Glasgow 'to launch Brit Awards bid'

Talks are under way to bring the Brit Awards to Scotland in 2006, it was reported tonight.

Glasgow is behind the ambitious bid to host the showpiece event, which has never been staged outside London.

The Daily Record said the move followed the success of the MTV Europe Music Awards in Edinburgh last year.

Glasgow City Council could not confirm tonight if it was considering a bid, but a spokesman said: “Glasgow is more than capable of hosting a high-profile event of this kind and a bid to secure the Brit Awards would be welcomed.

“International events like the Champions League Final confirmed Glasgow as a orld city with world class facilities and it has produced some of the most influential rock and pop acts of the past 40 years.”

The Scottish Executive also said it had no details of plans to take the Brits north of the border, but stressed it would back such a proposal.

“We have been keen since MTV to attract these kind of major music events, if possible, to Scotland, and we will work hard to do that.”

Nominations for the 2004 Brits were announced earlier today and organisers confirmed The Darkness, Dido, Busted, 50 Cent, Black Eyed Peas and Duran Duran were all set to perform at the star-studded event.

This year’s ceremony will take place at Earl’s Court in London on February 17 and will be broadcast live on ITV1.

The first Brits were held in 1977 as part of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee but it did not become an annual event until 1982.

If Glasgow’s bid succeeds it will be the second major music awards coup for Scotland in under a year.

The MTV Europe Music Awards were staged in Edinburgh in November and organisers said the event was the best in its 10-year history.

The Scottish capital was even presented with an MTV music award to recognise its contribution as hosts.

It was the first time such an award had been given to a city, as opposed to pop and rock icons.

Scottish Enterprise estimated the event generated up to £4 million for the local economy.