Gorillaz - Demon Days
James Blunt - Back To Bedlam
Kaiser Chiefs - Employment
Kate Bush - Aerial

BRITISH SINGLE
Coldplay - Speed Of Sound
James Blunt - You're Beautiful
Shayne Ward - That's My Goal
Sugababes - Push The Button
Tony Christie feat. Peter Kaye - (Is This The Way To) Amarillo

BRITISH BREAKTHROUGH ACT
Arctic Monkeys
James Blunt
Kaiser Chiefs
KT Tunstall
The Magic Numbers

BRITISH URBAN ACT
Craig David
Dizzee Rascal
Kano
Lemar
Ms Dynamite

BRITISH ROCK ACT
Franz Ferdinand
Hard Fi
Kaiser Chiefs
Kasabian
Oasis

BRITISH LIVE ACT
Coldplay
Kaiser Chiefs
Franz Ferdinand
KT Tunstall
Oasis

POP ACT
James Blunt
Katie Melua
Kelly Clarkson
Madonna
Westlife

INTERNATIONAL MALE SOLO ARTIST
Beck
Bruce Springsteen
Jack Johnson
John Legend
Kanye West

INTERNATIONAL FEMALE SOLO ARTIST
Bjork
Kelly Clarkson
Madonna
Mariah Carey
Missy Elliot

INTERNATIONAL GROUP
Arcade Fire
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

INTERNATIONAL BREAKTHROUGH ACT
Arcade Fire
Daniel Powter
Jack Johnson
John Legend
Pussycat Dolls

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO MUSIC
Paul Weller

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