Brits: Geldof up for Outstanding Contribution award

Bob Geldof is to receive an award for outstanding contribution to music at the up-coming Brit Awards.

U2 have been nominated in two categories - International Group and International Album, while Westlife have been nominated in the Best Pop Act award.

Mercury Music Prize winners Franz Ferdinand lead the nominations. The Glasgow band are nominated in five categories: best British group, best British album, best British breakthrough act, best British rock act and best British live act.

Natasha Bedingfield, Jamelia and Keane have three nominations apiece, as do The Streets, Snow Patrol and Kasabian, while rock band Muse have four.

The nominations list includes a host of acts who were virtually unheard of a year ago.

The list reflects the fact 2004 has been “the most scintillating period for breakthrough acts from the UK in recent memory”, according to Brits organisers.

Franz Ferdinand’s rivals for best British group are Kasabian, Keane, Muse and Snow Patrol.

In the album category, their self-titled debut album faces competition from Keane’s Hopes and Fears, A Grand Don’t Come For Free by The Streets, Final Straw by Snow Patrol and Absolution by Muse.

The nominations were unveiled at the Brit Awards launch tonight.

The Awards, now in their 25th year, will be held at London’s Earls Court on February 9 and hosted by Chris Evans.

Evans was at the launch party at the Park Lane Hotel in central London, where Athlete, Estelle and McFly performed.

In the best British female category, Bedingfield goes head-to-head with Jamelia, while Joss Stone, Amy Winehouse and PJ Harvey complete the nominee list.

Best British male will go to either Jamie Cullum, Lemar, Morrissey, The Streets or Will Young.

There is no place for Robbie Williams, but as consolation he is in the running for the Best Song Award with Angels.

The other four finalists for that award – voted by Radio 2 listeners from a shortlist drawn up by industry experts – are Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division, Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush, We Are The Champions by Queen and Leave Right Now by Will Young.

Best British single of 2004 will be a contest between Band Aid 20’s Do They Know It’s Christmas?, Thank You by Jamelia, Take Me To The Clouds Above by LMC vs U2, Lola’s Theme by Shapeshifters and Your Game by Will Young.

Joss Stone is an unlikely nominee for best British urban act, up against Dizzee Rascal, Jamelia, Lemar and The Streets.

Best pop act will go to either Avril Lavigne, Girls Aloud, Bedingfield, McFly or Westlife.

The Scissor Sisters are nominated for best international album after their eponymous debut pipped Keane to become the best-selling album of 2004.

Brian Wilson, who released his Smile album in 2004 after a 37-year wait, is nominated for best international male, competing with Kanye West, Usher, Eminem and Tom Waits.

As well as leading the nominations, Franz Ferdinand will perform at the award ceremony which organisers promise will be the best yet.

Other performers include Scissor Sisters, Joss Stone, Keane, Pharrell Williams and Green Day.

Jamelia and Lemar will duet, and brother and sister Natasha and Daniel Bedingfield will perform together for the first time.

Brit organisers have pledged £500,000 (€715,600) in proceedings to child victims of the Asian tsunami disaster.

The money will go to a two-year Save The Children project which will supply education and music therapy to youngsters affected by the catastrophe.

Full list of nominations:

British Male Solo Artist

:: Jamie Cullum

:: Lemar

:: Morrissey

:: The Streets

:: Will Young

British Female Solo Artist

:: Amy Winehouse

:: Jamelia

:: Joss Stone

:: Natasha Bedingfield

:: PJ Harvey

British Group

:: Franz Ferdinand

:: Kasabian

:: Keane

:: Muse

:: Snow Patrol

Mastercard British Album

:: Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand

:: Keane – Hopes and Fears

:: Muse – Absolution

:: Snow Patrol – Final Straw

:: The Streets – A Grand Don’t Come For Free

British Single

:: Band Aid 20 – Do They Know It’s Christmas?

:: Jamelia – Thank You

:: LMC vs U2 – Take Me To The Clouds Above

:: Shapeshifters – Lola’s Theme

:: Will Young – Your Game

British Breakthrough Act

:: Franz Ferdinand

:: Joss Stone

:: Keane

:: Natasha Bedingfield

:: The Zutons

British Urban Act

:: Dizzee Rascal

:: Jamelia

:: Joss Stone

:: Lemar

:: The Streets

British Rock Act

:: Franz Ferdinand

:: Kasabian

:: Muse

:: Snow Patrol

:: The Libertines

British Live Act

:: Franz Ferdinand

:: Jamie Cullum

:: Kasabian

:: Muse

:: The Libertines

BRITs25: The Best Song Award

:: Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart

:: Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights

:: Queen – We Are The Champions

:: Robbie Williams – Angels

:: Will Young – Leave Right Now

Pop Act

:: Avril Lavigne

:: Girls Aloud

:: Natasha Bedingfield

:: McFly

:: Westlife

International Male Solo Artist

:: Brian Wilson

:: Eminem

:: Kanye West

:: Tom Waits

:: Usher

International Female Solo Artist

:: Alicia Keys

:: Anastacia

:: Gwen Stefani

:: Kelis

:: Kylie Minogue

International Group

:: Green Day

:: Maroon 5

:: OutKast

:: Scissor Sisters

:: U2

International Album

:: Killers – Hot Fuss

:: Maroon 5 – Songs About Jane

:: OutKast – Speakerboxxx/The Love Below

:: Scissor Sisters – Scissor Sisters

:: U2 – How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb

International Breakthrough Act

:: Jet

:: Kanye West

:: Killers

:: Maroon 5

:: Scissor Sisters

Outstanding Contribution to Music

:: Bob Geldof